The Mick Easterby-trained Hoofalong is almost set to make a return to the racecourse following a highly encouraging debut at the York Dante meeting.
Part-owned by golfer Lee Westwood and his manager Andrew 'Chubby' Chandler, the juvenile went off at 25-1 for a five-furlong novice event on the Knavesmire and looked inexperienced when slowly out of the stalls.
However, he made eyecatching progress through the field and eventually finished second, beaten only half a length, to the more experienced Lastchancelucas.
Chandler said: "He's had the sniffles but he's coming along nicely and is about a week and a half away from running in a maiden somewhere.
"Hopefully he'll win and we can look towards the Gimcrack Stakes."
