A NORTH Yorkshire trainer has bought three new race horses – shares of which will be available to win via raffle with proceeds going to a racing charity.

Mark Johnston, based in Middleham, has two horses from the Tattersalls October Sales and one from Goffs Sportsman's Sale, for which shares are available to win this week via the Racehorse Lotto’s Mark Johnston Racing Raffle.

Yearlings by Australia, Iffraaj and Cotai Glory are the trio of horses which will make up the Kingsley Park 20 Partnership, where a 5 per cent share is being raffled off at £2 a ticket with 20 per cent of sales going to Racing Welfare. The raffle closes at midnight on Monday, October 19.

Mr Johnston said: “The ring at Tattersalls was as fiercely competitive as ever this year but I think we’ve managed to come away with some beautiful prospects for the raffle entrants to get excited about.

“I can’t guarantee we’ve got the next Frankel on our hands but, for just £2 with 20 per cent going to Racing Welfare, I’d say it’s well worth a shot.”Johnston Racing went to 22,000gns for a chestnut son of 2014 Derby winner Australia, out of Group 1-winning dam, Aoife Alainn, while the hammer came down at 10,000gns for another chestnut colt, this time a half-brother to Listed winner Elegiac whom Johnston already trains.

The two Tattersalls purchases add to Johnston Racing’s September purchase, a well-bred filly by Cotai Glory out of a 2003 Cheveley Park Stakes winner Carry On Katie.

Hugh O’Donnell, founder and CEO of Furlong Gaming, the parent company of Racehorse Lotto, said: “With just a few days left to buy tickets and the horses there for everyone to see, the excitement and anticipation is reaching fever pitch. Mark looks to have got his hands on three really nice types and we look forward to announcing a winner of the raffle next week.

“With this raffle, as well as our weekly Racehorse Lotto competition, we’re trying open up the dream of racehorse ownership to as many people as possible, while also helping to give back to the sport we all love by partnering with Racing Welfare.”

For full details and to enter the Mark Johnston Racing Raffle, visit: www.racehorselotto.com/mark-johnston-racing-raffle.