Horse Racing Betting Tips: Like a Battaash out of hell he’ll be gone
YORK is undoubtedly one of the finest, if not the finest, racecourses in Britain.
The long, wide and flat home straight gives horses plenty of time to get organised, although today’s Group One Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes (3.35pm) will be over in around 57 seconds.
A unique feature of the course is that horses have to walk across the Knavesmire from the stables to the saddling area, which can cause some to boil over.
That was certainly the case last year, when BATTAASH got wound up before the start of this race and blew his chance before he’d even entered the stalls.
A year on and Charlie Hills’ superstar sprinter appears to have matured, with his last performance in the King George Stakes at Goodwood a career best.
He showed breath taking speed that day and crucially behaved himself in the preliminaries, so there are clear signs that the headstrong gelding is starting to calm down and relax.
He has that aura of brilliance, as he showed in the Prix de l’Abbaye last October, and on a going day, there isn’t a horse in Europe who can live with Battaash’s speed.
Hills has already been amongst the winners this week, and I think his stable star will banish the ghosts of 12 months ago this afternoon.
Admittedly, there have been some big shocks in this race over the years, but he and BLUE POINT look to be a notch above the others in this line-up.
Charlie Appleby’s son of Shamardal won his first Group One in the King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot, overhauling Battaash in the final furlong to win in impressive style.
He’s turning into something of an Ascot-specialist with form figures of 1311 at the Berkshire venue, but he won the 2016 Gimcrack Stakes on his only previous visit to York so the course shouldn’t prove a problem.
He was far too keen in the July Cup last time and it now seems that five furlongs is what he needs.
I have the utmost respect for him, although he doesn’t have quite the same raw speed as Battaash and he might struggle to reel him in on this quicker track.
There isn’t a huge amount between the rest of the field.
Mabs Cross has been a model of consistency this season and is the obvious each-way play following her close third in the King’s Stand in June.
She was perhaps a little disappointing behind Havana Grey in the Sapphire Stakes at the Curragh last time, but she has the potential to sneak into the places.
That said, Michael Dods has expressed some concerns about York and that she may want a stiffer five furlongs to perform at her best.
JUDICIAL is closely matched with Mabs Cross and I think he’s the best each-way value in the race at 18/1 with Coral.
Julie Camacho’s gelding is seeking a hat-trick having won the Group Three Coral Charge and a Conditions race at Beverley on his last two starts.
Prior to that, he had no luck in the Achilles Stakes at Haydock and was a close second to Mabs Cross in the Palace House Stakes on his reappearance.
Although he hasn’t won at York before, he was a respectable fourth behind Take Cover last summer and seems to have improved since then.
It would be wonderful for his small yard if he was to hit the frame and he has a decent chance of doing so.
The nine-year-old Caspian Prince is only 2lbs lower than Blue Point on a mark of 118, which is an incredible rating considering he generally runs in handicaps.
He has blistering speed and it may actually be an advantage for Battaash and Blue Point if they are drawn near him on the stands’ side.
Mr Lupton has improved massively this season, winning both of his starts over course and distance.
He was a decent fourth in the King George Stakes at Goodwood last time and is another that can’t be ruled out from picking up a place.
BILL ESDAILE’S NUNTHORPE STAKES1-2-3
1 BATTAASH
2 BLUE POINT
3 JUDICIAL