DAY three of the Ebor Festival features a cracking renewal of the Nunthorpe Stakes Group 1 and it can’t be long odds, given the way the track is running this week, that the track record is going to be broken here.
Asfoora and Big Evs are taking each other on for the third time and the Australian mare is my preference to get back to winning ways after Big Evs beat her at Goodwood. There are other strong challengers too, with Regional Unibet 15/2, who was second to Asfoora at Royal Ascot beaten a length, certainly having each way claims from stall 2, whilst Bradsell Unibet 6/1 showed his is as good as ever when winning on seasonal debut in Deauville earlier this month. A fascinating renewal and a race to savour.
Enjoy whether at York or watching #athome on ITV Racing and Racing TV.
Cheers!
The Wine Tipster
1:50 York – Handicap Heritage Handicap (1m 4f)
Wafei (nap) raced at Goodwood when making his handicap debut and finished second behind Assailant over 1m 3f when beaten three quarters of a length. It is worth rewatching this race to see that Wafei was probably a little unlucky not to finish closer to Assailant that day, the winner given a much more positive ride whereas Wafei just found himself outpaced at a key moment before staying on again late, giving the impression this extra furlong will be very much in his favour. He had won easily at Hamilton on his previous start when heavily odds on and still looking inexperienced. Wafei has more to offer on only his sixth career start.
3:00 York – Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Gimcrack Stakes Group 2 (6f)
Camille Pissaro was going the right way before a poor effort in the Coventry at Royal Ascot where, having been sent off favourite, he could do no better than a midfield finish but in retrospect, he probably had little chance from his low draw the way the race panned out, and that effort is easy to forgive. Indeed, he came right back to form when second to Babouche in the Anglesey Stakes, form that had a huge boost when the winner took the Group1 Phoenix Stakes on his next start. That form makes him the one to beat here.
3:35 York – Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes Group 1 (5f)
Asfoora has every chance of gaining revenge on Big Evs for his King George defeat at Goodwood last time, with a 6lb turnaround in the weights enough to see her beat her old rival this time. Asfoora didn’t look comfortable at Goodwood in the early stages of the race and then was closing late on to be beaten a short-head by Big Eves, who was very much on his home track. Asfoora was brilliant at Royal Ascot when beating Regional and Big Evs, whilst the Knavesmire looks sure to suit her much more than Goodwood.
5.20 York – Mile Handicap (Heritage Handicap) (1m)
Treasure Time was shuffled back at Goodwood on his most recent start as they were heading to the turn for home and that left him with plenty of ground to make up. He did well in the circumstances to finish fifth to Great Chieftain, given that he didn’t get a smooth passage when initially trying to make his challenge in the straight. He is better than this, as he showed with a good second at Newmarket’s July Festival, having won on the same course in June. Treasure Time still has more progression to come and has strong each way claims.
The Wine Tipster’s Treble
A super day of racing awaits at The Ebor Festival.
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