15:15 York

Friday 21 August 2020

All13:4514:1514:4515:1515:4516:1516:50

Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes (Group 1)

Off time: 15:18 | Winning time: 57.38s

(3)

Battaash²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-11| J: Jim Crowley| T: C Hills| OR: 126| CD

1/2

Won this in scintillating fashion last year and retains all his ability at the age of 6 judged on his easy wins in King's Stand at Royal Ascot and King George at Goodwood this summer. Can't oppose.

Form: 2110-11

(1)

Emaraaty Ana^p1¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: K A Ryan| OR: 102| C| D

40/1

Gimcrack winner as a juvenile but hasn't hit the same heights since. Third in Group 3 Abernant and Chester listed this term but a place surely the best he can hope for again. Cheekpieces added.

Form: 0051-33

(7)

Moss Gill³⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: D Tudhope| T: J D Bethell| OR: 108| CD

22/1

Progressed through ranks in 2019 and already 2-3 this term, scoring in C&D listed race last month. Takes a jumps in class now but has excellent C&D record (2 wins and 2 seconds from 4 visits).

Form: 219-161

(2)

Ornate^p²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-11| J: Oisin Murphy| T: D C Griffiths| OR: 99| D

66/1

Speedball who ran up to his best when 2½ lengths third of 7 to Battaash in King George Stakes at Goodwood (5f, firm) last time but hard to see him faring any better than that here.

Form: 8-03063

(5)

A'Ali³³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: W Buick| T: S & E Crisford| OR: 113| D

7/1

Triple Group 2 winner as a juvenile and has showed he's trained on well with Sandown Group 3 and Curragh Group 2 successes last month. Will need to take it up another notch to prevail here, though.

Form: 510-811

(4)

Art Power⁴⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: S De Sousa| T: T D Easterby| OR: 115| CD

11/4

Fast improving sprinter who made a mockery of a mark of 97 in Royal Ascot handicap and duly had little trouble coping with step up to Group 3 company at Naas last month. The chief threat to Battaash.

Form: 31-111

(8)

Kurious⁶⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: Harry Bentley| T: H Candy| OR: 104| D

66/1

Listed/Group 3 winner at Sandown last summer but not seen again until finishing a well-held seventh to Battaash in King's Stand at Royal Ascot nearly a year later. Surely up against it again.

Form: 4/2011-7

(6)

Que Amoro^p³⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: P Mulrennan| T: M Dods| OR: 104| BF| CD

22/1

C&D handicap winner at this meeting last year and improved again to take 5f Ayr listed on reappearance in June. Creditable third in C&D listed since but has fair bit to find at this level.

Form: 4112-13

Forecasts

Battaash (1/2), Art Power (11/4), A'Ali (7/1), Que Amoro (22/1), Moss Gill (22/1), Emaraaty Ana (40/1), Kurious (66/1), Ornate (66/1)

The outstanding BATTAASH has looked as good as ever when winning at Royal Ascot and Glorious Goodwood this year and can't be opposed, although it certainly wouldn't be a surprise if the rapidly improving Art Power was capable of giving him something to think about. Four-time Group 2 winner A'Ali looks clear best of the rest.