York Horse Racing Tips for Friday

The Nunthorpe is the feature on the third day at York’s Ebor festival and there are two other Group races on a fantastic afternoon of racing.

Friday’s York Horse Racing Betting Tips and Odds

13:50 – Qitaal @ 25/1
15:00 – The Strikin Viking @ 4/1
15:35 – Regional @ 17/2

13:50 – Qitaal @ 25/1

The opening 1m4f handicap (13:50) is one of the best betting races on the card and the one who looks certain to run well is Qitaal, who has dropped nicely back down the weights.

The Charlie Johnston-trained five-year-old was beaten only four and three-quarter lengths into fifth in a hot handicap over 1m21/2f at this course in May and that was off a mark 3lb higher than this.

He has consistently run to a similar level since and finished a close fourth at Yarmouth last month in the Racing League off 1lb higher than his current mark. That confirmed he remains in top form.

Qitaal again came up short when favourite for another Racing League event at Chepstow last time, but the soft ground went against him that day and he was still beaten only a length and three-quarters.

The return to a Flat, left-handed track like York will be ideal and quick ground also promises to suit Qitaal. The step up to 1m4f for the first time might also bring further progress and he could spring a surprise.

15:00 – The Strikin Viking @ 4/1

The Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Gimcrack Stakes (15:00) usually goes to one of the speedier juveniles and The Strikin Viking definitely has the pace to put his stamp on the opposition.

He was an impressive winner on his debut over course and distance when trained by Kevin Ryan and has since twice run well in defeat in Group company, including for this new yard.

The Strikin Viking was beaten only half a length into second by Henri Matisse in the Railway Stakes at the Curragh on his final run for Ryan and still looked to be learning when a beaten favourite in the Richmond Stakes at Goodwood last month on his debut for Hamad Al Jehani.

He would have found Goodwood’s undulations testing, but is likely to be more at home at York and he made his move earlier than the winner last time, proving vulnerable only late.

There should be more to come from The Strikin Viking now that he has had the time to settle into his new yard and a reproduction of his Curragh form might be good enough to win this.

15:35 – Regional @ 10/1

The Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes (15:35) will be fast and furious up the straight at York and that will suit Regional, who has looked quicker than ever this season.

The six-year-old was headed only in the final strides by Mitbaahy when second in a red-hot running of the Greenlands Stakes at the Curragh on his seasonal reappearance in May and again showed blistering pace when taking the runner-up spot behind Asfoora at Royal Ascot.

Regional led for most of the way that day and was overhauled only by Asfoora on the uphill finish. There is a chance that he can reverse those places on York’s speed favouring track.

He needs to bounce back from a below-par run when only fourth in the Hackwood Stakes at Newbury last time, but was again headed only inside the final furlong after showing loads of pace. It was no disgrace to be beaten by three improving three-year-olds, giving them weight.

He was fifth in this race last year before going on to win the Sprint Cup over 6f at Haydock, but appears to be a quicker horse this season and is fancied to land his second Group 1 win.

Read more horse racing betting tips and predictions on site.

Read more York horse racing news on site.

This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.