Horse Racing Tips: Nunthorpe Stakes Preview and Betting Tips
The sprinters take centre stage at the Welcome to Yorkshire Ebor Festival at York on Friday with the running of the Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes.
This year’s renewal has a distinctively international flavour, with leading contenders from France and the United States among the 15 declared runners.
Golden Pal commands respect
Golden Pal remains something of an unknown quanity as far as British audiences are concerned, but the fact that he’s trained by Wesley Ward – who’s no stranger to the winners’ enclosure at Royal Ascot – speaks volumes for his chances. The son of Uncle Mo was beaten, albeit narrowly, on his only previous appearance in Britain, in the Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot last June, but Ward reckons he ‘could be the best I’ve trained’. Officially, he has something to find with Suesa, who is rated 3lb superior and receives a 3lb fillies’ allowance, but looks a potent threat to all.
Suesa has slight going concerns
The Night Of Thunder filly Suesa lost her unbeaten record when only eigth of 15 in the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot, but returned to winning form with a comprehensive 3-length victory over the disqualified Commonwealth Cup ‘winner’ Dragon Symbol in the King George Stakes at Goodwood. She is clearly highly talented, but has yet to race, never mind win, on going faster than ‘good to soft’, which must be a worry in this exalted company.
Dragon Symbol deserves a change of luck
Officially, Dragon Symbol has yet to win a Pattern race, but was demoted after beating Campanelle – also trained by Wesley Ward – by a head in the Commonwealth Cup, before finishing runner-up in the July Cup and the King George Stakes. Following the latter effort, jockey Oisin Murphy insisted that ‘Dragon Symbol is better than that’ and, while he must reverse Goodwood form with Suesa, another forward showing would be no surprise.
Arecibo may belie generous odds
At longer odds, Arecibo has yet to win a Listed or Pattern race of any description but was seen to good effect when coming from off a lightning early pace to finish second, beaten 1¾ lengths, behind Oxted in the King’s Stands Stakes at Royal Ascot. His subsequent efforts at Sandown and Goodwood, where he was ridden more prominently, weren’t quite at the same level, but this race could be run to suit him. He has improved significantly since joining Robert Cowell earlier this year and is no forlorn hope, despite his generous odds.
Don’t write off Chipotle
The last 2-year-old to win the Nunthorpe Stakes was Kingsgate Native in 2007 but, in receipt of 19lb and upwards from his rivals, Chipotle could prove to be a lively outsider. Any softening of the going would probably put paid to his chances, as it did in the Molecomb Stakes at Goodwood last month, but otherwise he looks way overpriced.
The likes of Golden Pal, Winter Power and Dakota Gold, among others, should ensure that the race is run at an end-to-end gallop. If it is, it could be set up for a hold-up horse, in which case Arecibo may be able to swoop late and land the spoils. At the odds on offer, he looks decent each-way value.
Selection: Arecibo each-way (20/1 with Paddy Power)
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