York Ebor Festival Day 3 Tips
York’s Ebor festival continues on Friday with a fantastic seven-race card, the headline act being the Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes at 15:35.
Supporting this there are two Group Two races, competitive handicaps, and a Maiden for two-year-olds.
13:50 - York - Handicap
This is a competitive handicap and cases can be made for a number in the field but it is NAQEEB who is the most interesting. Yet to win for Julie Camacho this season, he has been running well in defeat and comes here with the best recent form. He was well beaten at York two starts ago when finishing eight of 18 runners, but the five-year-old shaped well for much of the race and it is a very strong piece of form. The winner of that race was running off a mark of 96, and now holds an official rating of 116.
Naqeeb’s second-place finish at Goodwood last time out is another positive and it is only a matter of time before he returns to winning ways.
Selection: Naqeeb @ 13/2
14:25 - York - Weatherbys Lonsdale Cup Stakes
TRAWLERMAN comes here off the back of a career-best performance in the Ascot Gold Cup and as a result is a short price to win. While one can try and find value elsewhere, Trawlerman should simply prove too good for the rest of the field and can add another success to his CV.
Selection: Trawlerman @ 8/13
15:00 - York - Gimcrack Stakes
There isn’t a huge amount of form to go off in this race, but from what we have seen DO OR DO NOT holds the best claims having placed in Group 2 races on his last three appearances. If he is able to reciprocate this level of form once more, then this looks like a golden opportunity to achieve his first victory.
Selection: Do Or Do Not @ 6/4
15:35 - York - Nunthorpe Stakes
A typically competitive Group 1 sprint has further intrigue with the addition of a pair of two-year-olds in the shape of Lady Iman and Spicy Marg. While they are receiving a lot of weight from their elders, it has typically proved difficult for them to beat them at this point of the season.
ARIZONA BLAZE ran well in defeat at Royal Ascot, and following a drop in trip to 5f at the Curragh most recently returned to winning ways. He shapes as if 5f is his optimal trip and with this in his favour can achieve a first success at the highest level.
Selection: Arizona Blaze @ 5/1
16:10 - York - Fillies' Handicap
Another competitive handicap, as can be expected when there is over £50,000 to the winner. As is the way for the handicaps through most of the week, a case can be made for many, but it can pay to side with CIARA PEARL. She has been running consistently bar when seen over a trip short of her optimum at Royal Ascot. A trip of 10f round York should suit her perfectly, and a big run can be expected.
Selection: Ciara Pearl @ 12/1
16:45 - York - Maiden Stakes
This maiden for two-year-olds has a limited form book for us to work with given a number of the runners haven’t been seen on a racecourse previously. Of the form we have got to help us, NAVAL LIGHT boasts the strongest. The step up in trip to 7f looks to be a positive, and with it not looking the strongest of renewals, he can prove to be too good for the rest of the field.
Selection: Naval Light @ 3/1
17:20 - York - Mile Handicap
The concluding race on Friday is a three-year-old’s only handicap over a mile with numerous progressive horses taking their chance. DIVIDEND was a close fourth at Royal Ascot finishing just behind Fearnot who also runs here.
Dividend is 6lb better off with Fearnot, and with not much between them last time the placings between them can be reversed. This is perhaps the strongest form on offer here and Dividend can claim a first win on turf this year, having twice been successful on the all-weather.
Selection: Dividend @ 11/1
Odds correct at time of publication but subject to fluctuation
