15:35 York

Friday 24 August 2018

All13:5514:2515:0015:3516:1516:50

Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes (Group 1)

Off time: 15:35 | Winning time: 57.18s

(7)

Alpha Delphini⁴¹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-11| J: G Lee| T: B Smart| OR: 108| CD

40/1

All his best efforts have come with cut in the ground and while he's been running well in defeat in Listed company of late, he has a whole lot more on his plate here. Hard to fancy.

Form: 11-2322

(14)

Battaash²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: Jim Crowley| T: C Hills| OR: 127| D

4/5

Top class sprinter, career best came in the Prix de l'Abbaye at the end of 2017 and produced a big run at Goodwood last time when blitzing the field from the front. Ruined his chance in this race in the prelims last year but he can make amends here.

Form: 141-121

(16)

Blue Point⁴¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: W Buick| T: C Appleby| OR: 120| BF| C| D

7/2

Below his best when well beaten in the July Cup last time. Got the better of Battaash at Royal Ascot earlier in the season and while highly effective over 5f as seen that day, he may struggle to confirm the form on this speed track. Each-way claims.

Form: 41-2917

(15)

Caspian Prince^t³³

Age: 9| Weight: 9-11| J: B A Curtis| T: M Appleby| OR: 114| CD

33/1

Group 2 winner at the Curragh in 2017 and a very game front runner on his day. Has only been narrowly denied in two starts back in Ireland on his last two runs and while worth another crack at a Group 1, he probably only has place claims at best.

Form: 660122

(5)

Judicial^h⁴⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 9-11| J: L Morris| T: Miss J A Camacho| OR: 109| D

20/1

Produced a career best effort when winning a Group 3 at Sandown last time out. Much more needed up in this grade and hard to envisage him finding enough improvement to play a part here.

Form: 26-2811

(3)

Mr Lupton²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-11| J: P Hanagan| T: R A Fahey| OR: 109| CD

16/1

All wins have come on a straight track and gained a third course win here over 5f two starts ago in Listed class. Has it all to do on form but conditions ideal and he was a respectable, though distant, fourth behind Battaash at Goodwood last time.

Form: 618714

(6)

Take Cover²¹

Age: 11| Weight: 9-11| J: D Allan| T: D C Griffiths| OR: 110| CD

33/1

Smart front-runner who couldn't match Battaash at Goodwood last time but stuck to his task well to finish second. Not getting any younger and even a reproduction of his run last time might not be enough to see him place.

Form: 11-7352

(11)

Washington Dc^b³³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-11| J: Wayne Lordan| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 111| D

33/1

Only narrowly denied by Battaash at Haydock earlier in the campaign but that was that rival's seasonal reappearance and he's not been in any form in two starts since. Moore prefers Sioux Nation.

Form: 8-43287

(4)

Abel Handy⁴¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: K Stott| T: D Carroll| OR: 97| D

100/1

Impressive when winning a Group 3 at Newmarket on final start of 2017 but struggling in three starts this year and it's hard to see him making his presence felt at this level even on his best form.

Form: 121-606

(9)

Battle Of Jericho³³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: L Dettori| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 104| D

33/1

Won a valuable handicap at the Curragh two starts back but struggled when upped in class back at that venue last time out. Well beaten in three attempts at Group company and this is his toughest test to date.

Form: 27-1016

(8)

Declarationofpeace^b³³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: M C Hussey| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 107| D

100/1

Well beaten in his first couple of starts of the season before a better effort at the Curragh last time. Will enjoy the fast ground here but he needs a sizable step forward to make any sort of dent at this level. Sioux Nation is preferred by Moore.

Form: 131-004

(2)

Havana Grey²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: P J McDonald| T: K R Burke| OR: 111| D

25/1

Group 3 winner and Group 2 placed as a juvenile and put two poor runs this term behind him when an impressive winner at the Curragh two starts back. Disappointed on his subsequent start behind Battaash at Goodwood but less exposed than many in here.

Form: 22-5616

(13)

Sioux Nation^b1²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 112| BF| D

16/1

Won the Group 1 Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh last year. He's the pick of the stable jockey here but yard have been struggling for form over the last four weeks and he was disappointing when last at Goodwood. Wears first-time blinkers.

Form: 6-41050

(10)

Mabs Cross³³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: T Eaves| T: M Dods| OR: 110| BF| D

14/1

Very progressive sort and has run well in defeat in her last couple of starts. There's little doubt we have seen the best of her yet and this will have been the long-term target. Will get a pace to aim at and she's an each-way angle in to this.

Form: 1-21433

(12)

Heartache²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: A Kirby| T: C G Cox| OR: 105| D

50/1

Dual Group 2 winner as a juvenile but hasn't been at that level in three outings this campaign, including when well beaten behind several of these at Goodwood last time. Needs to bounce back.

Form: 131-678

Non-Runners

(1)

Muthmir²¹

Weight: 9-11| Age: 8

T: W J Haggas J: D Tudhope

Forecasts

Battaash (4/5), Blue Point (7/2), Mabs Cross (14/1), Sioux Nation (16/1), Mr Lupton (16/1), Judicial (20/1), Havana Grey (25/1), Muthmir (25/1), Take Cover (33/1), Battle Of Jericho (33/1), Caspian Prince (33/1), Washington Dc (33/1), Alpha Delphini (40/1), Heartache (50/1), Abel Handy (100/1), Declarationofpeace (100/1)

Despite his occasional antics in the preliminaries, it's hard to find one to oppose BATTAASH with. The gelding was in fine form towards the back end of last year, romping home in the Prix de l'Abbaye and he's been getting better with each start this campaign, blowing his rivals away at Goodwood last time out. Michael Dods won this contest twice with Mecca's Angel and he saddles the unexposed Mabs Cross who is the preferred each-way option at a likely double figure price. Blue Point is a high-class colt who got the better of the selection at Royal Ascot but that stiff 5f played to his strengths that day and he may struggle to confirm the form here.