Andy Holding is taking on the favourites in the Nunthorpe Stakes.
Nunthorpe Stakes
Live In The Dream, winning last year’s renewal at a big price, once again proved that pretty much anything can happen in races of this nature and judged on the results in the top five-furlong contests so far this season, the same trend seems to be taking place.
Okay, Big Evs was a believable result in the King George Qatar Stakes at Goodwood, but previously, victories for Seven Questions (33-1 winner of the Palace Jouse), Kerdos (12-1 in the Temple Stakes) and Asfoora (5-1 in the King Charles III Stakes) went along way to suggest we should expect the unexpected, even at the highest level.
Add into the mix, lack of important information such as the draw and ground conditions, ante post betting on the Group 1 sprint on the Knavesmire is about as treacherous as it gets, and it deserves to be treated accordingly.
Asfoora has arguably been the most consistent in this division and, on form, she appears the one more likely to run her race.
However, she does have one vital ingredient missing, namely she’s never set foot on the Knavesmire and when you consider virtually all the winners in the last 20 years had solid previous course form next to their name, it goes against the grain to side with the Aussie raider on this occasion.
Big Evs, a worthy winner on the day at Goodwood, is also a difficult one to have maximum faith in given how poorly he ran in the race last season.
On the other hand, he did readdress the balance to a degree when scoring over the same C&D on his seasonal bow so it’s a strong possibility he may have just had an off day 12 months ago. That said, he hardly rates bet of the century material around the 4-1 mark, and he is passed over on this occasion.
One who does have strong C&D credentials is BRADSELL (tipped at 8/1) and following a highly pleasing return to action at Deavuville recently, he makes far more appeal at his current odds.
Off the track for 329 days prior to making the trip over the channel, it wouldn’t have been the biggest surprise if he were to have needed the run up against many race-fit, home-based sprinters, but to his great credit and his handler’s expertise, Archie Watson’s gelding proved equal to the task.
Always to the fore, he picked up the running over a furlong out and without being resorted to a particularly vigorous ride, he drew clear of many useful types, including leading French sprinter Coeur De Pierre, who rates as a fair benchmark for the form.
An impressive winner on his first visit to York as a juvenile, his performance in last year’s renewal of the Nunthorpe rubber-stamped his liking for the track and when you consider he was the only horse drawn high to reach the frame, a better stall position on the day would surely see him go close to making amends.
