15:35 York

Friday 23 August 2019

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

Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes (Group 1)

Off time: 15:37 | Winning time: 55.9s

(1)

Battaash²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-11| J: Jim Crowley| T: C Hills| OR: 123| D

7/4

Prix de l'Abbaye winner as a three-year-old and unlucky not to land a Group 1 since. Won with plenty in hand in a Goodwood Group 2 last time out and just about sets the standard here, though has disappointed in the last two renewals of this race.

Form: 144-121

(7)

Copper Knight^t²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-11| J: D Allan| T: T D Easterby| OR: 106| BF| CD

40/1

Four-time C&D winner who won in Listed company here last month. Finished a long way behind Battaash at Goodwood last time out when stepped up in class and this is tougher again.

Form: 130217

(9)

El Astronaute²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-11| J: Jason Hart| T: J & S Quinn| OR: 109| CD

33/1

Two-time course winner but has only managed to place once in Group company and that was a below par renewal of a Group 2 at the Curragh. Plenty to find on form here.

Form: 691125

(3)

Ornate²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 9-11| J: Phil Dennis| T: D C Griffiths| OR: 103| D

66/1

Epsom Dash winner earlier in the campaign and outran his odds when third behind Battaash at Goodwood two starts back. Did too much too soon a day later and this is his toughest test to date; others hold stronger claims.

Form: 911630

(12)

Garrus³³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: K Shoemark| T: C Hills| OR: 109| CD

33/1

Listed winner here over C&D and has run to a similar level in two starts since, third in a Curragh Group 2 last time out (El Astronaute second). Needs to take his form to a new level to mix it with some of these but less exposed than some.

Form: 44-1123

(10)

Rumble Inthejungle²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: Oisin Murphy| T: R Spencer| OR: 104| D

66/1

Group 3 winner as a juvenile but lost his way towards the back end of that campaign. Showed little in first two starts this season but it was a better effort when fourth behind Battaash at Goodwood; needs to build on that.

Form: 193-974

(4)

Soldier's Call³³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: D Tudhope| T: A Watson| OR: 114| BF| D

20/1

Group 2 winner as a juvenile and only beaten a neck in Prix de l'Abbaye. ½L behind Garrus in a C&D Listed race in May when conceding 5lb and produced a huge effort to finish third in the King's Stand. Latest effort best forgiven; each-way claims.

Form: 136-334

(11)

Ten Sovereigns⁴¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 122| BF

13/8

Middle Park winner as a juvenile and took his form to a new level when landing the July Cup last time out (well backed). Well in command that day and runner-up has won a French Group 1 since; leading claims if he handles the drop to 5f.

Form: 111-541

(5)

Mabs Cross⁶⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-8| J: G Mosse| T: M Dods| OR: 114| D

5/1

Progressive last year, only narrowly denied in this race prior to landing the Prix de l'Abbaye. Smart weight carrying performance when winning a Group 3 on return but a little below her best in two runs since. Each-way claims if she's on her A-game.

Form: 321-134

(2)

Fairyland⁴¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: D O'Brien| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 110| C

11/1

Cheveley Park winner last year following on from her win in the Lowther here. Produced her best effort this season when third behind Ten Sovereigns last time out but needs to prove she can be as effective back at the minimum trip.

Form: 11-5653

(6)

So Perfect¹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: Wayne Lordan| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 106| D

25/1

Landed a second Group 3 at Naas earlier this year but has largely struggled in deeper races subsequently. Needs to improve for the drop back to the minimum trip.

Form: 3-31958

Non-Runners

(8)

Intense Romance⁷⁶

Weight: 9-8| Age: 5

T: M Dods J: B A Curtis

Forecasts

Ten Sovereigns (13/8), Battaash (7/4), Mabs Cross (5/1), Fairyland (11/1), Soldier's Call (20/1), So Perfect (25/1), El Astronaute (33/1), Garrus (33/1), Copper Knight (40/1), Intense Romance (50/1), Ornate (66/1), Rumble Inthejungle (66/1)

A tricky puzzle to solve, particularly with star sprinter Battaash failing to bring his A-game in the last two renewals of this race. With that in mind, it may be worth siding with the progressive three-year-old TEN SOVEREIGNS in the hope that the colt handles the drop back to this trip. The form of his July Cup winner has already been boosted and with the potential of more to come, he makes most appeal. Mabs Cross and Fairyland are both each-way players and it could be that the former is a better mare at this time of year, as seen when runner-up in this race last year before her Abbaye success.