Yorkshire Jockeys Horse Racing

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TRAINER Tim Easterby is aiming for a third victory in five runnings of the £100,000 feature race at York on Macmillan Charity raceday, the Catherine Kinloch Paver Memorial Macmillan Charity Stakes, staged this Saturday on the Knvesmire.

Easterby, who trains at Habton Grange near Malton, won the valuable prize for three-year-old sprinters in 2013 with Body And Soul and a year later with See The Sun.

For the latest renewal, he has three entries headed by Copper Knight, winner of a the Unibet Sprint, a five-furlong handicap at York on May 27. Only two horses among the 29-strong entry for this six-furlong contest have a higher official rating than his figure of 101.

The son of Sir Prancealot has struck the last twice but has only competed at the minimum distance of five furlongs in his nine career starts. That’s why he has also been entered at Sandown in the Listed Scurry Stakes at the weekend.

Easterby said: “We’re just deciding whether to run at York or Sandown. He has never run over six furlongs before – that’s the only dodge that we’re a little bit concerned about.

“I should think there would be a good chance he’d run. He’s in good form and the money is fantastic.

“It’s a brilliant race to target with a three-year-old sprinter. We’re willing to support York if we can.”

Easterby has also entered 89-rated Hope Solo – who last ran in July – and the 81-rated Golden Apollo who is in action at Pontefract this evening.

Easterby added: “If Golden Apollo happened to win at Ponte, then it could be tempting.

“Hope Solo is in good form and working well. I’ll speak to Steve Parkin (whose Clipper Logistics colours Hope Solo carries) – there could be a chance I might run her.

“She is also in at York on the Friday as well (the £30,000 EBF Breeders Series Fillies Handicap). She will definitely run one day there.”

The wider raceday is one that Easterby always enjoys. Indeed, last year there was double cause for celebration in the Easterby household as Tim trained Snoano, victorious in the Queen Mother’s Cup partnered by the winning lady amateur rider. who was his daughter. Emily. The unique prize of winning her weight in GH Mumm champagne was particularly well received.

Easterby added: “It’s a good raceday, well planned.”

York’s two-day June meeting gets underway on Friday afternoon.