Trainer Tim Easterby chases a hat-trick in York's Charity Stakes

Easterby, who trains at Habton Grange near Malton, won the Macmillan Charity Stakes with Body and Soul, in 2013, and See The Sun in 2014.

For the latest renewal on Saturday, he has three entries headed by Copper Knight, the winner of the five furlong Unibet Sprint at York just three weeks ago.

The race has been re-named the 'Catherine Kinloch Paver Memorial Macmillan Charity Stakes' in honour of local shoe retailer Cathy Paver who died this year.

"It’s a brilliant race to target with a three-year-old sprinter," said Easterby. "And we’re willing to support York if we can.

"We are just deciding whether to run at York or Sandown," he added. "He has never run over six furlongs before - that’s the only dodge we’re a little bit concerned about.

"But I should think there would be a good chance he’d run. He’s in good form and the money is fantastic."

Only two horses among the 29-strong entry for the six-furlong contest have a higher official rating than Copper Knight's figure of 101.

The son of Sir Prancealot has won his last two races but has only competed at the minimum distance of five furlongs in his nine career starts. This is why he is also entered in Sandown's Listed Scurry Stakes.

Easterby has also entered 89-rated Hope Solo, who has not run in nearly a year in July, and the 81-rated Golden Apollo who won a sprint handicap at Pontefract on Monday evening.

That victory only increased the likelihood of him running in the Charity Stakes while Hope Solo could yet be switched to Friday's £30,000 EBF Breeders Series Fillies Handicap.

"Hope Solo is in good form and working well," said Easterby. "I’ll speak to (owner) Steve Parkin. She is also in at York on the Friday. She will definitely run one day there."

Easterby is a big supporter of York's Macmillan Charity Raceday where, last year, his daughter Emily won the Queen Mother’s Cup on Snoano.

York’s two-day June meeting starts on Friday afternoon.