York betting tips: Big Evs and Asfoora resume battle in Nunthorpe Stakes to savour
york racecourse
The centrepiece of the third day of the Ebor meeting should be a thriller as a dozen of the best five-furlong sprinters around compete for the Nunthorpe Stakes and the biggest prize of the day.
15:35 York: Colmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes (5 furlongs)
Bookies and bettors alike are all over Australian raider Asfoora to reverse the form of her short-head defeat to Big Evs last time out in the King George Stakes at Glorious Goodwood three weeks ago.
Henry Dwyer’s six-year-old mare is six pounds better off than her rival this time around, but we’re going to keep the faith with Michael Appleby’s three-year-old, despite his poor showing in last year’s Nunthorpe.
Something was clearly amiss 12 months ago, when he turned up with figures of 211 as a juvenile, but he is an older and wiser colt now, and has developed into a classy performer.
Big Evs bounced back from last year’s setback with a win at Doncaster before rounding off his two-year-old campaign by landing the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint at Santa Anita in November.
He kicked off this season with a course-distance win here in May before finishing third behind Asfoora in a very competitive King Charles III Stakes at Royal Ascot, a result he subsequently reversed at Goodwood
Despite conceding weight here and also slipping behind the well-fancied Bradsell in the betting, Big Evs looks a better value option than the short-priced favourite to win this ‘decider’, with Tom Marquand once again entrusted with the reins.
Best Bet: Big Evs each-way in the 15:35 at York
- Tip advised by Looking For Value on Tipstrr
With two-thirds of the 12-strong field available at 16/1 or more, there’s clearly plenty with an eye on the extra each-way places that are up for grabs.
The likes of Washington Heights, Makarova and Azure Blue all have enough winning experience to suggest they are not just here to make the numbers up, while some of Tipstrr’s each-way specialists have their collective expert eye on another proven performer in Ponntos.
A promising winter campaign in the Middle East blossomed into a tasty hat-trick of wins on the French circuit in the early summer, so it was something of a setback when he was left wanting in the King George Stakes at Goodwood, where he paid the price for taking off too early.
The return to the saddle of Mickael Barzalona should produce a more measured performance, and at tasty 40/1 price at the time of writing, this six-year-old might just squeeze his way into the frame.
Each-way punt: Ponntos in the 15:35 at York
- Tip advised by Opal Horses on Tipstrr
