Raymond Tusk pointing towards another crack at Ebor

Last year’s York fourth nearing seasonal return.

Raymond Tusk will have one more start ahead of trying to strike gold at the second attempt in the Sky Bet Ebor at York.

Connections are keen to send the Richard Hannon-trained five-year-old back to the Knavesmire for the prestigious handicap having finished fourth in it 12 months ago.

After making a winning all-weather debut at Newcastle on his penultimate start, the son of High Chaparral was last seen being defeated at odds-on in a conditions event at Wolverhampton in February.

Tim Palin, racing manager to owners Middleham Park Racing, said: “He is going to have one run before all roads hopefully lead back to the Knavesmire for the Ebor.

“After Wolverhampton he had a little problem, but he has now had plenty of time off. Ideally what we want to run him in is a little conditions or Listed race which he will win or run well in without having his mark of 111 affected.

“What we don’t want to do is finish second in a Group Two or Three and get put up a few pounds, as winning a few thousand could cost us potentially winning hundreds of thousands.”

Had Raymond Tusk enjoyed better luck in running at a crucial stage in last year’s Ebor, connections feel he could have finished closer to winner Mustajeer.

Palin added: “If he had got a better run two out he might have been second, although I don’t think he would have beaten the winner.

“They did go really hard up front that day and the way we rode him that day was for luck. He probably needed the pace to collapse to win.

“Last year’s Ebor winner finished fourth the season before, so hopefully that is a good omen for us.”

The Paul Nicholls-trained Oleg will bid to back up his recent Pontefract win by following in the hoofprints of Timoshenko to give the highly successful syndicate back-to-back victories in the Goodwood Handicap at the Qatar Goodwood Festival.

Palin said: “We won the race off 80 with Timoshenko last year and Oleg should be off a similar mark, so he will get a feather weight for the race.

“The 0-85 was a halfway house to see if he could cope with his mark of 79 which he did when he reeled in the runner-up in time.

“He goes best fresh and the two-miles-four around Goodwood should suit him, while any ground comes alike to him. I’d be disappointed if he wasn’t in the first three.”

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Paul Nicholls

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