Nunthorpe Stakes Guide - 20/08/20

The Charlie Hills trained gelding had a superb 2019 racing five times over his preferred five furlongs and landing some big events including the Group Two temple Stakes at Haydock and his first Group One Nunthorpe Stakes, which is he favourite to defend.

He could only finish second again behind his nemesis Blue Point in the King's Stands Stakes at Royal Ascot but managed to land a hat-trick of wins at Goodwood.

Coming back this season, he managed to land that elusive Group One King's Stands Stakes at Ascot and then breezed to a fourth straight victory in the King George Qatar Stakes at the Sussex track.

He broke the course record in this event last year and it would be no surprise to see him do the same again.

The son of Dark Angel has shown himself to be a aspiring talent for the Yorkshire based yard, winning three of his four outings to date, including the Five Furlong Palace Of Holyroodhouse Handicap at Royal Ascot this year.

That performance saw him land a hat-trick of wins and put himself on the map as a sprinter and from there has since stepped up once again.

Tim Easterby's three year old headed over to Naas for his Irish debut in the Group Three Lacken Stakes and at. short price made a decent field look very average to gain his fourth successive win.

After landing his three turf starts by a combined 11 lengths in mostly soft conditions he will enjoy any rain that falls between now and the race

The likeable A'Ali for Simon Crisford has managed to get his season back on track after a poor start to the season to now being a firm contender in the Nunthorpe after some better runs.

As a juvenile the son of Society Rock was a superstar landing a hat-trick of wins in Group Two company which included the before mentioned Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot, the Prix Robert Papin at Deauville and finally the Flying Childers Stakes at Doncaster.

He finished his two year old career at the Breeders Cup meeting with a tame run and he did not improve on that run on his three year old seasonal debut at Newcastle when obviously needing the run.

The Coral Charge at Sandown showed him back to his best and when sent over to Ireland for the first time he landed another Group Two event.

Que Amoro goes for Michael Dods and the filly is a very pacy sort that may run a strong race but stepping up to Group One company can only hope for a place.

Dods has a decent record in this race over the last few years winning back to back renewals in 2015 and 2016 with Mecca's Angel and then losing in a photo finish two years ago with Mabs Cross.

Que Amoro does not seem to be in the same league as those sprinters and on that basis may be opposable although previously winning over course and distance.

At similar odds to Que Amoro, Moss Gill for James Bethell is a very talented sprinte but has not shown it at the top level and now taking on some of the best may just be playing for third.

However, he is a bit of a York specialist racing four times on the Knavesmire and having form figures of 2211, with a course and distance Listed win last time out.

He is proven on both soft and good ground so will be versatile whatever the conditions but he will need to improve from what he has already done in his career.

Emaraaty Anna has been a very frustrating colt for Kevin Ryan showing bundles of potential as a juvenile when taking the Group Two Gimcrack at this meeting last term, but since then has done nothing.

The four year old son of Shamardal was bought by Sheikh Mohammed Obaid after that win and only has a Class 3 win in his seven races since the Gimcrack to show for it.

He looks a shadow of the horse of old and it would take a career best for him to go close.

One of the big outsiders in the event and the likely pace angle in the first few furlongs is Ornate who is sharp out the gates but finds it hard to finish off his races.

The rain falling will not play to his strengths with fast ground being his preferred conditions and again he was third behind Battaash last time out in the King George Qatar Stakes.

He is a pacy horse, but has proved time and time again that he is not good enough at Group One level.

The final horse in the event is the Henry Candy trained Kurious at 66/1 and this filly looked a decent recruit last year winning the Listed Surrey Stakes at Sandown and backed that up over the same course and distance in the Group Three Coral Charge.

She made her comeback run in the Group One King's Stands Stakes only finishing seventh of 11 and it would take a huge performance to see her go close.