RACING legend Mick Easterby is letting his luxury farmhouse for York Royal Ascot.

Mr Easterby - based at Sheriff Hutton - is one of Britain's top trainers and has notched up a string of high-profile winners during an illustrious turf career.

North Yorkshire estate agents Boulton & Cooper Stephensons confirmed the straight-talking tycoon had asked them to find a suitable short-term tenant for one of his properties, a four-bedroom farmhouse in Sheriff Hutton, for the June 2005 meeting.

Angela Egan, of the agents, said: "He is one of the people who has approached us and asked us to manage one of his properties.

"He said whoever takes up the property will get a tip for the first race and he'll cook breakfast for them."

Yorkshire-born Mr Easterby, 70, who owns large tracts of land, comes from a prestigious racing dynasty of farmers-turned-trainers - and is bound to have a direct interest in the five-day York meeting. His famous winners over four decades include Mrs McArdy in the 1,000 Guineas, Wiganthorpe, in the Gimcrack Stakes, and Lochnager, who won the Champion Sprinter.

His Sheriff Hutton stables trains a host of future racing stars amid top-class facilities. His flamboyant website includes an on-line casino and betting tips.

Mr Easterby said he had "no idea" how much he could get for the property. But estate agents believe £10,000 to £12,000 for a five-bedroomed house for ten was a reasonable request at this stage.

The trainer told the Evening Press: "I'm really looking forward to the festival and might be making a bit of money out of it.

"I'm delighted Ascot is coming to York. It's a beautiful city and will do a great job."

As reported in the Evening Press, Mr Easterby is not the first North Yorkshire landowner to register an interest in Ascot letting. Charles Clive, who lives in a farmhouse close to his ancestral home of Nunnington Hall, also hopes to cash-in as York hotels hike prices up and still sell out fast. The aristocrat joked he may camp out at Castle Howard's holiday park during the five-day festival.

News of the trainer's rental request came as it was confirmed celebrity chef Ross Burden will be cooking in the county during the festival.

Mrs Egan booked the Ready, Steady Cook star, available to hire for dinner parties or to provide hampers and barbecues for five-star race-goers.

She said: "This will be a unique dining experience as part of our bespoke service.

"If people want a helicopter to take them to the festival, beauty treatment, pet-minding services or a celebrity chef cooking fine food, we'll try and get it for them.

"This is not just about making money - this is about giving people a great Yorkshire welcome."

Updated: 10:28 Friday, March 12, 2004