Yorkshire Jockeys Horse Racing

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EGAN TO RIDE CLASSY CLAYMORE IN SKY BET YORK STAKES


SIR BUSKER POISED FOR FIRST TRY AT 10 FURLONGS

JOCKEY David Egan will ride Claymore for the first time on Saturday in the Group 2 Sky Bet York Stakes at York Racecourse.

Adam Kirby partnered the relatively unexposed three-year-old to an impressive length-and-three quarters victory last time out in the Hampton Court Stakes at Royal Ascot.

But due to weight constraints Kirby will be aboard Godolphin runner Dubai Future in this weekend’s £125,000 feature on the Knavesmire – and trainer Jane Chapple-Hyam has called on Egan to partner her stable star.

Newmarket-based Chapple-Hyam said: “David sat on the horse this morning (Thursday) – a get-to-know and everything went absolutely fine.

“They went up Long Hill. David’s looking forward to riding him and said he’s a class horse. So that was nice to hear.”

Saturday’s race is the first of two possible appearances at York for Claymore as the colt is also in the £1million Juddmonte International on Wednesday 17 August, although he also holds an entry for a Group race in France just beforehand. It is worth noting that Twice Over landed that Knavesmire double back in 2011.

Chapple-Hyam added: “The Juddmonte’s very hot competition but we’ll see what he does on Saturday. He is in very good order. Everything is fine. He has pleased me on the gallops and he’s improved.”

Also in the five-strong field is Sir Busker, who ran fifth of seven behind Baaeed in the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot last month.

The seasoned six-year-old is being eased in grade and stepped up in trip for his latest assignment.

Trainer William Knight said: “We are trying a mile and a quarter for the first time. He went a mile and one over in Dubai – he seemed to like that extra furlong. It will just be interesting to see how he gets on. Now he’s got older I think he will just get that bit further.

“He likes York as a track, I think he could run a big race there on Saturday – he’s in very good form. My only concern is it’s not too quick at York. But hopefully it will just be on the easy side of good to firm.”

Making up the quintet for the race are the William Haggas-trained Dubai Honour and Dark Moon Rising for the Yorkshire stable of Kevin Ryan.

York’s latest two-day meeting will begin tomorrow (Friday) at 5.20pm with the John Wright Electrical Stakes Apprentice Handicap. The seven-race card will be followed by post-race concert from the evergreen Madness. Saturday’s racing gets underway at 2.05pm with the Sky Bet “Jump Jockeys’ Nunthorpe” Handicap. The second half of Music Showcase Weekend will see Sugababes perform after racing on the Knavesmire has concluded.