Bargain buy Borderlescott prepares to roll back years

The former was a bargain buy at Doncaster Sales; the latter is one of the highly-priced racehorses that has earned so much success for the Coolmore breeding operation who sponsor the race – the highlight on the final day of the Welcome to Yorkshire Ebor Festival.

The differences do not end here. Borderlescott is trained by Robin Bastiman, a humble Yorkshireman at his small, understated stables near Wetherby. His great rival hails from Ballydoyle – arguably the most exclusive stables in the world, run with meticulous precision by Aidan O'Brien.

And, while journeyman jockey Neil Callan renews his partnership with Borderlescott after missing the eight-year-old's recent Glorious Goodwood triumph because of suspension, Johnny Murtagh, a rider with a phenomenal big race record around the world, will ride Starspangledbanner.

The impressive four-year-old will be a deserved favourite. Well-beaten in the Duke of York Stakes in May despite being the fastest horse that O'Brien has ever trained, he went on to win Royal Ascot's Golden Jubilee Stakes and Newmarket's July Cup.

The trainer also has no fears about returning to York and the scene of Starspangledbanner's defeat.

"He improved after York in his next two races and has done everything right. He's a very quick horse," said O'Brien.

"He's a very straightforward horse. He shows a lot of speed at home and he's brave at the end of his races.

"He'd be happy to get a lead or he'd be happy to make the running."

Yet such statements will not faze Bastiman, who trains at Cowthorpe near Wetherby. For years, Borderlescott has been defying the odds against supposedly classier (and more expensive) horses.

He's simply relieved that his horse is able to take his place in the field and seek a remarkable third successive win in the Nunthorpe.

Bastiman, a proud Yorkshireman, was in tears when his star turn won the Group One race, the first of his career, when the Nunthorpe was run at Newmarket in 2008 following the abandonment of the Ebor meeting due to the waterlogging.

Last year, Borderlescott brought the house down when following up on Knavesmire; these prestigious races are, after all, normally the preserve of trainers like O'Brien.

Yet a hat-trick bid looked in doubt after Borderlescott suffered a muscle injury during his recent success at Glorious Goodwood, the 13th victory of his career, but the two-time Yorkshire horse of the year has made a swift recovery and Bastiman feels he could not be in better form.

"He's a happy horse at the moment. He did his final gallop on Tuesday and came out of that well. He's been checked over by every man under the sun, so there is no reason for him not to take his chance," said Bastiman.

"It's a very good race and they are nearly all Group One horses. They've all got gears and it will come down to whichever one is right on the day.

"He never runs a bad race and hopefully he'll be somewhere thereabouts – I'm sure he will be."

This high-quality field also includes the Sir Michael Stoute-trained Kingsgate Native, the 2007 Nunthorpe winner

Victory at Haydock back in May suggested he still retains all of his ability, but he has something to find with Starspangledbanner on his recent Newmarket run. "He seems in good shape. He likes York and has won a Nunthorpe already," said Stoute.

Rose Blossom, meanwhile, a dual course winner in 2010, would be a popular winner for Malton trainer Richard Fahey.

The three-year-old is fitted with headgear for the first time and is owned by Highclere Thoroughbred Racing, the organisation who owned the prodigious, and recently-retired, Harbinger.

"It would be lovely for Richard if she could win it as he loves the filly, she loves the track and it's his local course," said Highclere manager Harry Herbert.

However title-chasing jockey Paul Hanagan was slightly more reserved about his mount's chances as she steps up to Group One level for the first time.

"We've always thought she was a good filly but whether she's good enough for the Nunthorpe, I don't know," said Hanagan.

If Fahey and Hanagan can win their first Group One race, it will be fitting reward for their all-conquering season. But these celebrations will pale into insignificance if Borderlescott rolls back the years one final time.

Little more than a minute stands between Borderlescott and his place in Yorkshire racing folklore as, arguably, this county's greatest Flat horse since Dante won the Derby in 1945. That's what is at stake in this unmissable race.