Fahey sets out to retain York crown

The Malton trainer is expected to send 17 runners into battle on Knavesmire today and tomorrow, including at least five runners in the 51st running of tomorrow's feature.

Yet, while Fahey will be disappointed if he cannot help his in-form stable jockey Paul Hanagan, racing's man of the moment, extend his lead in the jockeys' championship, he says he will be "pleasantly surprised" if he wins the John Smith's Cup for a fourth time.

Victorious previously with Vintage Premium (2002), Charlie Tokyo (2007) and Flying Clarets (2008), Fahey saddles last year's runner-up Albaqaa, Dream Lodge, Extraterrestrial, Demolition and Porgy. Fahey also has the first reserve, Trip The Light, while Mark Johnston's Tartan Gunna is also waiting in the wings ahead of the final declarations at 9am today.

Yet the one to beat is likely to be Sir Michael Stoute's Imposing after his near-miss in the Duke of Edinburgh at Royal Ascot. He is already a course and distance winner on Knavesmire this season.

"It's been a very good race to the yard – but I'll be surprised if we have one good enough this year," said Fahey.

"It's very very competitive, but the John Smith's is always a special meeting and we'll be giving it our best crack."

Fahey's runners today include Cosmic Sun, his yard's 2009 Royal Ascot winner, while Marine Commando – this year's victor at Flat racing's summer highlight – is being saved for Glorious Goodwood at the end of the month.

"I love York. It's 25 miles down the road, which keeps the fuel bill down, and our owners love it," said Fahey who is, once again, leading the race to be the course's top trainer.

"You must be doing something right if you have a winner there – and we've had a few in recent times.

"It's very competitive. You've got the top guys, Kieren Fallon and Ryan Moore, at York tomorrow – but I hope Paul can keep his lead in the title race over the next couple of days.

"At the start of the season, I would have said that he had no chance. He's given himself a chance, and we will be doing everything possible to help him become champion."

Flat star Tom Queally has been booked to ride Yorkshire sprint legend Borderlescott at Chester tomorrow.

Queally rides the Robin Bastiman-trained veteran at Chester because the horse's regular pilot Neil Callan is due to ride at Ascot.

Borderlescott won Chester's City Wall Stakes last year ahead of a famous triumph in the Nunthorpe Stakes at York, with connections hoping that history repeats itself.

Queally is full of confidence after completing a 614-1 double yesterday at Newmarket's July meeting. After a 40-1 success on Circumvent, he guided Sans Frontieres to victory in the Princess of Wales's Stakes.

A promising three-year-old, Sans Frontieres was placed in the Craven Stakes and Dante at York before injury interrupted his Classic campaign prior to yesterday's 14-1 triumph.

The team behind Starspangledbanner believe the Australian import may have improved again ahead of today's Darley July Cup at Newmarket.

Aidan O'Brien's sprinter – reputedly the fastest horse trained by the Irish maestro – showed dramatic progression from his first run on these shores at York in May by spreadeagling the field in the Golden Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Top National Hunt Robert Thornton could be out of action for up to a year after a scan on an injured knee revealed severe ligament damage.

Darlington-born Thornton, who has ridden many big race winners for Yorkshire owner Sir Robert Ogden, was due to have surgery yesterday.

He suffered the injury when Hell's Bay crashed out at Newton Abbot on Monday.