Burke has 110 stables at his Spigot Lodge base

Middleham trainer Karl Burke will make his classic debut on Saturday when Lord Shanakill runs in the 2000 Guineas.

Burke, who has trained "a few Group winners" during his 18 years in the business, has high hopes for the horse.

He told BBC Radio York: "He was one of the top rated two-year-olds in Europe last year. He's wintered very well, he's trained very well and looks great.

"We think he goes there with a live chance, and he'll be competing in all the top races this year."

The horse has been drawn in stall 10, which is in the middle, and Burke is pleased to have avoided either of the extreme sides at the Newmarket course.

"It's great to be involved with these types of horses, and following on from him in a month's time hopefully we'll have our first Derby runner as well," he added.

"We've been working away, slowly pecking away up the ladder for the last seven or eight years.

"We've had more money to spend on horses for the last four or five years and thankfully we've spent that money wisely and got better class horses."

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