TRAINER Pat O’Donnell is hoping to map a route to the Ebor Handicap at York in August for his stable star Extensio.

Last season Extensio won a two-mile handicap at the Ebor meeting, prompting wild celebrations in the winner’s enclosure for what a very popular success. The dual-purpose gelding went on to win a handicap hurdle at Tipperary in October before being given a winter break.

O’Donnell, who trains in Kilmallock, was plotting a Royal Ascot raid for this season but a setback in-training has forced a change in plan for the eight-year-old gelding. “He missed six to eight weeks,” the trainer told The Irish Field. “It wasn’t a dramatic setback and he is well back on track but it means Ascot is out. He has a lot of cantering done; I think he will start what I would call intermediate work next week.”

Asked about future targets, he said: “It’s big talk but we’re going to try and get him into the Ebor. The race did not fill last year, for the first time, and off his current rating of 92 he would get in with a nice weight.”

Extensio was ridden at York by Joey Sheridan but O’Donnell’s daughter Sylvia has also won on him twice. Svlvia and her father teamed up for a winner at Gowran Park this week with Hemight.

“I’d love Sylvia to get a spin on Extensio before York but it’s too early to start picking races. His rating restricts him a bit but there are three or four suitable races and we won’t be stuck.”