Plenty of Irish interest on stellar York card

The Group One Coolmore sponsored Nunthorpe Stakes is the highlight of what promises to be a tremendous afternoon’s racing at York today.

John Quinn’s Highfield Princess is bidding to become the third horse to win back-to-back renewals of the Nunthorpe in the last nine years when she lines up with 15 other sprinters over the minimum distance of five furlongs at 3.35pm this afternoon.

Mecca’s Angel (2015 and 2016) and Battaash (2019 and 2020) were the two recent horses to land the Group One contest in successive seasons and there is a strong chance that Highfield Princess can follow in their footsteps by landing today’s race for the second time.

Highfield Princess arrives in top form having comfortably landed the Group Two King George Stakes at Goodwood earlier this month and she should appreciate the return to York where her record reads 32112 from five previous visits.

The most obvious threat to Highfield Princess is King Stand Stakes winner Bradsell. In that Royal Ascot contest in June Bradsell finished one length in front of Highfield Princess, but there was some interference to the runner-up who is now 4lbs better off at the weights this time.

Two-year-old Big Evs, another Royal Ascot winner, must also come into the reckoning today as he receives lumps of weight from his older rivals.

At bigger odds, Khaadem could represent a bit of value. He also beat Highfield Princess at Royal Ascot when landing the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes over six furlongs and causing an 80/1 shock in the process. Khaadem was fourth in this race last year and it would be no surprise to see him make the frame again.

Aesop’s Fable and Ladies Church run for Ireland in the Nunthorpe, but it would be a minor shock if either managed to win this competitive renewal.

Quickthorn is another horse on today’s card attempting to win a race for the second year in a row when he defends his Group Two Lonsdale Cup Stakes crown.

Tom Marquand gave Quickthorn one of the rides of the season when making all the running at Goodwood last time against several of today’s rivals. On that occasion Quickthorn and Marquand slipped to field from an early stage and while it will be surprising if the pair are allowed to gain such an easy lead this time they did the same in this race twelve months ago when winning unchallenged by 14 lengths from Coltrane.

Courage Mon Ami was the big disappointment in the Goodwood race behind Quickthorn where he lost his unbeaten record and it is likely that he will bounce back here under Frankie Dettori. His previous victory in the Ascot Gold Cup was a top drawer performance and a repeat would probably be good enough for victory today.

The other big race at York this afternoon is the Group Two Gimcrack Stakes for two-year-old colts over six furlongs. Aidan O’Brien sends over Johannes Brahms who won over a similar distance on debut at Naas in May before finishing second to Big Evs at Royal Ascot.

Johannes Brahms would be the first Ballydoyle-trained winner of this prestigious race since Rock Of Gibraltar was successful here in 2001.

Karl Burke’s Kylian looks the main danger to the O’Brien-trained runner as he also has form with the aforementioned Big Evs. Kylian was a never nearer third to Big Evs in the Molecomb Stakes over five furlongs at Goodwood and should appreciate the extra furlong of today’s race.

Other Irish interest at York today sees Tony Martin run his ex-French trained gelding Zanndabad in the opening one mile and four furlongs handicap. Zannadabad, a multiple winner in France, ran well for a long way over two miles here on Wednesday and it would be significant if he turned up again today over this shorter distance which promises to be more suitable. BoyleSports are offering their Irish mobile customers money back as a free bet on all losers on this 1.50pm race at York. Max refund €10 per customer.

Aidan O’Brien’s Ballydoyle stable is also represented in the seven furlongs maiden by the twice-raced Battle Cry. This son of No Nay Never showed plenty in a similar contest at Down Royal last time and will have the assistance of Ryan Moore for the first time today which bodes well for his chance.

Jessica Harrington saddles Galway Festival winner Lan Cinnte in the £100,000 one mile two furlongs fillies handicap. Shane Foley is once again aboard this consistent three-year-old, but she will need to up her game racing off a 5lbs higher mark than when prevailing by a short head at Galway at the start of the month.