Timeform tips ahead of the latest action

Timeform Daily View | Friday preview and tips

Horse Racing
Fri August 21, 2026 · 2h ago

Nic Doggett provides an overview of the key things to note on Friday.

Tricky Nunthorpe Affair

2
4
American Affair21
Age: 6|  Weight: 10-1| J: P Mulrennan| T: J S Goldie| OR:  112| CD
5/1

Raindrops keep falling on my head
But that doesn't mean my eyes will soon be turning red
Crying's not for me
'Cause I'm never gonna stop the rain by complaining
Because I'm free
Nothing's worrying me

Obviously, if I had a horse in the Coolmore City Of Troy Nunthorpe Stakes (15:35) who wanted fast ground I might be crying like BJ Thomas, but I don't. So I'm not.

Testing going would be a question mark for the American-trained favourite (and Timeform top-rated) Bacio who was an impressive handicap winner at Royal Ascot when last seen and bids to give his trainer Wesley Ward an overdue win after twice saddling the runner-up. He, along with Mission Control and Fitzella, bids to buck the trend that has seen only one three-year-old winner (Winter Power in 2021) in the last 14 years.

Molecomb winner Pershaada, meanwhile, attempts to become the sixth two-year-old winner, the first since 2007 (Kingsgate Native), and follow in the footsteps of 1992 winner Lyric Fantasy who won the race for her trainer's father Richard Hannon Snr.

Obviously it's risky to be to dogmatic about draws when there is rain around, but looking at Timeform's pace map – a very useful tool on the racecard – shows that the majority of expected frontrunners are drawn lower.

That will suit American Affair, who actually made the running when having a host of these rivals behind him when winning the King George Qatar Stakes but who has been fine travelling off a strong pace in the past. Drawn in stall four, proven on soft ground, and third-best on our figures, he is fancied to give Jim Goldie a first win in the race and his second Group 1 success.

Marco... Polo?

3
5
Arapaho Gold35
Age: 2|  Weight: 9-2| J: Connor Beasley| T: M Dods| OR:  104| D
2/1

You have to go all the way back to the 2000 winner Bannister for the last horse to break his maiden tag in the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Gimcrack Stakes (15:00), so Curragh runner-up Marco Polo will have to do some trend-bucking (careful) of his own if he is to follow in the footsteps of the yard's most recent winner of this race, Rock Of Gibraltar in 2001. Marco Polo picked up the 'Sectional' flag on debut in a maiden in which the third New Bond Street has since filled the same place in listed company at the weekend.

I've already written about Arapaho Gold, one of two 'Horses In Focus' in the line-up. He hasn't faced ground this soft before but his dam Call Of The Jungle was fine on it and the yard's horses tend to cope well with more attritional conditions.

The other HIF is Mrair, who "ran a fine race upped in grade and was better than the result, meeting trouble more than once" according to the Timeform race report for the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Will all three progress past Adaay Of Scarlett, though? Underestimated in the market for the Richmond Stakes last time, he did little wrong to my eyes but connections reach for cheekpieces after four consecutive runner-up efforts. He tops the weight-adjusted ratings, but will he find one improving past him once more?

Third time lucky in the Lonsdale

2
5
Al Nayyirp64
Age: 8|  Weight: 9-5| J: W Buick| T: Tom Clover| OR:  113
9/1

The Timeform pace forecast for the Weatherbys Lonsdale Cup Stakes (14:25) is 'weak', with the long-absent Quickthorn - who won this race way back in 2022 – the only confirmed front-runner. It would be some training performance from Hughie Morrison to get the nine-year-old back to that sort of form after 707 days off.

Weight-adjusted ratings are topped by Amiloc who got as far as me in the parents' egg and spoon race back in May when unseating Hector Crouch coming out of the stalls in the Goodwood Cup last month. He was well-supported there, and is unexposed (and unproven, it should be said) over a trip that should suit; his owners deserve a change of fortune (Pride Of Arras a late non-runner in the Juddmonte International after getting upset in the stalls), but I'm hoping it doesn't come here.

While respectful of Caballo De Mar under his penalty now returned to softer ground, I'm keen on the chances of another horse who has also been given a break since finishing down the field in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot: Al Nayyir.

He has been second and third in the last two editions of this race, and a little unlucky on each occasion to encounter slightly quicker ground than he would ideally like. A strong traveller, he looks a good matchup for William Buick who takes the ride for the first time here, and with the ground now in the eight-year-old's favour he is fancied to gain a deserved day in the sun/cloud.

Related Sky Bet York Ebor Festival content

More from Sporting Life

Responsible gambling

We are committed in our support of responsible gambling. Recommended bets are advised to over-18s and we strongly encourage readers to wager only what they can afford to lose.

If you are concerned about your gambling, please call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133, or visit begambleaware.org.

Further support and information can be found at GamCare and gamblingtherapy.org.