Matty Sutcliffe struck early in the York Ebor meeting with a 10/1 value winner, and turns his eye to Friday for five selections on day three of the festival.
1:50 York – Sky Bet Handicap (Heritage Handicap) (Class 2) (3yo+) – Lieber Power 1pt WIN 8/1
LIEBER POWER didn’t quite kick on last term after some promising efforts as a two-year-old, but since being gelded his form figures on turf read 01212, with the ‘0’ coming over an inadequate 1m2f though only beaten four lengths.
He capitalised on a drop in class over C&D here in July when just getting up by a neck, coming late in between horses under Callum Hutchinson. He wasn’t disgraced next time out when beaten a nose by the progressive Great Bedywn, who backed that form up when beaten 3/4L in a competitive handicap at Goodwood earlier this month behind G2 Lonsdale Cup hope Align The Stars.
Lieber Power bounced back with a comfortable win in a Racing League contest at Chepstow, giving 8lbs to the runner up who was on a five timer, and was far from disgraced when beaten a neck by Night Breeze in a 0-95 Racing League contest at Windsor last time out who was completing a treble when always well positioned to the fore, pulling three lengths ahead of the third.
He’s progressing at a rate of knots on RPRs and is still somewhat unexposed at this trip, and a trip back to this winning C&D should suit this son of Cracksman with an honest pace to suit looking likely.
3:00 York – Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Gimcrack Stakes (Group 2) (IRE Incentive Race) (Class 1) (2yo) – Camille Pissarro 5/1 2pt WIN
CAMILLE PISSARRO was an eye-catcher when a beaten favourite in the G2 Coventry Stakes in June, faring second best of those on the far side in a race which paid to be drawn middle-to-high, bar the impressive winner Rashabar was was only beaten 3/4L by Whistlejacket in the G1 Prix Morny last week.
The son of Wootton Bassett bettered that effort when a half a length second to Babouche next at the Curragh next time out, and that one backed up the form when beaten Whistlejacket in the G1 Phoenix Stakes earlier this month.
Babouche is arguably the best six furlong horse around at the moment, and Camille Pissaro likely won’t have anything of that calibre to contend with in here and can give Aidan O’Brien his first Gimcrack since Rock Of Gibraltar in 2001.
3:35 York – Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes (Group 1) (British Champions Series) (Class 1) (2yo+) – Live In The Dream 12/1 1pt WIN + Bradsell 7/1 1pt WIN
Last year’s Nunthorpe winner LIVE IN THE DREAM was beyond impressive when making all in the contest from stall four, and connections have made it no secret that this has been their long term aim, with a view to going back to the Breeders’ Cup.
He’s not fully wound up this season, and he was a huge drifter on seasonal debut despite being beaten only half a length by Kerdos, with Asfoora two lengths in behind. He was then uncharacteristically slow out of the stalls at Haydock and had to make up ground early on to lead, before ultimately weakening to be beaten ten lengths. That clearly wasn’t his true showing, nor was it when connections attempted to hold him up behind leaders at Sandown, staying on lethargically for a three-lengths fourth.
However, he produced an excellent RPR of 113 last time out at Goodwood when showing plenty of zip on the front end, but was overhauled late and again he wasn’t suited to not leading. He produced an RPR of 104 the race prior to winning this last term, so if he is fully wound up this time around then he could have them all at it once more and make all from stall five.
If it has transpired that Live In The Dream has lost a touch of that unique speed and can’t hold on to the lead, then I can only envisage that the winner will come from one who’s comfortable sitting off a strong gallop and BRADSELL perfectly fits the bill.
Last season’s King’s Stand winner was poorly drawn in stall nine in this race last season, finishing first in his group of six when a length behind Live In The Dream in third, and with a plethora of pace drawn low, Bradsell is more favourably birthed in stall three to be toed into the contest.
The Tasleet colt was a cosy winner on reappearance of the same Deauville Listed contest that Live In The Dream was fourth in last season and given he’s backed up a win in the past, he’s taken to capitalise in the event of a pace collapse.
4:10 York – Assured Data Protection EBF Fillies’ Handicap (Heritage Handicap) (Class 2) (3yo+ 0-105) – Reach 8/1 1pt WIN
REACH was a neck winner of this valuable fillies handicap last season when pulling three lengths clear of the third, and connections’ have clearly worked back all season to land the race back-to-back.
She remains 5lbs higher, but was value for the winning margin that day and has shaped with promise in both C&D starts this season. She was relatively unfancied when needing the run here in May, staying on under a keen hold behind subsequent John Smith’s Cup runner up Botanical in a race that’s worked out well elsewhere in the field.
She was third again here in June when again not looking fully wound up, and the rain that came there largely hindered her chances. There’s spots forecast for Friday, but as long as there’s no ‘soft’ in the going then I wouldn’t be too worried and is drawn well in one to take up a nice position early on.
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