Copper Knight could make a swift return to action if he runs in the £65,000 William Hill Beverley Bullet on Saturday.

Tim Easterby’s five-year-old sprinter, owned by Middleham Park Racing, finished an honourable fifth in the Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes at York last Friday. But after having taken those exertions within his stride, connections now have the gelded son of Sir Prancealot in contention for the biggest race of the season at Beverley.

Tom Palin, Middleham Park spokesman, said: “The Beverley Bullet looks a good race for him, but it will depend on how much rain falls. He does like a bit of cut in the ground but it was a very promising run in the Nunthorpe at York last time and he’s come out of that race in great form. When you look at the times, I think he clocked a faster time than Battaash in the first few furlongs, so he’s obviously a very quick horse. The Beverley Bullet has always been a race we’ve been really keen to win as Beverley is our most local track. He looks a right old candidate for it, too.”

Copper Knight, one of 18 possible runners in the five-furlong William Hill Beverley Bullet, is already a Listed winner this summer, having claimed victory in the John Smith’s City of Walls Stakes at York on July 13. Palin added: “The Beverley Bullet looks very competitive, as you’d expect, but we’ll be back in calmer waters compared to the Nunthorpe. He’s a pretty versatile horse – very uncomplicated. He’s run before at Beverley, too, so you’d imagine he’d handle the track without a problem. It will be a nice prize to win, so we’ll see how much rain they get in the next few days.”

Copper Knight can be backed at 10-1 with William Hill, with the big-race sponsors having installed Tis Marvellous, who won the Betfred Heritage Handicap at Ascot last time out, as the 11-4 favourite.