Go Racing in Yorkshire Summer Festival continues at Thirsk on Friday

The Go Racing in Yorkshire Summer Festival - sponsored by Sky Bet - returns to Thirsk Racecourse on Friday, July 26, with a seven-race card starting at 2.10pm live on Racing TV.

Racegoers at the North Yorkshire track are in for a treat, with top jockeys riding including Danny Tudhope, who lives in Thirsk and is leading the Stobart-sponsored British Flat Jockeys' Championship.

The reigning Flat Champion Jockey, Silvestre de Sousa, is also in action as are another Champion Flat Jockey, Paul Hanagan, and Hayley Turner, the most successful ever British female jockey.

Tudhope, the top jockey at Thirsk this year with eight wins including his 1,000 British victory on June 3, leads the way from Malton-based David Allan (2019 Thirsk record - seven successes).

Headlining the racing action is the £15,000 Anderson Barrowcliff Chartered Accountants Nursery Handicap (3.55pm, nine runners) over six furlongs.

Local trainer John Quinn is anticipating a good run from Coastal Mist on his handicap debut. The Gutaifan two-year-old colt scored on debut at Wetherby in May before hitting the frame under a penalty in similar contests at Ripon on June 20 and Hamilton on July 2.

Quinn, who is based at Settrington, said this morning: "As we speak, Coastal Mist is in very good form.

"He won nicely first time at Wetherby and then was just beaten at Ripon. I thought his performance at Hamilton was good considering he had a penalty plus the fact I think it was a reasonable race for the grade.

"He has run well each time and I'm expecting another good performance on Friday. Whether or not 75 is a workable handicap mark, I suppose we will know more come Saturday morning!"

Coastal Mist is one of six making their handicap debuts in the Anderson Barrowcliff Chartered Accountants Nursery.

The others include Carlisle scorer Aberama Gold, Leicester victor Bushtucker Trial and dual winner Rose Of Kildare, who was second in the Hilary Needler Trophy at Beverley before finishing eighth behind Pinatubo in the Listed Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Top-weight Troubador is chasing a three-timer following victories in a Carlisle novice contest on June 17 and a nursery handicap at York on July 13. He also scored at Redcar earlier in the campaign.

Elsewhere on the card, Middleham-based Mark Johnston, the most successful trainer of all-time in Britain, has Mondain, who tackles two miles for the first time in the Tomrods Steel Stockholder And Service Centre Handicap (4.30pm, eight runners). From the family of world champion Manduro, the three-year-old has won two of his four starts in handicaps since being gelded.

Thirsk's seven-race programme starts at 2.10pm and ends at 5.40pm, with the gates opening at 11.30am.

The going at Thirsk is currently Good following 13mm of rain overnight. The outlook is warm and sunny.

Always a popular fixture, Thirsk's Go Racing In Yorkshire Summer Festival day has an array of entertainment for all the family, including bouncy castles and live music between races from Irish band Blimey O'Reilly.

There is a Sky Bet jockey football challenge in the parade ring before the first race, where the jockeys get to practice their ball skills.

Popular mascot Festival Freddie is attending and giving away Go Racing in Yorkshire Festival goodies throughout the afternoon.

All accompanied children aged under 18 gain free entry to Friday's fixture. Admission prices start from just £6.

Free parking is offered, and the racecourse is less than a mile from Thirsk Station, from where a free shuttle bus operates.

All the information needed by new and existing racegoers can be found on the racecourse's official website - www.thirskracecourse.net - where tickets can be bought, along with many special packages.