Group One Nunthorpe Stakes Guide 2022

A well versed sprinter for Kevin Ryan, Emaraaty Ana had a fine season last year. Scoring in a class 3 conditions race, Emaraaty Ana then ran a stormer to be 2nd in this race despite going off 40/1.

After that he stepped up to 6 furlongs again where he managed to hold off Starman to win the Sprint Cup Stakes.

His form has seriously dipped off since however. He wasn’t disgraced over in America to be 4th at the Breeders’ Cup behind Golden Pal but has since been poor.

Only beating one rival home in both of his outings in Meydan back in March, he’s also failed to land a blow since coming back to the UK.

Coming a distant 15th in the Platinum Jubilee, he did shape better last time out to be 6th in the July Cup. He ran well in this last year but will need to put his best foot forward again to be involved.

After knocking at the door of group and listed company over 6 furlongs over the years, Khadeem was finding wins hard to come by.

That was until dropping back to 5 furlongs at Doncaster in a listed event last year where he easily skipped clear of the field.

Unable to back that up in group 3 company, he was gelded and put away for the winter. A brief stint over in Meydan saw him struggle in a listed race and a group 2. Coming back over to England saw him win the Palace House Stakes narrowly.

Last seen moving up to group 2 company, he narrowly got the better of Raseel to win the King George Stakes at Goodwood.

He’s improved as a sprinter recently and it won’t be a surprise to see him far away.

This 5 year old is already a mammoth price for this race having failed to really show much form in his other outings in group sprints.

Some decent handicap wins as a 2 year old, Ainsdale then only managed to win a conditions race at 3 and was only seen three times all year. Last season he failed to win but did go close behind Liberty Beach on deep ground over 5 furlongs in a group 2 event.

This season he’s only had one run which was his stable debut for Julie Camacho. A decent enough 4th in a 6 furlong group 3 at Newcastle, 5 furlongs has never looked like his trip and it’ll be a surprise to see him involved in the finish.

Charlie Appleby’s 5 year old has had some mixed success as a sprinter. Scoring a listed race as a 3 year old, he struggled initially in stronger races before sealing a group 3 win at the end of the season.

Only seen 4 times last year with large intervals between his outings, he scored a group 3 before some lacklustre runs. Put away for the Autumn, he came back in Meydan in listed company to be a solid enough 2nd.

Handily winning a group 2 off the back of that while still in Dubai he failed to bring that form over to the UK with him.

Coming 9th in the Kings Stand, he then only managed to come 4th in the King George at Goodwood last time out. More will be required of him here.

The Horsewatchers’ 5 year old spent last year contesting handicaps where the gelding won 5 races in a row in excellent fashion.

Winning his first run off the mark of 73, he kept defying the swipes of the handicapper to score off as high as 86 at the end of the season. Returning to action off a mark of 94, he looked in need of his first outing and only came 5th.

Scoring on his next outing smartly, he then went on to win a listed race at Haydock before a narrow group 3 win at Sandown.

Last seen in the King George at Goodwood he was only narrowly beaten by Khadeem. He’s hit his peak but will need to be at his best in this deep looking group one.

The talented mare has a brilliant record here at York but has seen her form start to dip off recently. Winning a listed race and a group 3 as a 2 year old, she was then put away for the winter.

Coming back in a listed race here at York last year, she easily won before a mid division finish in the Kings Stand. She took the City Walls Stakes again before a blistering performance saw her win this race last year easily.

Her form has majorly dipped off since however. Unable to get involved in any of her races this season, even a return to York failed to spark her back to life last time out.

Hopefully she still has some fight left in her and a return to her favourite course should help.

A smart 2 year old who managed to earn listed honours in his first season racing, Acklam Express then had a tough season last year.

Failing to score a win all season, he shaped well in a few races over in Meydan. Coming 2nd in a group 2 on return, he then went close again in a couple more sprint events over in Dubai.

Left for dead by Winter Power in the City Walls Stakes last year, he then was well beaten in the Kings stand. A decent comeback run in Meydan on his first outing of the year, he’s struggled to get involved since.

Unable to lie up in any of his outings this year, it’s doubtful he’s going to play a major role.

After being switched to sprinting trips this season Highfield Princess has begun her ascension through the ranks.

Winning a race over 7 furlong at Newcastle, she then managed to drop to 6 furlongs and easily win a group 2 with bundles in hand. Stepped up in grade for the Platinum Jubilee off the back of that success she shaped well enough to be 6th behind Naval Crown.

Last seen over in Deauville over 6.5 furlongs she smartly skipped clear of Minzaal to get her first group one victory.

Dropping in trip doesn’t look like the ideal move for her and she’s trying to back up after only 12 days.

A relatively lightly raced 4 year old, Clarendon House only made his debut last year but had a fine first season racing. Winning his first two races easily against novices, he then struggled slightly in handicaps.

Eventually finding his feet with two impressive wins, he was put away for the winter. Unable to get the better of Raasel on comeback in a handicap, he’s since been tried at a higher level. Unable to really get involved in listed and group races, his only success of the season came in a conditions race at Beverley.

He’s failed to look up to scratch in lower level events than this and will likely be left behind by the market principles.

A meteoric rise last season saw Dragon Symbol win some smart races and not be disgraced in some deep contests when trained by Archie Watson.

Winning a brace of novices, he then scored in handicap company before winning a conditions race. Sent for the Sandy Lane Stakes off the back of that he was denied a nose by Rohaan.

He then filled the same 2nd place spot on his next three outings in top class races. He wasn’t a far beaten 3rd in this race last year before average runs for the rest of the season.

He’s had mixed success this season, coming 7th behind Highfield Princess in the Clipper Logistics Stakes, he then had to settle for 2nd behind Raasel.

Only beating a single rival home in the Platinum Jubilee, a drop in grade and distance last time out saw him score a conditions race at prohibitive odds.

He’s talented enough and ran well here last year, not without place credentials.

Coming over from Ireland for Aidan O’Brien is 3 year old New York City.

Beaten in a brace of maidens, he was then pitched into the Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket where he only managed to come 9th. Again sent back into maiden company he failed on two more occasions to score a victory.

He put that right on his first outing of this season however and smartly won a maidan at Navan on comeback by 7 lengths impressively. He then backed that up in style to take a listed race in similar impression fashion.

He’s since been aimed at group level but has found it taxing of his abilities. A decent 2nd over 6 furlongs at Naas, he was then dead last in a group 2 at the Curragh over 5 furlongs.

Last seen moved back up to 6 furlongs, he struggled again and only beat a couple of rivals home. Unlikely to be playing a major role in this deeper looking race.

Hugo Palmer’s charge looked like a real smart sort last year when scoring a novice event before winning the National Stakes with ease. Despite struggling for quality in a couple of group races, he then managed to win a group 1 at the Curragh.

Kept at group 1 level for his last two outings he failed to score again at the top table before being put away for the winter. Coming back with runs in group 3 company, he failed to really get involved in any of his races.

Last seen dropping down to listed level, he got his head back in front for the first time in nearly a year to win at Chester with plenty in hand.

He’s likely to be left wanting for quality moving down in trip and up in grade however.

Simon and Ed Crisford bring their 3 year old filly Flotus here off the back of a 6 furlong win here at York in a group 3 event for fillies.

She’s had a decent season this year having gone close in a listed race over 6 furlongs before a fine 3rd place in the Commonwealth Cup behind Perfect Power.

She showed a fondness for this course last time out but looked to be laden with stamina as she made every yard of the running. Dropping in trip to the minimum is likely to suit her here.

Improving at a rapid rate of knots for James Tate, Royal Aclaim will arrive on the Knavesmire unbeaten with a perfect three from three record.

Scoring on debut as a juvenile, she ran in novice company at Newcastle over 5 furlongs before being put away for over a year. Making her comeback in a novice race over the minimum trip she made light work of her 7 rivals.

Last seen stepping up into listed company for the first time here at York, she breezed clear of a smart and experienced field.

Beating Mondammej by 2 lengths, she had last year’s Nunthorpe winner well beaten too. She’ll still be improving and likely has more to come, however this is a bigger test.

This is a difficult race for 2 year olds to find success in but The Platinum Queen lines up here nonetheless off the back of her third career success.

Winning on debut over 5 furlongs at the start of June, she then ran a poor race in defeat in the Queen Mary Stakes behind Dramatised. She’s bounced back since however to win her last two starts in fine fashion.

Scoring over course and distance to defy a double penalty easily, she then won a conditions race last time out at Goodwood.

She gets lumps of weight from the rest of the field but will have to prove her class against older horses.