It is all about speed on day three of the York Ebor Festival in the Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes.
American speedster Bacio has been well backed and he takes on the best British sprinters, while Aussie ace Asfoora tries to repeat last year’s victory. Our Chief Tipster Jason Heavey gives his race-by-race guide for day three.
Jason is one of the country’s leading newspaper tipsters . In 2023 he did the rare double of winning both national tipping titles – the Racing Post Press Challenge and also the coveted Racing Post Naps Table. He is currently the leading “red-top” tipster in the country in the National Press Challenge table.
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1.50 Sky Bet Mile Handicap
ZENNOR STORM is fancied to blow his rivals away. The three-year-old bounced back to form at Glorious Goodwood when flying home late to be second to Exclusive Code, who he meets again.
A gelding operation seems to have revitalised William Haggas’ son of Mohaather and he can turn the tables on Exclusive Code. His pedigree suggests he should handle the rain-softened ground. Zennor Storm’s stablemate Eklleem is interesting as he is unexposed and should have more to offer.
There is also plenty of place value for punters in this 20-runner handicap and Bearish is one who catches the eye at 20-1.
Oisin Murphy rides Ed Dunlop’s gelding who has only had four runs but is improving and could outrun those odds. Le Samourai has a similar profile and is another who could surprise at a big price.
TIP: ZENNOR STORM
Each-way: Le Samourai
2.25 Weatherbys Lonsdale Cup Stakes
AMILOC (Nap) is strongly fancied to enjoy a change of fortune in this Group Two contest.
Ralph Beckett’s classy type unseated the hapless Hector Crouch when leaving the stalls in the Goodwood Cup last month. Earlier he had run a blinder at Royal Ascot in the Hardwicke Stakes.
This two-mile trip on slower ground looks tailor-made for Amiloc and he is preferred to market rival Caballo De Mar. George Scott’s gelding appeared not to stay in the Ascot Gold Cup and will be more at home over the shorter distance in the slower conditions.
Quickthorn won this race in 2022 and returns after 707 days off the track. He is interesting along with Illinois who looks a fair price for an each-way poke at 12-1.
TIP: AMILOC (Nap)
Each-way: Illinois
3.00 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Gimcrack Stakes
NEVER ENOUGH is tipped to spring a surprise in this famous old two-year-old contest.
Ed Walker’s likeable colt justified the promise he displayed on his Windsor debut when he scored with real authority on King George day at Ascot.
He is a strapping beast who can only get better and he holds Group One entries later in the season in the Middle Park and the Dewhurst at Newmarket.
Matteo is two from two – both times at Beverley – and his trainer Kevin Ryan has won the contest four times. He seems overpriced at around the 20-1 mark. e seems overpriced as does Never Enough, who impressed when winning at Ascot and the big, scopey beast could outrun his 16-1 price.
TIP: NEVER ENOUGH
Each-way: Matteo
3.35 Coolmore City Of Troy Nunthorpe Stakes
AMERICAN AFFAIR (trb) can pounce late to grab the Group One glory in this 60-second speed test.
Jim Goldie’s sprinter bounced back to his best with a lovely performance to win the King George Stakes at Glorious Goodwood. He has previously won on slow ground and the rain-hit surface will blunt the speed of many in this field.
US raider Bacio is a real speedball and was a brilliant winner at Royal Ascot. The ground is a concern for Wesley Ward’s three-year-old who has only raced on a fast surface.
Francis Graffard’s French raider Rayevka has been well backed and will go in the ground while Asfoora won this race last year and posted her best effort for some time at Goodwood behind American Affair.
Pershaada is the only two-year-old in the race and it is a bold move by connections to let her take her chance. Her 12-1 odds are a tempting each-way play.
Rumstar and Redorange would prefer quicker ground but Starlust has been ignored in the betting at 40-1 and is no forlorn hope. Night Raider rates the each-way play. If he gets away well, he has a good draw and will not mind the conditions.
TIP: AMERICAN AFFAIR
Each-way: Night Raider
4.10 Assured Data Protection Handicap
MASTER VINTNER (nb) can have the bookies whining and give Ralph Beckett a notable double. The four-year-old is a real slow burner and this is just his ninth career start.
First-time headgear helped him focus when he scored cosily at Thirsk 14 days ago and they should continue to help him. Master Vintner won on heavy ground last year so the rain is bonus for him.
Explode won impressively last weekend and carries a penalty but is 3lb well in at the weights. Wave Rider was unlucky at Goodwood and Oisin Murphy, who could have ridden others, keeps faith with him.
Master Builder is a strong contender for David Menuisier and should not mind the conditions, while French Duke and Tycoon are each-way players,
Cuff It lurks at the bottom of the weights under Saffie Osborne and rates a fair each-way tickle at around 20-1.
TIP: MASTER VINTNER (nb)
Each-way: Cuff It
4.45 British Stallion Studs EBF Convivial Maiden Stakes
MY REMAS is something of a pin job in a race that is always informative for the future. Trained by the in-form Andrew Balding, the son of Lope De Vega’s pedigree suggests he should handle the slow ground.
A 400,000 guineas purchase, the market will be worth watching but at the time of writing 20-1 seems a big price.
Aidan O’Brien’s Oklahoma sets the form standard with two placed efforts in Ireland, while Lancaster Tower was well touted before his debut third at Sandown and could offer a lot more – although the ground is a worry.
Launch Sequence has an obvious chance while Speyside was a good third on his Goodwood debut. Magwitch has been nibbled at in the betting and could be a quality newcomer for Kevin Ryan.
Richard Hannon’s Dover Street ran a nice race on his Kempton bow and could be up to a podium finish.
TIP: MY REMAS
Each-way: Dover Street
5.20 Sky Bet Fillies’ Handicap
FOOD FOR THOUGHT can raise the roof and give racegoers a royal success.
I don’t think we have seen the best of this filly who was the comfortable winner of a novice event at Nottingham in June. Ralph Beckett’s filly backed that up with a solid second at Newmarket.
The daughter of Dubawi should be more comfortable on the easier surface and her handicap mark offers plenty of room for improvement.
Silver Lake was a cosy winner at Goodwood although the ground is an unknown and she has been whacked up 9lb in the weights, while Karl Burke’s Pendella could pick up some prize money if she copes with the conditions.
Janey Mackers will have her ground and at 12-1 is a strong each-way fancy under Tom Marquand. She offered plenty of encouragement on her four-year-old bow at Chester when third to Respond and she should go well here.
TIP: FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Each-way: Janey Mackers