O'Meara full of hope as Gulliver bids for treble tops in Coral Sprint Trophy

Saturday: 3.15 York
Coral Sprint Trophy Handicap | 6f | 3yo+ | ITV/RTV

Instantly recognisable in his distinctive dartboard silks, Gulliver will be aiming for a special treble at his favourite track having won the last two runnings of this race.

A feature in the big handicaps over the last three years, the Withernsea Thoroughbred-owned seven-year-old saves his best for York and should relish the conditions, with his wins in this in 2019 and 2020 coming on soft ground.

His trainer David O'Meara has won the Coral Sprint Trophy three times in the last five years (also with Intisaab in 2016) and has been happy with some of Gulliver's recent displays.

"He's won the race twice and hopefully he can do it again," said the trainer. "He always runs well and generally his mark stays high. It was a great run in the Stewards' Cup and a very good run in Ireland with a lot of weight again.

"Funnily enough, for all his good runs, all his turf wins [four] have come at York. He loves the place and the slower the ground the better. Adam [Kirby] got a good tune out of him at Goodwood and rides him again."

O'Meara also saddles a contender with a different profile to Gulliver as Nomadic Empire is a progressive three-year-old who has won his last two starts, including over course and distance last month.

David O'Meara: trainer is double-handed with Gulliver and Nomadic EmpireCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

"He's been running well at York this year and is an improving three-year-old sprinter," said the trainer. "Ideally, the ground won't be too soft for him, but he's in good form having won his last two races."

Gulliver came from stall six last year and five this year before, the same number as 2018 winner Major Jumbo when the race was also run on soft.

He will break from stall 21 this time and although renowned pace-setter Copper Knight is drawn in 16, the statistics point to single-figure stalls being at an advantage when the ground is riding on the soft side of good at York.

What they say

Michael Dods, trainer of Commanche Falls
He's had a great season, winning four races and is in good form. He's running in a 0-105 with top weight and ideally, it would be better to be in a 0-110 against better horses carrying less weight. He's well drawn in the middle and it might be his last run of the season.

Tim Easterby, trainer of Copper Knight, Staxton and Boardman
Copper Knight won over five and a half there at the Ebor meeting and we've always wanted to try him at six, so we thought this was as good a time as any. It's a track he likes and he'll either get it or he won't. He ran an absolute cracker at Haydock last time. Staxton is in very good form and if it's good/good to soft, he'll have a good chance. It's a case of the softer the better for Boardman. He's in good form, likes soft ground and should run well. Their draws are pretty ordinary as you want to be low to middle.

Ed Walker, trainer of Popmaster
He's in cracking form, has been running well all year and could run a big race. You can ignore his last run at Ayr as he simply didn't face the blinkers.

John Quinn, trainer of Mr Wagyu
He ran a very good race there last time and seems in good form. He likes the track.

Antony Brittain, trainer of Mondammej
I wish it would dry out a bit as he's a top-of-the-ground horse, but we'll take our chance as he's in great form. He's stepping up to six furlongs and the trip isn't an issue for him.

Adam Ryan, assistant to Kevin Ryan, trainer of Rathbone and Magical Spirit
Rathbone has had a good year and ran better than the bare result at Ayr as he seemed to be on the wrong side of the track. He handles any type of ground. Magical Spirit ran a good race at Ayr and is in good order. He'll enjoy the ground and ran a big race there last year, so hopefully he can go well again.

Tom Ward, trainer of Capote's Dream
He's been great. He's won five races for us and is still on the up. He's had a bit of time off since his last run, just to freshen him up a bit because he has been on the go for a while this year. But he seems well in himself and the ground is going to really suit. He sort of seems to do better with a bit of cut, so softer conditions will suit.

Saturday's race previews:

1.45 Newmarket: Charlie Appleby seeks flying start in the Zetland with promising Godolphin pair

2.20 Newmarket: 'We know more about him now' - can speedy Coroebus last home in Autumn Stakes?

2.55 Newmarket: 'He has sharpened up again' - Charlie Appleby full of confidence in Native Trail

3.30 Chepstow: Can Nicholls extend record in first valuable handicap hurdle of season?

3.35 Newmarket: Six of the best for Mullins as he bids for fourth consecutive Cesarewitch

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