Copper Knight ‘in grand form’ ahead of his own race

Tim Easterby’s popular sprinter Copper Knight is all set to attempt to win his ‘own’ race at York on Friday, the Copper Knight Winning-Most Horse Handicap.

The 11-year-old has won seven of his 34 races on the Knavesmire, which makes him the most successful horse in the modern era.

Copper Knight won one of six races for Hugo Palmer as a two-year-old way back in 2016, before being bought for the bargain price of just 5,000 guineas by William Easterby, Tim’s son and assistant.

He has now run 115 times, winning 18 and finishing second on another 12 occasions and earning the best part of £500,000 in prize-money.

His career-high mark was 106, achieved in 2019 when he won a Listed race, and he will be ridden by rising star apprentice Warren Fentiman, whose father Duran won on Copper Knight at Chester in June earlier this year.

“It’s a good job he won last time out as he just squeezed into his own race right at the bottom of the weights,” said Easterby.

“He’s in grand form, he really is, but he’s drawn 15 which is a concern, I’d rather be drawn five.

“Obviously we know he absolutely loves York, so fingers crossed.”

He added: “I don’t know if I’ve ever trained one where the same horse has been ridden to win by a father and son. That would be nice if he can manage it, but he’s got to win first before we think about that!

“As usual at York it’s a massive field, I’d love to be a bookmaker there!”

Tom Denham, who works at Easterby’s Great Habton Stables to the east of York and whose family own Copper Knight under the banner Ventura Racing, said: “He’s just been an unbelievable horse to be involved with. He still loves getting up in the morning and going for a canter.

“People ask all the time ‘when are you going to retire him?’, but he just loves the job so much. There are no plans to retire him on Friday anyway.

“I’m lucky enough to work at Tim’s and get to see him most mornings. It’s just an absolute joy to be involved with him. We don’t take anything for granted. I’m hoping to be in racing for a very long time and I’m not sure I’ll ever have one as good as him.”