ALL roads lead to York this weekend for a two-day meeting, highlighted by Saturday’s Macmillan Charity Day, one of the best-known fixtures in British racing.

Founded in 1971, this special day, thanks to the help of sponsors and the generosity of racegoers and supporters, has raised in excess of £5 million for charity, most notably Macmillan Cancer Support.

On Saturday, for the first time, Pocklington owner-breeder Reg Bond, through his global tyre distribution company, Bond International, sponsors the principal race – the £80,000 Bond Tyres Trophy, which has been targeted by a whole host of North Yorkshire trainers.

Tim Easterby, no stranger to success in this race in the past thanks to Dazzling Bay and Artie, has given himself a whole range of options this time around.

The Great Habton handler has three entries, headed by Cocktail Charlie, who has shaped well in both his starts this season and who is a horse Easterby has always held in high regard.

While Mappin Time and Boundaries have also been given the York option, Richard Fahey has a five-strong entry, led by Majestic Myles, who won a major handicap at Newmarket a fortnight ago on his seasonal debut.

What About You, who finished fourth that day to his stablemate, is also in Saturday’s line-up, along with Marine Commando, a Royal Ascot winner last season, Jamesway, a fast-finishing seventh – beaten less than a length – in last Saturday’s Epsom ‘Dash’, and Mr Optimistic, winner of two of his last three races for Fahey.

John Quinn, having thrown his stable-star New Planet into Group 2 company on his seasonal return, may saddle his classy colt under top weight in this richly-endowed handicap.

Unplaced in the Temple Stakes at Haydock last month, New Planet is now poised to step up to six furlongs on a course where, last August, he gained Listed honours in the Roses Stakes before going on to be narrowly beaten in the Group 2 Flying Childers Stakes at Doncaster.

Saturday’s opening contest is the 23rd running of the Queen Mother’s Cup, the richest race for lady amateur riders in Britain, which comes with an added perk as the winning jockey receives her own weight in Pol Roger champagne.

Serena Brotherton, a former winner of this coveted contest, will be extra keen to win it again on Saturday.

The Ryedale rider has enjoyed a purple patch recently, riding winners at Haydock, Goodwood and Folkestone – the latter success providing her with a milestone victory – her 50th win on the Flat.

Brotherton, whose mount on Saturday has still to be confirmed, is now on a career tally of 99 winners and, provided she does not score on booked mount Hambleton at Hamilton this week, she will head to York on the threshold of achieving a special victory.

In opposition could well be three riders out of the Fahey stable, which has five Queen Mothers’ Cup entries. Alyson Deniel, a past winner of this race, is likely to be joined by stablemates, Toni Syddall and Pip Tutty aboard Musley Bank horses which are set to include Lexington Bay, winner of a valuable handicap at Musselburgh last week.

The three-year-old was given an excellent ride on that occasion by David Nolan, who was riding his first winner for Fahey.

“I was delighted to give David a winner as he’s a very good rider and he worked hard for us throughout the winter,” said the winning trainer.

Racing at York this weekend begins on Friday at 2.10pm and Saturday at 2.05pm, with the racecourse open from 11.15am.

A silent auction, which lists prized lots including a visit to the famous Ballydoyle racing stables in County Tipperary, a week-long skiing holiday in the French Alps, a portrait sitting or the chance to drive around Silverstone, has been arranged to boost Saturday’s fundraising efforts on behalf of Macmillan Cancer Support.