Commando On York Mission

Ian McInnes is hoping the ground does not dry out too much at York tomorrow ahead of the paddypower.com Sprint Trophy.

The Beverley-based handler saddles bottom weight Commando Scott in the £35,000 six-furlong dash, the feature event on the final raceday of the season on the Knavesmire.

'Our biggest concern is the ground. We had him in over a mile there on the Friday and I probably wish I'd have run him in that now.

'We had enough rain on Tuesday, but it's been drying thick and fast and there's no rain forecast,' said McInnes.

'It's a warm race but he deserves his chance, he's at the top of his game and is in great order.

'We are down at the bottom of the weights and he's relatively fresh. He's a soft-ground horse and I gave him three months off in the middle of our so-called summer.

'I think my fellow maybe better over seven, but he is quite versatile.'

Commando Scott's latest run came over six furlongs at Haydock where he was beaten a length and a quarter by Dabbers Ridge, but he meets his old rival on 3lb better terms.

Other opponents in a maximum 20-strong field headed by Group One-winning top-weight Somnus include last year's winner Rising Shadow and 2006 Gimcrack hero Conquest.

(C) PA Sport