THE people's race horse, The Evening Press, made her seasonal debut yesterday at Thirsk - and although it wasn't her day, there were encouraging signs for the filly.

Press finished ninth in the Sinclair Mason Maiden Stakes over seven furlongs, 14 lengths behind the winner, the Mark Johnston-trained Purring.

But trainer Tim Etherington refused to be disappointed by the display of the three-year-old, who was partnered by Paul Eddery, younger brother of the 11-times champion jockey Pat Eddery.

Evening Press, a rank outsider at 66-1, was a little slow to leave the stalls and was always in the rear division of a race, which fell to the odds-on favourite Purring.

Etherington said: "Okay, she's finished last, but the main object of the exercise was to get her back on the course. We knew she had very little chance in a maiden race, where several of the runners are already rated in the high-70's, compared to her handicap rating of 37.

"What that basically boils down to is, that she'd be meeting all those horses on considerably better terms in handicap company, which is where she'll be going next. We'll be looking for a fillies' handicap for her, probably over a bit further than seven furlongs."

sport@ycp.co.uk

Updated: 11:26 Wednesday, June 19, 2002