Hi all,
I was at York yesterday and I might be end up going on Friday, so today’s preview is shorter than normal.
Today’s feature race is the Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes (3:35) with Highfield Princess bidding to retain her crown in the 5f contest. The undercard is strong with the Lonsdale Cup (2:25) and the Gimcrack Stakes (3:00) the other highlights.
York Ebor Festival – Day 3
1:50 – Sky Bet Handicap (Heritage Handicap) (Class 2) – 1m 4f
Balance Play is an improving middle distance handicapper who won at Chester and latterly Goodwood three weeks ago. Likely quicker ground and 7lb higher but going the right way and has big claims.
Wootton’Sun was well positioned to win in a modestly run Old Newton Cup two starts back but backed up that effort when a short head 2nd of 10 to Scampi at the Shergar Cup last time. Up 5lb but looks capable of another big performance with Paul Hanagan taking his final ride.
Paradias posted a career best on RPR’s when winning a Sandown handicap (1m 2f) in June. He hasn’t been disgraced on either start since including when a 3 length 4th of 15 at Goodwood (1m 2f) 24 days ago. Shapes like he’s worth another try at today’s distance and should go well.
Savvy Knight is in with a chance on the best of his form. The 4-year-old completed an early season hat trick in 2022 and personal best when a slightly unlucky 1 ¾ length 4th of 19 in the King George V Handicap at Royal Ascot. Comes into the race after being beaten a nose at Newcastle 27 days ago. Same mark here but does needs quick ground. Overpriced with Danny Tudhope booked.
The lightly raced Intinso gets to race on quick ground for the first time. The 3-year-old ran well when a ½ length 3rd of 10 at the Shergar Cup last time. That was his first start over 1m 4f and he remains capable of better.
2:25 – Weatherbys Hamilton Lonsdale Cup Stakes (Group 2) – 2m ½ f
Quickthorn got a solo out in front when winning the Group 1 Goodwood Cup last time as he did when he won this corresponding race 12 months ago. Surely his six rivals won’t allow him the same freedom this afternoon.
Three of Quickthorn’s rivals finished behind him at Goodwood Coltrane (3rd), Giavellotto (5th), Courage Mon Ami (6th) and Broome (7th).
Coltrane runner-up to Courage Mon Ami in the Ascot Gold Cup, who wasn’t seen at his best last time is clearly capable of winning this.
Courage Mon Ami won the Ascot Gold Cup on quick ground but wasn’t suited by easy ground at Goodwood. A return to his Royal Ascot form would make him hard to beat here.
Giavellotto improved to win the Yorkshire Cup (1m 6f) here in May. Off for 11 weeks before finishing a 6 ¼ lengths 5th of 11 to Quickthorn in Goodwood Cup last time. He was only ½ length behind Coltrane that day and was double the price of that one on Thursday lunchtime.
Broome has been out of form on his last two starts and might well be regressing but he was only beaten 1 ½ length by Giavellotto here in the Yorkshire Cup and had looked as good as ever when winning the Dubai Gold Cup (2m) Meydan in March.
3:00 – Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Gimcrack Stakes (Group 2) – 6f
Johannes Brahms a son Siyouni colt won on racecourse debut at Naas in May and then finished runner-up in the Windsor Castle at Royal Ascot (5f). Remains capable of better returned to 6f but Aidan O’Brien doesn’t normally send his best juveniles to this meeting.
Kings’ Gamble is a nicely bred son of Kingman and looked like a smart prospect when winning on racecourse debut at Newmarket 21 days ago. He dropped into the deep end here on his second start but is capable of plenty of improvement.
Jehangeer is another taking a big step up in class here. A comfortable winner of an Ayr maiden 62 days ago. Like King’s Gamble he’s open to plenty of progress and trainer Kevin Ryan has won the race four times since 2005.
3:35 – Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes (Group 1) – 5f
Highfield Princess last years winner was back to her very best when running out an easy winner of a Group 2 at Goodwood three weeks ago. Will be tough to beat here.
Bradsell improved when beating Highfield Princess a length in the King Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot. Hasn’t run since Royal Ascot and has been kept fresh for this.
Big Evs is the one juvenile in the line-up and gets a lot of weight from his older rivals. The colt won the Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot and improved again when winning the Group 3 Molecomb Stakes at Goodwood 23 days ago. Needs to have improved again but he should be bang there.
Regional has a bit to find ratings with the principals but he’s lightly raced and is well suited to a flat 5f, won a valuable C&D handicap and followed up in a Listed race at Haydock in June. A 76-day break is no inconvenience either as he’s got a good record fresh. Needs a sound surface so hopefully the rain stays away.
Twilight Calls is a smart sprinter on his day on quick ground. The 5-year-old bounced back to form, after a couple of low key runs in May, when a 3 ¼ length 4th of 17 in the King Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot last time. He didn’t get the best of passages 1f out that day and could get into the places with Frankie Dettori booked.
4:10 – Assured Data Protection EBF Fillies’ Handicap (Heritage Handicap) (Class 2) – 1m 2 ½ f
Rowayeh won a Beverley maiden in May and followed up on handicap debut at Sandown the following month. The 3-year-old improved again when a 1½ length 3rd of 18 at Goodwood (1m) 24-days ago. She could improve for the step up to 1m 2f and should prefer the better ground.
Amanzoe hasn’t been seen since finishing a 2 length 2nd of 10 to State Occasion in this corresponding race last year. That was an improved effort by the 4-year-old and although she’s 5lb higher but the William Haggas trained filly must be seriously considered.
Youngest won a Leicester novice on her juvenile debut last September but hardly beat a rival on three subsequent starts. There was more to like about her 4 length of 7th of 18 at Goodwood last time (Rowayeh 3rd). She didn’t get the best of runs in the straight last time and the step up to 1m 2f could suit (dam won a Grade 1 in Canada over the distance. Trainer saddled the winner of the race in 2020.
Irish challenger Lan Cinnte showed a good turn of foot to gain a second career success when beating five rivals at Galway (1m ½ f) 23 days ago. The runner-up has gone in since so the form looks solid enough. Not certain to stay today’s longer distance but can go well if she does.
4:45 – British EBF 40th Anniversary Convivial Maiden Stakes (Class 2) – 7f
The most valuable flat maiden run in Britain during the year with £51,540 on offer to the winner.
Newcomers are 2 winners from 69 bets since the race was first inaugurated in 2010 and the best of them could be the Kevin Ryan trained colt Sisyphean. The son of Dubawi has been backed this week and he’s got be considered if there is more market support for him on the day. Trainer loves to have winners here but he’s 0 winners from 16 runners, 1 placed in the race.
Seven of the thirteen winners have had one previous race. That brings Zain Blue into the mix. The son of Blue Point cost 170,000 gns as a yearling and shaped with plenty of promise when a 1 ¾ length 2nd of 7 to Gimcrack fancy King’s Gamble at Newmarket three weeks ago. The step up to 7f should bring out more improvement in the colt who has a Group 2 entry. Trainer John Butler had a winner here on Wednesday so that’s an another positive.
5:20 – Sky Bet Mile Handicap (Heritage Handicap) (Class 2) – 1m
Today’s five micro system’s can be found in yesterday’s post.
Glenfinnan finished runner-up in the Convivial here 12 months ago and gained his first success in a Yarmouth maiden in September. Shaped with plenty of encouragement on his seasonal reappearance when a 2 length 4th of 8 at Newmarket last month. Below par when 9th of 17 at Goodwood 22 days ago. It was soft ground at Goodwood and a return to sound surface should see him in a better light.
Silver Sword improved to win two of his first three starts this season. Failed to stay 1m 2f on soft ground at Goodwood 22 days ago. He’s another who will be suited by a return to quick ground and must be seriously considered.
Catch The Paddy won a nursery here (6f) last July before being outclassed in the Gimcrack. There was plenty to like about his neck 2nd of 14 here in May (7f) on his seasonal return, off today’s mark. He hasn’t built on his reappearance effort on two subsequent starts but had looked like a step up to a mile might suit in May. First run since wind surgery and he could run well at price.
Bajan Bandit has improved for the switch to the Grant Tuer yard winning two of his last three starts. It was a career best from him when winning here (7f) last month. Up 7lb and up 1f in trip today but should be in the mix given his current form.
Betting Advice:
York
1:50 – Intinso – 1pt win – 13/2 @ Coral and Savvy Knight – 1pt win – 20/1 @ Bet365
2:25 – Giavellotto – 1pt win – 7/1 @ Coral
3:35 – Twilight Calls – 1pt win – 16/1 @ Coral and Big Evs – 1pt win – 7/1 @ Coral
4:10 – Youngest – 1pt win – 8/1 @ Coral and Amanzoe – 1pt win – 13/2 @ Coral
5:15 – Catch The Paddy – 1pt win – 16/1 @ Coral.
Cheers
John