2023 Nunthorpe Stakes Tips

Highfield Princess was back in the winners’ enclosure at Glorious Goodwood after a series of near misses this season. The six-year-old was able to oblige in the King George Qatar Stakes when sent off as the 4/9 favourite, with a three-length win marking a return to the winners’ enclosure after the horse finished third in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes.

Bradsell runs for trainer Archie Watson and the three-year-old was able to beat Highfield Princess last time out at Royal Ascot. The horse claimed a victory by one length over five furlongs in the King’s Stand Stakes. However, the runner finished third in the Betfred Nifty Fifty Sandy Lane Stakes and it was Little Big Bear who won on that occasion.

The three-year-old was sent off at evens when winning over six furlongs at Haydock Park, although the runner has since fallen short in his previous two outings. There was a second-placed finish behind Shaquille in the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot, with the horse then delivering a sub-par performance in the July Cup Stakes.

Dramatised was well down the order in the King’s Stand Stakes and it will be hoped that the K R Burke-trained charge ends up with a return to form here. However, the runner was previously able to win the Betfred Temple Stakes over five furlongs. This was a Group 2 encounter and the victory by a length could be repeated here.

2022 Nunthorpe Stakes Tips

Royal Aclaim has claimed an unbeaten start to her career after three straight wins and James Tate will be feeling confident about his three-year-old running a big race in the 2022 Nunthorpe Stakes. There has been lots to like about her performances so far and that includes a recent victory at York.

Having previously won at this racecourse, there could be plenty to offer when she returns to the Knavesmire, with the runner winning the John Smith’s City Walls Stakes and there was two lengths separating the winner from the rest of the field. Previously to this, there had been an odds-on win in a Novices’ Stakes at Bath.

Dramatised is another talented runner from the Burke stable, with the two-year-old having delivered some impressive performances in his career and there was a 5/2 victory in the Queen Mary Stakes. It was a relatively comfortable win for the horse in this encounter and there could be more to come given the horse’s age.

Twilight Calls is a runner that merits respect and there was plenty to like about the horse’s performance in the King’s Stand Stakes. This was a Group 1 encounter over five furlongs and it was no disgrace to lose to the talented Australian speedball Nature Strip. The horse was four and a half lengths shy of the winner.

Can Battaash Become a Three-Time Winner of the 2021 Nunthorpe?

Battaash has already enjoyed a glittering career, with the seven-year-old heading the betting market ahead of several younger horses on the York racecard, with the runner having been sent off as the 11/8 favourite to win the King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot, although he failed to deliver on that occasion.

With Jim Crowley on board, Battaash was touched off by Oxted, Arecibo and Extravagant Kid on that occasion, although the horse is still trading among the market leaders for the Nunthorpe Stakes for what could be his final hurrah of a legendary career.

Twelve months ago, Battaash was sent off as the 1/2 favourite to win the 2020 Nunthorpe Stakes and duly obliged, with this coming after a victory in the King George Qatar Stakes at Goodwood, while there was a win in the King’s Stand Stakes of that year.

Golden Pal Could Be Successful American Raider in this Race

The bookies are taking no chances with their horse racing odds when it comes to the 2021 Nunthorpe Stakes, with Golden Pal looking to head over from the United States of America to try and secure a star prize on the flat racing calendar and he certainly has credentials.

The three-year-old hasn’t been seen at a race track this year aside from a win at Saratoga where the horse was sent off as 1/5 favourite for this Grade 3 encounter, with the runner previously successful when winning the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint back in November.

Who Are the Other Betting Favourites to Win Nunthorpe?

Dragon Symbol has a string of second-placed finishes in recent times, with the Archie Watson-trained runner having finished second in the Darley July Cup Stakes and there was plenty to like about this performance despite finishing second to Starman.

Dragon Symbol finished ahead of Campanelle in the 2021 Commonwealth Cup before the latter was awarded the horse race, with the runner having bumped his rival and perhaps he’s a better each-way option.

The Nunthorpe Stakes takes place on Friday 23 August, with Battaash currently trading as the 2/1 favourite to win this Group 1 encounter at the Ebor Festival.

Battaash is an explosive five-year-old and there was everything to like about a recent victory in the King George Qatar Stakes at the Glorious Goodwood meeting, with the Charles Hills-trained favourite always looking like the winner.

At odds of 1/4, it was hardly a surprise that Battaash was successful and a sterner test certainly awaits the Jim Crowley-ridden charge when he lines up in the Nunthorpe where he’s failed to make an impression in the previous two seasons.

The trainer is scratching his head as to why Battaash has finished fourth in his last two appearances in the Nunthorpe Stakes considering that the runner has proved to be so impressive in other encounters.

At Glorious Goodwood, Battaash was coasting from about a furlong away from the finish, with the horse coming close to breaking the course record and that sets him up very nicely for the Nunthorpe.

Connections will feel that it’s a matter of time before the horse shows his true colours at the Yorkshire track, with trainer Hills delighted with his most recent performance.

"He seemed to be idling there in front today, which is a good sign," Hills said. "He's taking his racing much better and there are a good few races we can target towards the end of the year.

"[Owner] Sheikh Hamdan is very keen to go to York with him and it's good timing for that race," Hills added. "Obviously he hasn't won there before, but I sort of scratch my head because there's no reason why he shouldn't handle a track like that."

Indeed, the horse does seem to be in good working order this season, having finished second to Blue Point at Royal Ascot when failing to get upsides the eventual winner in the King’s Stand Stakes.

However, Battaash could have stiff competition in the form of Ten Sovereigns, with the Coolmore horse currently trading at 3/1 to win the Nunthorpe Stakes and the Aidan O’Brien trained charge most recently landed an impressive win.

The three-year-old is clearly open to further progress at such a young age, with the horse obliging at odds of 9/2 to win the Darley July Cup Stakes.

Ten Sovereigns won the race fairly comfortably at Newmarket, seeing off the challenge of favourite Advertise as well as Fairyland.

"We were delighted with him. We felt he had made very good progress since Ascot," said O'Brien after the July Cup.

"We knew we had to step up from Ascot, but we felt that his work was very good and we were looking forward to seeing him run."

"I think the lads will decide that (where he goes next), but he would have the option of the Nunthorpe," he added.

"We'll see how he comes out of this race first."

All being well, we can be excited about the prospect of Battaash running against Ten Sovereigns. Having been treated to some titanic tussles at courses such as Ascot, Newmarket and Goodwood already, we’re hoping for more of the same this time around.