YORKSHIRE trainer David Griffiths has confirmed that sprint star Take Cover is on course for another tilt at the Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes at York’s Welcome to Yorkshire Ebor Festival this month.

The evergreen gelding proved age is no barrier to success last week when landing the Group 2 King George Stakes at Goodwood for the second successive season.

Take Cover had 16 rivals behind him that afternoon and Griffiths believes it may well have been his charge’s best ever run.

“He’s as good as ever, definitely. Arguably, he’s better than ever,” said Griffiths.

“He has come out of the race really well, he likes York, and we go there, hopefully, all guns blazing.”

“Good ground is fine, on the quick side is better, and good-to-firm like it was at Goodwood is ideal. We are just praying for no rain.”

Take Cover is proven over the fast five furlongs of the Knavesmire, winning twice previously over course and distance.

He also ran respectably to finish eighth in the 2014 renewal of the Group 1 Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes behind Sole Power.

“When he got beat by Sole Power, just a fraction before the off, he went up over the top of the stalls, whacked his head and still ran very well that day and was only beaten two lengths,” reflected Griffiths.

“We’ve fixed the stalls problem now, touch wood.”

The four day Ebor Festival starts on Wednesday, August 17 with the £900,000 Juddmonte International, the richest ever race to be staged on the Knavesmire.

The Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes, worth £340,000, is the fastest contest of 25 at the festival and takes place on Friday, August 19.

Take Cover is currently priced 12-1 with bookmakers and would not be the oldest first-time Group 1 winner as Yavana’s Pace won the Grosser Preis Von Bayern for Mark Johnston in 2002 aged 10.