CLASSIC contender Astaire has the option of dropping back to a sprint trip at York in May should he not look like shaping into a Qipco 2000 Guineas contender.

Winner of the Middle Park Stakes last year, Astaire is scheduled to return to action over seven furlongs at Newbury in the Greenham a week tomorrow, with trainer Kevein Ryan hopeful of him staying further than a sprint trip.

However, the Hambleton handler has entered both Astaire and his Middle Park runner-up Hot Streak in the Duke of York Clipper Logistics Stakes on the Knavesmire on May 14 in case a Classic run is ruled out.

‘‘Astaire and Hot Streak have wintered very well. Astaire is being aimed at the Guineas. We will start off over seven furlongs at Newbury in the Greenham and if we are guaranteed he is going to stay, he will go for the Guineas,’’ said Ryan.

‘‘We just want another option if we thought he wasn’t going to stay the mile. That is why he is having a provisional entry in the Duke of York.

“He will run in the Greenham and then that will tell us where we are going from there.

‘‘Hot Streak will probably go to Newmarket for the Palace House and start there.

At the same time, we’ve an option to go York with him if he doesn’t turn up at Newmarket.’’ Another Yorkshire trainer who could be represented in the Group Two race is David Barron with Pearl Secret, who ran just once last year when third in the King’s Stand.

‘‘He has been back in work since December and seems in good form,’’ said Barron.

‘‘He is in fast work. I would hope we would get a run before we would aim for a race like the Duke of York, anyway.”