Day three on the Knavesmire features the Nunthorpe Stakes as well as two Group 2 contests earlier on the card. There is quality throughout at York on Friday.
GG tipster Joe Napier has four top tips for the third day at the Ebor Festival. They include an Aidan O’Brien fancy in the Gimcrack Stakes.
York Racing Tips (Saturday 22 August)
As well as the Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes, there are Group 2s to enjoy in the Lonsdale Cup and Gimcrack Stakes. Joe has selections in each of those contests.
2.25 York – Amiloc (1pt win – 11/4)
We were unfortunate not to learn more about Amiloc’s staying power at Goodwood. The four-year-old unshipped Rossa Ryan at the start of the Goodwood Cup, before wreaking havoc as a loose horse. There is enough evidence to suggest he could excel in this division though. A winner of his first five starts, including the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot, he was subsequently second in the Group 1 Curragh Cup upped to 1m6f. Only previous top level scorer Al Riffa was too good for him that day. He was then fourth at the Breeders’ Cup and can be forgiven a poor return to action here after pulling hard and being forced to lead. His sixth in what is proving a very strong edition of the Hardwicke Stakes at this year’s royal meeting hinted at his ability and potential for longer distances. He should finally get his chance to show what he can do here.
3.00 York – Marco Polo (1.5pt win – 11/2)
It has been 25 years since Aidan O’Brien won the Group 2 Gimcrack Stakes, but Marco Polo can end the drought. His second on debut at the Curragh was more than respectable, especially as he was not the yard’s first string that day. Ronan Whelan was forced to delay his challenge behind a wall of horses initially. He then finished off strongly, seeing the 6f out well. On a line through the third, he rates favourably alongside recent Goodwood Group race scorer Man’s Best Friend. As such, any improvement here should see him right in the thick of things.
4.10 York – Plage De Havre (0.5pt e/w – 16/1)
The hope is that Plage De Havre improves for a return to York after running no race at Newmarket. He finally drops a little in the handicap after his July Course disappointment; Andrew Balding’s charge went up 11lb for an extremely easy victory at Haydock last season and has found things tougher since. Nevertheless, he was third off that higher mark over track and trip in May. The winner is a leading fancy for the Ebor and Plage De Havre is now 3lb lower. He is overpriced to make the frame on that evidence and could yet have something to say.
4.45 York – Launch Sequence (1pt e/w – 5/1)
Oklahoma headlines the Convivial Maiden field for Aidan O’Brien. However, he would have been expected to win last time out and this field could prove lively. The selection is Launch Sequence, whose two thirds have come in good contests. The Wathnan colt was keen and trapped on debut at Doncaster but still finished strongly. He was then well-supported when third at Glorious Goodwood at the end of July. The fourth, also a Wathnan juvenile, has won since, so they will have a decent gauge on Launch Sequence’s ability. Karl Burke’s runners are going well and he could prove a Pattern quality horse.
York Ebor Festival Day 3 Tips – Friday 21 August
2.25 York – Amiloc (1pt win – 10/3)
3.00 York – Marco Polo (1pt win – 6/1)
4.10 York – Plage De Havre (0.5pt e/w – 16/1)
4.45 York – Launch Sequence (1pt e/w – 5/1)