IN-FORM Yorkshire trainer, Nigel Tinkler, has outlined how progressive speedster, Citron Major, is an intended runner in the £100,000 Pavers Foundation Catherine Memorial Sprint Handicap this Saturday.

The colt has won two of his last three starts, including an impressive five-length success at Ripon a fortnight ago.

He has since been raised a hefty 11lb in the handicap but is nevertheless prominent in the betting for the Knavesmire’s six-furlong contest for three-year-olds only.

Tinkler, who trains close to Malton, said: “The intention is to run. He will work tomorrow morning over three furlongs. If everything goes okay he’ll definitely run.

“He has done everything correctly. He is a six-furlong specialist. He went up quite a bit in the handicap after his last run but he did win quite easily.

“His racing weight (for Saturday) is 8st 5lb at the moment and he’d have an each-way chance.

“I think he is in on the upgrade. He’s just a lovely individual – he has got gears.

“Fast ground would be fine but a little bit of rain wouldn’t go amiss. I don’t think it would go amiss for anyone.”

Like many trainers Tinkler always hopes to have a horse to aim at this valuable sprint race.

He said: “In history a lot of the horses that have won it have gone on and been very good.

“It is a very good race. And I think anybody who has a decent horse has this race in the back of their minds from August of their two-year-old career. You think, ‘Hang on a sec, this could be a horse for that race.

“I didn’t get Citron Major until November time but it has been on our mind for a while.”

Tinkler has his team in fine fettle with the winners flowing nicely as the season really starts to heat up.

He said: “The horses are well. But what happened yesterday, that’s history. We’re looking forward to today and tomorrow!”

Tinkler’s stable will also be represented at York on Friday – the opening afternoon of the course’s two-day meeting. His charge Kaeso will line up in the Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Handicap, one of seven races on the card.

The opener on Friday is at 1.50pm, while the feature race is the mrgreen.com Live Casino Ganton Stakes. This one-mile £50,000 Listed contest has attracted five runners, including last year’s Group 1 Sussex Stakes hero, Here Comes When.