After winners at 13/2 and 14/1 over the first two days of the Welcome to Yorkshire Ebor Festival, don't miss Simon Holt's selections for Friday - which are priced at 13/2 and 14/1.
Recommended bets
2pts win Soldier's Call in 3.35 York at 14/1
2pts win Corelli in 1.55 York at 13/2
Friday's Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes has produced a tremendous clash between the cream of British and Irish sprinters with the brilliantly quick Battaash set to take on July Cup winner Ten Sovereigns.
However, York has not been a happy hunting ground for Battaash (twice disappointing in this race) in the past and, with Ten Sovereigns dropping back to a very fast and flat five furlongs, the pair look opposable at their overnight odds.
SOLDIER'S CALL could be the one. Archie Watson's speedball, who finished half a length ahead of Battaash when third to Mabs Cross in the Prix de l'Abbaye (receiving a two-year-old allowance) at Longchamp last October, filled the same position behind Blue Point and Battaash (Mabs Cross fourth) in the King's Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot in June.
Trained for that race, Soldier's Call may have just needed his previous run when a touched-off third to Garrus, who was receiving 5lb, over this course and distance but he at least proved that the course suits him.
A slightly disappointing fourth behind Soffia, El Astronaute and Garrus at The Curragh more recently was clearly not his best effort, but he lost a shoe that day and a return to the form of his run at the Royal meeting could see him go very close at decent odds with those questions hanging over the top two in the market.
Longchamp winner Mabs Cross, who was narrowly touched off by Alpha Delphini in this race last year (Battaash fourth) is the other obvious leading contender.
A strong finisher, the Michael Dods-trained mare will need things to fall just right but Gerald Mosse (who rode her to win the Abbaye) is an appealing booking.
📔🏆 What's The Story wins the Clipper Logistics Handicap by a nose at York!
— Sporting Life (@SportingLife) August 22, 2019
🤑 And that's a 14/1 winner for followers of our @SimonHolt3!
👏 So far this week, Simon has had four tips, two winners and 37 points profit.pic.twitter.com/1ttEREkt2t
With Stradivarius hard to oppose in the Weatherbys Hamilton Lonsdale Cup, even though meeting neck Goodwood Cup second Dee Ex Bee on 3lb worse terms, the star stayer's trainer John Gosden could also strike with CORELLI in the opening Sky Bet Handicap.
There are few bigger horses in training than this close relation to the St Leger winner Lucarno and he is making steady progress.
Second to subsequent Royal Ascot winner Baghdad at Newmarket first time out this season, Corelli then ran well for a long way until fading over the marathon distance of the Queen Alexandra Stakes before splitting Kelly's Dino and Outbox back at Newmarket on the July Course.
The latter pair have both been in excellent form; Kelly's Dino, a strong contender for Saturday's Ebor, has won two of his last three starts going up 12lb in the ratings while Outbox had previously gone down by a neck to the redoubtable King's Advice, another Ebor candidate, in a thrilling contest at Goodwood.
Given his size, this big, flat course could prove ideal for Corelli and I expect him to justify likely favouritism in the hands of Frankie Dettori, after his emotional success with Enable on Thursday.
Posted at 1600 BST on 22/08/19.
