IT was one of the most dramatic climaxes to a big race that has been seen this season. Seamour burst clear approaching the final furlong of last month’s John Smith’s Northumberland Plate at Newcastle and looked set to give locally-born trainer Brian Ellison a victory to remember. But in the closing strides, jockey Ben Curtis and his five-year-old mount were collared by the late charge of Antiquarium who landed the heritage handicap.

A fortnight later and Seamour will bid to go one better at York, contesting the John Smith’s Silver Cup – a £40,000 Listed race staged over a mile and three-quarters, two furlongs less than at Newcastle.

Ellison said: “He came out of the race very well. We were going to wait for the Ebor (at York on Saturday 20 August) but he is so well in himself we’ve decided to run this weekend.

“We just thought, to wait two months for the Ebor is a long time. So we will take this on board as long as it’s not on the firm side.”

Looking back at the John Smith’s Northumberland Plate, Ellison concedes it’s one that got away.

He added: “He should have won. He didn’t have much cover, sat on the outside. He probably kicked too early but if we’d have won you would have said it was a great ride. So it’s catch-22 isn’t it? He won’t be kicking early on Saturday, put it that way!”

But Ellison wasn’t overly downbeat about the result, saying: “I just came away knowing that I’ve got another good horse. The way he travelled, the way he picked up and everything. I was just pleased with the way he ran.”

Seamour, a gelding owned by P J Martin, will face eleven rivals on the Knavesmire – including Curbyourenthusiasm, who was second in the Group 2 Betway Yorkshire Cup over course and distance in May.

Ellison also brings flashy chestnut and people’s favourite Top Notch Tonto to York on Saturday. A Listed winner on the course just over a year ago, he will be joined by stable-mate Balty Boys in the £200,000 John Smith’s Cup – the richest middle-distance handicap in Britain.

The Norton-based trainer said: “It’s a hot race, isn’t it? Balty Boys and Tonto are both in good form.”

York’s two-day fixtures starts tomorrow at 1.50pm. Saturday will see the 57th running of the John Smith’s Cup, continuing the longest commercial sponsorship of a Flat race in the country.