*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change
Highfield Princess faces 15 rivals in her bid to win the Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes for the second year in a row.
Big Evs, the winner of this month’s Molecomb, could provide the principal opposition as Michael Appleby’s star colt attempts to make the most of the significant weights allowances and become the first two-year-old winner of the race since 2007.
The all-star cast for Friday’s 15:35 also features King’s Stand scorer Bradsell, Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee winner Khaadem and the hat-trick seeking Regional.
The latest Nunthorpe Stakes odds are on the Paddy Power website and Paddy Power app, otherwise Timeform’s guide to the runners as well as betting tips from the racing boffins can be found below.
Nunthorpe Stakes tips
Timeform: HIGHFIELD PRINCESS teed herself up perfectly for this when an emphatic winner of Goodwood’s King George Stakes and can follow up her impressive success in this contest 12 months ago. Bradsell got the better of John Quinn’s likeable mare in Royal Ascot’s King’s Stand but might have to settle for second best this time on this speedier track. Charlie Hills’s pair Khaadem and Equality, along with 3-y-o pair Aesop’s Fables and Queen Me, can fight it out for minor honours in a cracking Nunthorpe.
Nunthorpe Stakes runners and riders
Equality
Trainer: Charles Hills Jockey: Daniel Muscutt Age: 5 Weight: 9st 13lbs Draw: 11
Dominated a smart field when landing Sandown Group 3 in July but looked unsuited by the track when 5¾ lengths seventh of 11 to Highfield Princess in King George Stakes at Goodwood 21 days ago. Shortlisted.
***
Khaadem
Trainer: Charles Hills Jockey: Jamie Spencer Age: 7 Weight: 9st 13lbs Draw: 10
Produced a career-best performance when 80/1-winner of Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot. Not disgraced when 3½ lengths fifth of 8 to Shaquille in July Cup at Newmarket since. Possibilities.
***
Live In The Dream
Trainer: Adam West Jockey: S. B. Kirrane Age: 4 Weight: 9st 13lbs Draw: 4
Big improver in the spring, landing back-to-back 5f handicaps before fine second in Newmarket’s Palace House. Not discredited after a ten-week lay-off when fourth in listed race at Deauville (5f, soft) 19 days ago but needs to build on it.
***
Regional
Trainer: Edward Bethell Jockey: Callum Rodriguez Age: 5 Weight: 9st 13lbs Draw: 7
Lightly raced 5-y-o who has taken his form to another level to win both starts this year, namely C&D handicap and listed race at Haydock. This demands another step forward though.
***
Tees Spirit
Trainer: Adrian Nicholls Jockey: Barry McHugh Age: 5 Weight: 9st 13lbs Draw: 12
Much improved last year when winning 5 times. Is yet to fire this term though and underwent breathing suregery before coming in ninth of 10 in handicap at Ascot (5f, good) 13 days ago. Has lots to prove.
**
Twilight Calls
Trainer: Henry Candy Jockey: Frankie Dettori Age: 5 Weight: 9st 13lbs Draw: 13
Smart gelding who bounced back to form when 3¼ lengths fourth of 17 to Bradsell in King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot (5f, good) 66 days ago. No forlorn hope if he can build on that after a break with Frankie Dettori now up.
***
Aesop’s Fables
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien Jockey: Ryan Moore Age: 3 Weight: 9st 11lbs Draw: 16
Looked a bright prospect when winning his first 2 outings (Curragh 7f Group 2 second occasion) at 2yrs. Back to his best when 3 lengths third to Shaquille in listed race at Newbury (6f, good to firm) in May. No surprise to see him take a big step forward on his return for top connections.
***
Bradsell
Trainer: Archie Watson Jockey: Hollie Doyle Age: 3 Weight: 9st 11lbs Draw: 9
Last year’s Coventry winner but suffered an injury which ended his 2-y-o season in Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh. Took his form to a new level when landing 17-runner King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot by length from Highfield Princess. Firmly in the picture after a break.
****
Get Ahead
Trainer: Clive Cox Jockey: Rossa Ryan Age: 4 Weight: 9st 10lbs Draw: 15
Useful filly who ran out a comfortable winner in listed company at Haydock in May. Posted a respectable 2¾ lengths sixth to Equality in Sprint Stakes at Sandown (5f, good) 48 days ago but this is a lot tougher.
***
Highfield Princess
Trainer: John Quinn Jockey: Jason Hart Age: 6 Weight: 9st 10lbs Draw: 6
High-class mare who won 5 times in a brilliant 2022, notably when an impressive scorer in this event. Has looked as good as ever this year, edged out by Bradsell in the King’s Stand before readily taking King George Stakes at Goodwood. The one to beat under her ideal conditions.
*****
Ladies Church
Trainer: John Patrick Murtagh Jockey: Ben Martin Coen Age: 4 Weight: 9st 10lbs Draw: 5
Won 5f listed race at Naas in May but not in the same form since in the Sapphire at the Curragh and King George Stakes at Goodwood. Others make plenty more appeal.
**
Makarova
Trainer: Ed Walker Jockey: Tom Marquand Age: 4 Weight: 9st 10lbs Draw: 3
Gained her listed breakthrough win at Ayr in June and has continued in good form, 4½ lengths fourth of 11 to Highfield Princess in King George Stakes at Goodwood 21 days ago. This demands a big career best however.
**
Nymphadora
Trainer: Andrew Balding Jockey: Oisin Murphy Age: 4 Weight: 9st 10lbs Draw: 2
Smart filly who landed listed race over C&D in July. Not at her best when 6 lengths eighth of 11 to Highfield Princess in King George Stakes at Goodwood since. Needs to get back on track.
***
Dramatised
Trainer: K. R. Burke Jockey: Daniel Tudhope Age: 3 Weight: 9st 8lbs Draw: 14
Decisive winner of Queen Mary last summer and improved again to see off older opposition in Group 2 Temple at Haydock in May. Raced in unfavoured centre when only fifteenth of 17 to Bradsell in King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot and no surprise to see her bounce back here. Possibilities.
***
Queen Me
Trainer: Kevin Ryan Jockey: James Doyle Age: 3 Weight: 9st 8lbs Draw: 1
Runner-up in Group 2 Lowther here (6f). Too free in the 1000 Guineas on reappearance but fared much better when very good 2¾ lengths sixth of 13 to Shaquille in Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot (6f, good to firm) 22 days ago. Respected down in trip. Lively outsider.
***
Big Evs
Trainer: Michael Appleby Jockey: Andrea Atzeni Age: 2 Weight: 8st 3lbs Draw: 8
Commanding winner of listed Windsor Castle at Royal Ascot before improving again to take Molecomb Stakes at Goodwood (5f, heavy) 23 days ago by neck from Purosangue. Likeable sort but he needs another sizeable step forward to figure in this though.
***
Friday’s Racing Tips
- Matt Chapman’s ITV Racing tips for day three of the Ebor Festival
- Mick Fitzgerald’s horse racing tips for Friday at York
- Ruby Walsh’s horse racing tips for day three of York’s Ebor meeting
- Jason Weaver’s ITV Racing tips for Friday at York
Read More on the Ebor Festival
- Gallop over to Paddy Power News for all the latest horse racing tips
- When is the Nunthorpe Stakes? York date, start time, runners and betting
- When is the Ebor Handicap? York date, start time, runners and betting
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