Hi all,
Day three of the Ebor Festival. I managed to break my foot so spent most of yesterday’s racing in A&E so this preview is a bit shorter than previous ones.
Today’s feature race is the Group 1 Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes (3:35) and 15 sprinters led by Suesa and Golden Pal are set to blaze down York’s 5f course. There’s a good supporting card with two Group 2 contests. Former Champion Stayer Stradivarius who missed the Goodwood Cup due to soft ground bids to win the Group 2 Weatherbys Hamilton Lonsdale Cup Stakes (2:25) for a record third time.
After yesterday’s Lowther Stakes it’s the turn of the juvenile colts & geldings to shine in the Group 2 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Gimcrack Stakes (3:00).
1:50 – Sky Bet Handicap (Class 2) – 1m 4f
Wink Of An Eye has been cleverly placed to win his last four handicaps. He won with a bit more in hand the winning margin at Goodwood suggests last time. Up 4lb and on ground quicker ground but can’t be ruled out.
State Of Bliss was a neck behind Wink Of An Eye at Goodwood and has since boosted that form when stepping up to 1m 4f to win at the Shergar Cup. Stayed well that day but now has to give Wink Of An Eye 4lb.
Strawberry Rock responded well to the fitting of the first time cheekpieces when winning at Windsor on his seasonal return. Ran just as well when runner-up to Untold Story at Newmarket last time. Must be respected off just 1lb higher here.
Dark Jedi won nicely at Ripon two starts back over today’s trip. Travelled better than anything coming two 2f but his stamina seemed to run out over 1m 6f. The return to this distance is a plus and he ran well here last year.
Throne Hall ran as if something was amiss when almost pulling up at Newmarket 42-days ago and didn’t run to well at Royal Ascot either. Had been in good form in the spring though winning at Doncaster and finishing a ½ length 2nd of 7 at Thirsk. He also posted an excellent effort over C&D when a 3 ½ length 3rd of 15 to Ilaraab at the Dante Meeting. In the mix if bouncing back to his earlier form.
Verdict: The handicapper has struggled to get a handle on the progressive Wink Of An Eye. He’s the one to beat with Throne Hall and Dark Jedi his main dangers.
1pt win – Dark Jedi – 11/1 @ Paddy Power & Betfair Sportsbook
1pt win – Throne Hall – 12/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
2:25 – Weatherbys Hamilton Lonsdale Cup Stakes (Group 2) – 2m
An opportunity for Stradivarius to bounce back and make history by winning the race for a third time.
Trueshan surely won’t run on quick ground that leaves Spanish Mission who won the Yorkshire Cup here in May and finished a placed ahead of the favourite in the Ascot Gold Cup.
Willie Mullins brings over Stratum who isn’t totally out of this on his best form. Stays 2m 4f on the flat as he showed when winning the Ascot Stakes at Royal meeting. Mullins saddled the winner of this in 2015.
Verdict: Can Stradivarius return to his best? Stratum finished runner-up in this race 12 months ago and has a better chance than his odds suggest.
1pt win – Stratum – 14/1 @ William Hill
3:00 – Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Gimcrack Stakes (Group 2) – 6f
Lusail had Asymmetric and recent Group 1 Ebro River winner behind when winning the Group 2 July Stakes at Newmarket last time. He faces 10 rivals here but will be a warm order to give Richard Hannon a second win in the race.
Berkshire Shadow a winner of his first two starts including the Group 2 Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot (good to firm). Found soft ground and a steadily run Group 2 Vintage Stakes at Goodwood not playing to his strengths but he ran an excellent race in the circumstances. The drop back to a strongly run 6f on a sound surface will be more to his liking. Big chance but stall 11 could be better.
Fearby a comfortable winner of 5f Sandown Listed race was no match for the smart Armor when runner-up in the Group 3 Molecomb Stakes at Goodwood last time. Better ground today should suit him and if he reproduces his Sandown form, he’s not got much to find with Lusail and Berkshire Shadow. First start over 6f but he should stay the extra furlong.
Vintage Clarets was 1 ½ lengths behind Berkshire Shadow at Royal Ascot and gets 3lb from that one here. He wasn’t suited by the drop back to 5f in the Super Sprint at Newbury last time and better can be expected back at 6f today.
3:35 – Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes (Group 1) – 5f
Today’s feature race is the Group 1 Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes (3:35). French filly Suesa gets an opportunity to enhance her claims to be the best sprinter in Europe after her recent impressive Goodwood win. Wesley Ward sends over Golden Pal who he says is the best horse he’s ever trained. There’s also a rare juvenile runner in Chipotle who gets plenty of weight from the older sprinters. This should be a run at a very fast pace with Winter Power, Golden Pal, Que Amoro and Bedford Flyer all liking to be on the speed.
Suesa was so impressive when winning the Group 2 King George Stakes at Goodwood last time by 3 lengths from Dragon Symbol. If can reproduce that run here on quicker ground, she’s the one to beat. Not sure about her high draw though.
Unlike Suesa, Dragon Symbol didn’t have the perfect trip. He had to briefly wait for a gap 2f out and he hung right and made his effort out wider than the winner. He’s got 3 lengths to find with Suesa on that running but the anticipated strong gallop will suit and he’s proven on quick ground. He’s talented enough to win this but needs to stay straight.
Arecibo was back in 4th in the King George. He’s been in tremendous form this season. The 6-year-old had been suited by the end-to-end gallop when coming from off the pace to finish runner-up to Oxted in the Group 1 King Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot. Ridden closer to the pace at Goodwood he was as ever last off the bridle. He hit the front 1f out but that was far to early for him and he was seen off I the final 100yds. Expect to see him ridden to close as he was at Royal Ascot.
Golden Pal looked a real speedster when comfortably winning the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint at Keenland last November. Just the one start this year when winning a Grade 3 at Saratoga last month.
Winter Power made it 2-2 over C&D when winning a Listed race last month. Needs to improve again to win in this company but she’s only a 3-year-old and it’s possible she will. Given the speed she’s shown here before she could be hard to peg back.
It’s a long time since a 2-year-old won the Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes. In fact, you must go back Kingsgate Native way back in 2007 for the last one. Although Acapulco did finish runner-up in 2015 renewal. Mind you only 14 have tried since 1998 and the last two did so five years ago.
There is one juvenile entered in this year’s race and its Chipotle. However, he does need fast ground and the quicker the better. A winner of the Listed Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot. I think he would have won in the Super Sprint at Newbury but for being hampered 1f out. If he had won that day, he would have been 4-4 on good or faster ground. You can put a line through his run in the Molecomb Stakes at Goodwood last time as the ground was too soft for him.
Hollie Doyle has been booked for the ride and the first time cheekpieces are applied. It’s going to be big ask but I can see him running well.
Verdict: A very competitive looking renewal and there’s expected to be a lot of pace courtesy of Winter Power, Golden Pal and Bedford Flyer. Suesa has a tricky draw to overcome but looks a worthy favourite. At bigger odds an each-way investment on the sole juvenile Chipotle could pay off and Arecibo could get into the money from off the pace.
1pt each way – Chipotle – 25/1 @ Paddy Power & Betfair Sportsbook
4:40 – Assured Data Protection EBF Fillies’ Handicap (Class 2) – 1m 2 ½ f
Four 3-year-old last time out winners Achelois, Umneyaat, Sea La Rosa & Jewel In My Crown are sure to be popular with punters here.
Of the four Jewel In The Crown came from off the pace to win at Nottingham last time. She’s up 6lb for that success and up in class here but she’s a 3-year-old going the right way and the handicapper may not have got hold of her just yet.
The 4-year-old Declared Interest must give weight to some improvers but she’s not out of this. An excellent 1 length 4th of 15 in a Royal Ascot handicap. She improved again to win at Newbury two starts back, off 5lb lower and possibly found the run coming to quick when only 5th in a Listed race at Ascot 28-days ago. Return to 1m 2f looks interesting as she’s only had two starts over the distance and showed she stayed it when winning at Chelmsford last October. Stall 11 isn’t easy for a prominent runner.
Verdict: All on eyes on the progressive 3-year-olds with a slight preference for Jewel In My Crown but top-weight Declared Interest can go well back up to 1m 2f.
5:10 – Sky Bet Mile Handicap (Class 2) – 1m
A 3-year-old only handicap concludes day three and it looks a good, if tricky race. Royal Fleet has won all three of his career starts and the colt gets the first time hood after pulling too hard before winning at Newmarket last time.
Wishaah has won two of his three starts. Despite being slowly he made a winning handicap debut at Newmarket last month. The form of that race looks solid enough as the second and third have both gone onto win since. He’s up 7lb for that win but there should more to come from the gelding who goes well on quick ground.
Star Of Orion put in a career best when finishing a short head 2nd of 19 to Danyah in the big field International Handicap at Ascot last time and today’s extra furlong could suit although he didn’t stay the mile in the Britannia Handicap at the Royal meeting.
Aldaary was an eyecatcher when finishing a 2 ½ lengths 5th in the International Handicap and hets 5lb from Star Of Orion today. Connections had been hoping for the ground to ease that day so although he looks capable of winning a race like this off his present mark, he might prefer a slightly easier surface. Jim Crowley opts for Wishaah.
Dejame Paso comes into the race looking for the hat trick after wins at Sandown and here over 1f further last time. He’s now 7lb higher so needs to improve again but goes well on a sound surface and is going the right way.
King Triton is a very interesting contender. He’s having his first start since joining the inform Grant Tuer yard for 100,000gns. The gelding made all to win a Thirsk mile maiden for Roger Varian when last seen in action 66-days ago. Handicap debut off what looks a workable mark of 85. It will be interesting to see how he fares in the pre-race betting.
Rifleman looked a nice prospect when winning on his final juvenile start at Kempton last year. Looked quirky when unseating his jockey at Sandown on his seasonal return and veering left when making his effort 1f out here over 7f. Off for 66-days he looked more manageable when a ½ length 2nd of 8 at Newmarket 34-days ago. The gelding operation looked to have worked the trick that day and if it continues to do so and he’s on a winnable mark off just 2lb higher than last time.
Verdict: Plenty in with a chance. Of those at the head of the market Wishaah appeals most. Aldaary might prefer a bit more in the ease in the ground. Rifleman could yet fulfil his potential after a recent gelding operation and King Triton is interesting on his handicap/stable debut.
1pt win – Wishaah – 9/2 @ Bet365 & Paddy Power
1pt win – King Triton – 12/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
Cheers
John