Amy Ryan - A Jockey’s Diary: Clayton can provide fitting tribute at headquarters

As ever on a summer Saturday, we are sending horses to all corners of Britain – with runners at Newmarket, Haydock Park, Ayr and closer to home at Redcar tomorrow.

Frankie Dettori has been booked for the ride on Clayton in the 3pm handicap at headquarters.

The four-year-old won last time out on the July Course almost a fortnight ago, a victory that will have done his confidence the world of good.

That meant a lot to us at the yard because Clayton was owned by the late Guy Reed, who passed away last month and who did so much for racing and thoroughbred breeding in Yorkshire. Another win tomorrow would be equally wonderful.

One of Mr Reed’s biggest wins came at York in 2005 when La Cucaracha won the Nunthorpe Stakes under now retired jockey Michael Hills.

Two-year-old colt Bremner made a very promising debut at York two weeks ago. Any maiden on Knavesmire is competitive and the Batleys Cash And Carry Median Auction Maiden Stakes was no exception.

To have finished third on a first run was a good performance and that should do him a lot of good. He goes in the 6.05pm race at Ayr tomorrow and, fingers crossed, he improves for his first experience on the track.

Trinctoria has yet to record a win in her five outings this season. She was second on her first run at Ripon in April and I think she could go well tomorrow in the 4.20pm claiming race at Redcar.

She does have ability as she showed on that opening run, but she can race lazily which is why she is wearing blinkers for the first time and she has the benefit of carrying a light weight of just 8st 3lb.

While our focus at the yard is, of course, on day-to-day racing, we can be excused for looking ahead to the Welcome To Yorkshire Ebor Festival which is less than a fortnight away.

Some early running plans are beginning to fall into place as we relish the prospect of some mouth-watering encounters over the four days of the festival when no less than £3.2m in prize-money is on offer.

One of the most popular contests of the meeting is the Group 2 Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Gimcrack Stakes, a race for two-year-old colts and geldings that now run on the Saturday.

My father’s yard has made three entries for the six-furlong dash.

Astaire won on his racecourse maiden at York in May – the Yorkshire Regiment EBF Median Auction Maiden Stakes.

He is in great form at home where I ride him most days. He is getting cheekier by the day which is a good sign that he’s well in himself.

He has Group form after not being beaten too far in the high quality July Stakes at Newmarket’s July Festival. He has subsequently come out and won on the July Course.

After making his debut at York in May and running at Royal Ascot, Sleeper King ran a blinder in the Group 3 Molecomb Stakes at Glorious Goodwood.

He has shown he is capable of competing at Group level and is very well in himself at home.

Our third entry in ‘The Gimcrack’ is The Grey Gatsby, who has had just one race to date. That was in the John Smith’s Median Auction Maiden Stakes at York last month – and he won.

He showed a great attitude that day and will have learned a lot from the race.

He bit me while I was washing him off last week so I can confidently report that he is feeling well in himself, too!

Roll on Wednesday week when we start four fantastic days of racing at York.

The next racing at York Racecourse is the Welcome To Yorkshire Ebor Festival between Wednesday and Saturday, August 21-24.

The feature races are the Juddmonte International (Wednesday), the Darley Yorkshire Oaks on Ladies’ Day (Thursday), the Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes (Friday) and the Betfred Ebor (Saturday).

On-the-day admission in the Grandstand & Paddock and County Enclosures is £29 and £54 respectively, with early bird discounts available for advance booking until 14 August.

Four-day admission is £26 to £180.

As always, accompanied under- 16s are admitted free of charge to all areas.

More information can be found online at www.yorkracecourse.co.uk or by calling the racecourse on 01904 620911.