There is a distinct royal flavour at the top of the market ahead of Friday’s five furlong Nunthorpe Stakes, as the Ebor Festival at York continues.
The current 2.62 favourite with William Hill is Royal Aclaim, the three-year-old from James Tate’s yard. He has only three runs under his belt, but they have all been winners, including the City Walls Stakes at York last month when partnered with Andrea Atzeni for the first time. The Italian will be in the saddle again tomorrow.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: August 18, 12:00 P.M (BST)
His closest challenger in the betting is the late entry into this race, The Platinum Queen, 3.75 with William Hill. Three wins from her four starts, the three-year-old’s only failure so far was in her only Group race so far – the Group 2 Queen Mary Stakes at Ascot – where she finished thirteenth.
She bounced back with wins at York and Goodwood in July, but could a step up to Group 1 be too much? Trainer Richard Fahey certainly feels confident she will have no issues. There’s a change of jockey too, with Hollie Doyle replacing Oisin Orr.
After a “Royal” and a “Queen”, we have Highfield Princess! The mare returned from a 50-day break to win the Group 1 Arc Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville less than a fortnight ago, plus won a Group 2 on this course back in May.
At 11.00, the five-year-old looks to have a generous price from the bookies. Jason Hart is on board, as he has been for the bulk of her career.
Then come a string of horses who all have a good each-way chance. In fact, six of the first seven in the market were victorious in their respective last race.
The only exception is Raasel at 13.00, who was beaten by a neck by Khaadem in the King George at Glorious Goodwood, and had eight wins from his ten prior outings. Tom Marquand takes the ride from James Doyle this time. Khadeem is at 12.00 as they do battle again.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: August 18, 12:00 P.M (BST)
Another in that middle bunch is Dragon Symbol (17.00), who was third in the race last year, jockey David Egan believes he can go two places better this time.
Nowhere in the Platinum Jubilee Stakes at Ascot in June, Roger Varian took him to Hamilton to find some form a few weeks ago, where he won a Class 3 race.
Silvestre de Sousa is on the other of the bigger chances, Flotus, who got her first triumph this summer at York last month. She’s at 12.00.
