Highfield Stables, home to Ryedale trainer James Hetherton, and one of the most famous racing yards in the country, is set to be sold.

In a deal reputed to be worth £1million, the showpiece Norton establishment is the target of Dr John Hollowood, who owns Breckenbrough House stables near Thirsk, where Grand National-winning jockey Andy Turnell is the trainer.

Turnell is now likely to switch to Highfield, paving the way for Jack and Lynda Ramsden to return to Breckenbrough House, which they originally sold to Hollowood in 1998, after quitting training and moving to France.

It is thought that the Ramsdens are keen to pick up the threads of their successful training career and a return to their former base looks very much on the cards.

Hollowood announced during the summer that he was looking for another yard with a selection of gallops which would be better suited to training jumpers than those available at his current base.

Negotiations are understood to be at an early stage, but it seems that the wealthy owner's search for new premises is now over.

James Hetherton, whose family bought Highfield from Bill Elsey 12 years ago, is thought likely to remain training there, in a second yard, once the deal is done.

York brings down the curtain on its 2000 campaign this weekend with a three-day meeting, which starts tomorrow and reaches a climax on Saturday with the £30,000 Coral Eurobet Sprint Trophy.