Nunthorpe Stakes Betting Tips – Battaash a Cut Above Rivals in York Sprint Feature

Charlie Hills star a worthy favourite to retain Group 1 crown

Battaash looks in a different league to his rivals and a worthy red-hot favourite to retain his crown in the 5f Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes at York on Friday (3.15).

This Charlie Hills trained six-year-old has a tremendous strike rate of just under 55 per cent having won 12 of his 22 starts. Three of those successes have come at the highest level.

The Hamdan Al Maktoum owned gelding blew away the opposition in this 12 months ago when leading on the bit two from home, before bursting effortlessly clear to beat Soldier’s Call by just under four lengths.

Battaash then bombed out on heavy ground in the Group 1 Prix de l’Abbaye at Longchamp, but has looked as good as ever in winning both his starts this season.

In the first of those at Royal Ascot, the son of Dark Angel made all and ran on strongly to beat Equilateral by 2 1/4 lengths in the Group 1 King’s Stand Stakes.

He then created history at Glorious Goodwood when winning the Group 2 King George Stakes for a fourth time.

After racing freely in the early stages, Battaash made all to win unchallenged and account for Glass Slippers by just over two lengths.

It was a weak renewal in which a rival rated 29lb his inferior finished just a neck further behind in third, so the form is nothing to write home about.

However, Battaash did set a new course record and could do nothing more than beat what was put in front of him. He has been left on an unchanged rating of 126 and that gives him 11lb and upwards in hand on his nine rivals.

It makes Battaash look impossible to oppose and cramped odds of 1/2 with bet365 look fully justified.

1.

93/100

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Art Power a fascinating contender for in-form Easterby

If Battaash does fail to live up to expectations, and he has done twice in the Nunthorpe Stakes prior to last year’s success, then Art Power looks the one that could take advantage.

This three-year-old, who hails from the in-form yard of Yorkshire handler Tim Easterby, is a lightly-raced and unexposed sort who since finishing third on debut is unbeaten in four starts.

After easily landing a gamble when beating Keep Busy by 3 1/2 lengths in the 21-runner Palace Of Holyroodhouse Handicap at Royal Ascot, Art Power took the step up into Group 3 company in his stride when staying on strongly to account for Millisle by 2 1/2 lengths in the Lacken Stakes at Naas.

As the runner-up was a Group 1 winning juvenile who won a Group 3 next time up at the same venue, the form looks decent. It was a very smart and taking performance from Art Power.

The son of Dark Angel is clearly progressing at a rate of knots and it’s very interesting that his shrewd handler has decided to let him take his chance at the highest level.

Art Power has achieved plenty in a short time and is the second rated in the line-up off 115. He does have 11lb to find on Battaash, but is half his age and remains open to stacks more improvement.

This does represent a big step up in class but, given his upwardly mobile profile, it would be no surprise to see Art Power give Battaash something to think about. He is a best-price 3/1 with 888Sport to make it five on the bounce here.

A’Ali the each-way angle in Nunthorpe Stakes

The Simon Crisford trained A’Ali also comes into the race right at the top of his game and has an excellent record over the minimum trip, so is another that can’t be discounted.

This three-year-old son of Group 1 winning sprinter Society Rock has lost just one of his six races over 6f, when beaten a neck on debut, and was winning in Group 2 company for the fourth time when landing the Sapphire Stakes at The Curragh on his latest start.

After dwelling at the start, A’Ali came from off the pace and showed a smart turn of speed under Colin Keane to get up late on and beat Make A Challenge by a length. It was a striking success.

The performance can be upgraded as A’Ali raced alone and slightly detached from the rest of the field down the seemingly unfavoured stands’ side.

He was forced to do it the hard way, but his finishing sectionals were impressive and he looked very strong throughout that final quarter-mile.

Prior to that, A’Ali had won going away by a length from Liberty Beach in the Group 3 Coral Charge at Sandown. The John Quinn trained runner-up has since finished fourth to Battaash in the King George Stakes at Goodwood.

The Nunthorpe Stakes is also likely to be run at a strong end-to-end gallop as Battaash and Art Power both like to race up with the pace. That could set it up for a closer.

A’Ali fits that bill. Hence, at 15/2 with William Hill, he makes most appeal from an each-way betting perspective.