The feature race on Day 3 of York’s Ebor meeting is the Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes which sees impressive July Cup winner Ten Sovereigns (3.35) run over the minimum trip for the first time. The classic generation filled the first five places in the July Cup, but there was no Battash to contend with at Newmarket and Charlie Hills’ sprinter looked better than ever when scoring at Goodwood last time.

Battash has finished fourth in the last two renewals of the Nunthorpe, however, so the evidence suggests the Knavesmire is not his track and Aidan O’Brien looks to have found the key to Ten Sovereigns – fast ground and let his horse bowl long in front.  The two main protagonists are drawn 1 (Battash) and 11 (Ten Sovereigns) and blink and you’ll miss it. Aidan O’Brien reported post-race at Newmarket that Ten Sovereigns – 6/4 at BetVictor – had clocked some exceptional times on the home gallops and the drop back to the minimum trip is no concern. Note that the selection is ground dependent and would not want any significant rain.

Caradoc has improved for the step up to 10f in recent starts and would have every chance in the opening 12f Handicap if he gets the trip from an excellent draw in stall two. A market move for Gibbs Hill would be worth noting despite top-weight although he may need a bit more juice in the ground.

Mandarin (1.50) is 2lbs better off with Indianapolis (12s at BetVictor) for the half-length he was behind that rival at Ascot in the Shergar Cup earlier in the month, but I hope to see Ian Williams’ five-year-old get his revenge. Both are well drawn this afternoon and the each way selection is 9/1 at BetVictor.

I felt Dee Ex Bee was flattered to finish within a neck of Stradivarius (2.25) in the Goodwood Cup last time and I feel the champion stayer will land the Lonsdale Cup for a second successive year as well as the £1,000,000 bonus for winning the Yorkshire Cup, Gold Cup, Goodwood Cup and Lonsdale for a second year on the spin. Stradivarius is ½ at BetVictor for a ninth successive win.

Threat (3.00) finished runner up to Golden Horde in the Richmond Stakes at Goodwood last time and there is no question that he has the best form in the book having previously finished runner up in the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot. Richard Hannon has made no secret as to how highly he rates his colt and Golden Horde franked the form when third in a Group 1 at Deauville last weekend. The selection is 15/8 at BetVictor and may have most to fear from Repartee who won over C&D back in May and looked ill at ease on rain-softened ground at Newbury last time.

The unbeaten Last Look (4.00) faces just two rivals in the 10f fillies’ handicap at Ffos Las, but both her rivals also won last time out and it should prove to be a most informative contest. The selection has yet to encounter fast ground having scored on polytrack and soft ground. As a daughter of Pivotal, she is not guaranteed to be as effective on fast ground, although I feel she looks well treated from her opening mark.

Thread Of Silver (2.05) is taken to go one better than when runner up on debut over C&D and William Buick is likely to make plenty of use of a filly who will get further in time.

Sir Michael Stoute saddled the winner of the 7f Novice Stakes 12 months ago with Sangarius and his Frankel colt Prince Imperial looks sure to run well on debut. Preference, however, is for Charlie Appleby’s well-bred newcomer Royal Crusade (3.15) who has entries in a number of the major end-of-season juvenile contests.

Majaalis (5.30) didn’t help his cause with a slow break at Yarmouth last time but he travelled like a decent horse and a 3lbs rise looks fair in the concluding sprint handicap.

At Salisbury this evening Cambric (7.50) steps up to 1m 6f for the first time having won two of his last three for Roger Charlton. Oisin Murphy was in the saddle for his last win at Newmarket and the jockey travels south from York for three rides.