By Aodán Boland
I hope you’ve been tuned in because we’ve been on form so far this week. We ended Day Two with Three winners and One placed horse. There’s some tasty races here this afternoon and I’ve gone for a massive underdog to win the feature race at 3:35 so stay tuned and lets get straight into the action for Day Three.
1.55pm SKY BET HANDICAP
This looks like a wide open handicap with Caradoc, Mandarin and Persian Moon all worth keeping an eye in the market but I suggest taking a each way shot on Epaulement. He’s a reliable sort and his third place finish in the Old Newton Cup is enough to give him a lively chance here.
2.25pm WEATHERBYS HAMILTON LONSDALE CUP STAKES
Stradivarius won this last year and returns in his bid to win back to back Lonsdale Cups. He’s also on a eight race winning streak and has beaten main rival, Dee Ex Bee twice this season and should tear this field apart. Irish raider, Falcon Eight is the each way selection but he’ll need a career best to get close to Stradivarius.
3pm AL BASTI EQUIWORLD DUBAI GIMGRACK STAKES
Threat has placed twice at Group Two level already and comes here a leading player. He doesn’t represent much value so it might be worth sliding with the unbeaten, Malotru, who won a Group Three in Italy on his last start and could go well here at a big price.
3.35pm COOLMORE NUNTHORPE STAKES
It’s the feature race of the day and it looks a tricky puzzle to figure out. Ten Sovereigns is the worthy favourite after his easy victory in the July Cup. However, this is his first attempt at 5f and may struggle on this occasion. Battaash showed real class when winning the King George at Goodwood three weeks ago and should run his usual solid race again this afternoon. I’m going to chance my arm and go for massive priced underdog, Ornate. He’s a very speedy sort and he proved that when winning the Epsom Dash in June. If he gets a easy lead, Ornate could take this field apart. The bookmakers aren’t giving him any sort of a chance but crazier things have happened and he could be worth a small each way bet.
4.15pm BRITISH STALLION STUDS EBF CONVIVIAL MAIDEN STAKES
There isn’t a whole lot of form to go by here. Molatham, Dubai Mirage, Fox Duty Free and Tulip Fields have the best form among the horses who have raced. There’s a number of newcomers making there debut with eye catching pedigrees. I like Cabot Cliffs at a big price. She has a very likeable pedigree and is a half-sister to Group One winner, Leadership so she shouldn’t be underestimated on her debut.
4.50pm NATIONWIDE ACCIDENT REPAIR SERVICES HANDICAP
Irv clearly like York, winning his last two races here and now returns chasing the hat-trick and could very well get it. His biggest dangers are fellow hat-trick seekers, Edaraat and Seductive Moment who should both be firmly in the mix in the curtain closer here at York.
Image: irishmirror.ie