Borderlescott back in action this weekend

The eight-year-old enjoyed another fantastic campaign in 2009 as he gave his Wetherby-based trainer an emotional success in the Nunthorpe Stakes at York.

The gelding was third in this weekend's Group 3 prize 12 months ago, but Bastiman believes his star turn is a fitter horse this time around.

"He'll run all being well and he seems as good as ever," said Bastiman. "His races are mapped out for him and this is an obvious place for him to start, then I'd imagine he'll got to Haydock for the Temple Stakes and onwards from there.

"We took to him Ripon the other day to work and it was just a breeze for him really, but I think he's a bit more forward than he was last year.

"Everyone knows he doesn't really come to himself until later in the year but we've got to get him started.

"We'll just take each race as it comes and we'll see how the old boy is, but he looks to have retained all of his old ability and it would be nice if he could pick up another big one somewhere. It would be nice if he could go to York and win the Nunthorpe again, but that's a long way off yet."

A total of 15 horses have been entered for the race, with Henry Candy's Amour Propre an interesting contender having been off the track August.

The Barry Hills-trained Equiano could bid to build on his recent Abernant Stakes triumph, while Arganil is a possible for Kevin Ryan.