York Day Three Preview

The first race of the day on Friday is the Sky Bet Handicap and in this competitive Class 2 that sees a big field of runners go to past we have two selections.

The first is the Ed Walker trained Caradoc has been running to a good standard winning two of his last three races and is currently 1lb well in under his penalty.

Oisin Murphy jumps on for the ride which is always a positive and should get even more progression out of him in his toughest contest to date.

At an each way angle we have gone with the David O'Meara trained Anythingtoday who was not so good last time out but before that was two from two and if getting back to that has a big chance.

The first big race of the day is the Group Two Weatherbys Hamilton Lonsdale CupStakes over two miles and there is only one horse that should win this race.

Stradivarius is the dominant stayer in the division with no one in the last two seasons coming close to him and having already beaten most of this field all season it looks another routine day at the office for him.

He has now won his last eight races in a row ranging between Group One and Two races and he has perfect conditions today to go and show his star quality.

Should not be beat.

Another Group Two follows and the Gimcrack Stakes is known for seeing some classy two year old performers and this year is exactly the same.

Threat is our selection in this six furlong contest and he offers the best form in the race, racing three times in his career and showing a superb amount of ability in all of them.

He got off the mark on debut and since then has finished a narrow second in two Group Two's in the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot and last time out in the Richmond Stakes at Goodwood.

Hannon has been in strong form and another positive is Oisin Murphy jumps on for the first time.

The big contest of the day is the five furlong Nunthorpe Stakes and in this Group One event we have a win and each way selection with 12 sprinters heading to post.

The first is the Charlie Hills trained Battaash and he should be primed to go and win this contest for how he has ran this season, landing the Temple Stakes on his seasonal debut and then Landing the King George at Goodwood for a third year in a row after his second at Royal Ascot.

He is one of the leading contenders to take this contest but last year he ran below par in this contest and has been known to underperform on the big stage occasionally.

Saying that, the yard have mentioned that he is in fine form and came out of Goodwood well and if being on it should be tough to beat.

Our each way shout is John Quinn's El Astronaute who has run to decent standard all season and loves racing at York being a course and distance winner which helps his place claims and doing most of his racing in Ireland this season he took the Rockingham Handicap at the Curragh nicely which if replicating could see him enter the frame.

The penultimate event of the day sees the seven furlong maiden stakes and with plenty of young, talented two year olds heading to post we have gone with a trainer that has had plenty of good ones during his career.

The Roger Varian trained Molatham has had a huge form boost with him finishing a narrow second on debut to Richard Hannon's Mums Tipple.

Hannon's two year old bolted up by close to 12 lengths in the Premier Yearling Stakes on day two and that looks some strong form heading into the contest.

The final runner of the day is Viltralite and a decent price in the Class 2 Handicap and this Karl Burke trained three year old looks a big improver.

He has raced three times during his career, winning his first two starts in good style both coming at Haydock in seven furlong and mile events.

On his latest start under a penalty he could only manage fourth but should be better off for that run and looks very interesting in a big field.