It is onto day 3 at the Ebor meeting from York. Featuring the Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes, there is plenty of top class action.
Matty Sutcliffe has four selections to follow as the second half of the festival begins. They are all priced at 9/1 or bigger.
York Racing Tips (Friday 21 August 2026)
13:50 York – Sky Bet Mile Handicap (Heritage Handicap) (Class 2) (3yo 0-105) – Intense Vision 12/1 1pt EW 5 places
Former Juddmonte gelding Intense Vision switched hands for £60,000GNS in October following an unbeaten minor Autumn campaign, and could return to the winners enclosure now back on a softer surface.
He returned from a layoff to finish third at Southwell in a conditions stakes behind the 96 rated Yazin and a unbeaten Godolphin horse, beaten five lengths in to third. He wasn’t entirely disgraced when sixth in his group of 15 on the far-side the Britannia, two lengths behind the third in that group who followed up at Goodwood and he has a 10lbs swing in the weights with that one here.
Crest Of Fire also franked that form in his group as did Runman, both winners last time out. He then backed that effort up at Goodwood off top-weight when staying on late under tender handling on ground again unsuitable.
Now on back on a softer surface, and gaining valuable experience in handicaps, she can take a step forward for a yard who has a 14/1 third here in a similar contest on Thursday.
14:25 York – Weatherbys Lonsdale Cup Stakes (Group 2) (Class 1) (3yo+) – Al Nayyir 9/1 1pt EW 3 places
This is a below par renewal of the Lonsdale Cup and Al Nayyir a can take advantage, having contested two stronger editions.
The first came in 2024 when beaten a short head by Vauban, prior to bolting up eight lengths on soft ground at Newmarket albeit disqualified for a banned substance. The second came when five lengths behind a peak Trawlerman last season, a length behind Sweet William who won the Doncaster Cup next time out.
Since then, he returned from a break in February to win a Meydan group 3, and he’s ran consistently well since including a second to Rahiebb in the Yorkshire Cup. He hasn’t had soft ground since that Newmarket win, and he was a multiple winner on the going when in France so I suspect he’ll improve for this surface and can take advantage of this weaker event.
15:00 York – Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Gimcrack Stakes (Group 2) (Colts & Geldings) (Class 1) (2yo) – Matteo 18/1 1pt EW 3 places
Not many of these are obvious contenders to handle the going, but the same can’t be said for Matteo who’s unbeaten in two starts for a yard who a no stranger to success in the Gimcrack.
He had several subsequent winners (albeit at lower levels) behind him when a four lengths winner at Hamilton on debut, justifying favouritism and hitting the line strongly. He then contested the two year old trophy at Beverley, and he was incredibly game having made all to the far-side rail, fending off runners from the rear in hardy style.
That form has worked out well, the re-opposing Ronson was a close fourth in listed company, the third won five lengths next time out and fared well in the Acomb Stakes the fourth was set to win a nursery at York on Thursday before violently hanging across the track, and the fifth won next time out too.
He’s been given time off since, but the extra furlong and soft ground will play into his strengths and he looks ovepriced in an average looking Gimcrack.
16:10 York – Assured Data Protection Handicap (Heritage Handicap) (GBBPlus Race) (Class 2) (3yo+) – Say What You See 14/1 1pt EW 5 places
Say What You See continues to defy the handicapper having finished in top three in 12 of his 19 runs, and he ran to a career best when returning from a 55 day break at Southwell last time out finishing second to Spinning Wheel in a competitive looking event.
Prior to that, he ran another career best in when a comfortable winner over 1m2f here in first time cheek-pieces off top-weight under a 5lbs penalty in June. That was a commanding performance just four days on from his Pontefract success in a small field, and it’s tricky to decipher just where his ceiling lies.
He’s a versatile type, winning across various distances, in big/small fields on differing going. His form figures reads 2151 over this trip, he copes fine with the going and I suspect he’ll be fighting out the finish.
Matthew Sutcliffe’s Tips for Friday 21 August
13:50 York – Sky Bet Mile Handicap (Heritage Handicap) (Class 2) (3yo 0-105) – Intense Vision 12/1 1pt EW 5 places
14:25 York – Weatherbys Lonsdale Cup Stakes (Group 2) (Class 1) (3yo+) – Al Nayyir 9/1 1pt EW 3 places
15:00 York – Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Gimcrack Stakes (Group 2) (Colts & Geldings) (Class 1) (2yo) – Matteo 18/1 1pt EW 3 places
16:10 York – Assured Data Protection Handicap (Heritage Handicap) (GBBPlus Race) (Class 2) (3yo+) – Say What You See 14/1 1pt EW 5 places
FAQs
What are today’s racing tips?
Matthew Sutcliffe provides his best bets at York on Friday 21 August.
When were Matthew Sutcliffe’s tips published?
Matty Sutcliffe’s racing tips were published at 5pm on Thursday 20 August.
Who is Matthew Sutcliffe?
Matthew Sutcliffe is GGs newest contributor, often providing a value angle for his tips. He writes weekly columns for the weekend’s racing, as well as taking aim at ante-post markets at the Cheltenham Festival. Follow him on X: @MattySutcliffe
Commercial notice: This article on GG.co.uk contains affiliate links. The offers we promote come from operators that we trust and our experts have first-hand experience dealing with. If you open an account through one of these affiliate links then GG will earn revenue. However, we ensure that the money earned goes back into improving and enhancing our coverage of horse racing and other sports, as we look to provide an excellent service to our growing audience.