3 minute read

And a 4-timer for Jim Crowley and Sheik Hamdan.

Battaash had a serious battle on his hands in Friday's Nunthorpe when a cheeky 22/1 runner Que Amoro came up alongside and threatened his supremacy.  However Battaash is these days the complete professional and responded to Jim Crowley's urging and lengthened enough to take the race.  Another long shot Moss Gill was third.

Battaash arrived at the course in company with his faithful strapper Bob Grace and they seemed completely confident despite the windy weather and the frequent rain squalls.  Bob doesn't really need to attach a lead to Battaash would follow him anywhere, such is the bond between the two.  The weather was probably responsible for Battaash not bettering the course record that he set the previous year.

Jim Crowley and Sheik Hamdan combined with Alffaatik in the first and then with the lovely mare Enbihaar in the Lowther, who finished ahead of Willie Mullins's Stratum, enjoying not having any jumps in his path.  Nayef Road was third.

Crowley and Sheik Hamdan then went on to win the Gimcrack with Minzaal who got the win at the expense of Devilwala and Mystery Smiles.

Saturday's card includes the Strensall G3 over 1800m with a field of 9.  Lord Glitters won this two years ago and recent form has been promising and 3/1 the quote.  Dark Vision is a Godolphin horse trained by Mark Johnston and William Buick will ride and they are on 5/1.  We quite like Miss O'Connor who is 15/2 – Haggas-Marquand.

The City of York is G2 over 1400m with 9 runners.  Recent Goodwood winner One Master comes in to this on 7/4 for Haggas-Marquand with Safe Voyage on 7/2, San Donato 4/1 and our old friend Threat looking for a way back in to the little black book on 8/1.

The Ebor (Roman name of York) is a great heritage handicap over 2800m with 21 runners and no clear favourite so sharp pins to the fore.  The market has Fujaira Prince on 6/1, Pondus 7/1, Pablo Escobarr on 9/1 and another of Willie Mullins's jumpers going for flat money on 10/1.