Nick Luck’s William Hill blog: York Ebor Festival Day Three Preview

William Hill ambassador Nick Luck previews Day Three from York’s Ebor Festival.

Friday, York

DERRY LAD looks a fair proposition to continue a good week for Ireland in the York opener on Friday (1.50). He should probably have been pattern class performer Bolster and Glorious Goodwood winner Paradias at Epsom earlier in the year, and is only a pound higher here in a thinner race. What’s more, the unsettled overnight weather will help him get his toe into the ground a bit. He may have finished out the back at Galway last time, but he shaped as though he might have needed that run and was heavily eased when beaten. Tom Marquand is booked and he can return to form.

QUICKTHORN can’t exactly be bet with confidence in the Lonsdale, but he’s too big (2.25). His win in this two years ago was one of several truly barnstorming efforts through his career, and he’s a danger to any stayer in that kind of form. His efforts this year have been undistinguished, but he has reportedly been suffering from a bruised foot, an issue that has now been rectified. A drop of rain won’t have gone amiss, and there’s a chance that – over this trip – he’ll be the controlling pace, which makes him interesting.

THE STRIKIN VIKING is the order of the day in the Gimcrack (3.00). He improved again a little at Goodwood, and probably should have won the Richmond. It was a hard race to assess at the time, but there was some encouragement in 5th place The Waco Kid’s run in the Acomb earlier in the week. I like the fact he has impressive course form for his previous trainer and that he seems adaptable ground-wise.

BRADSELL is a big fancy to land the Nunthorpe (3.35). He chased the wrong group for much of the way when a closing third last year, but looks much better placed this time in stall 3, two away from trailblazing pace setter Ponntos. He looked as slick as ever in a minor race at Deauville on his comeback, and should be right in the thick of it.

CHORUS is a speculative play in the fifth (4.10). It’s hard to get a real handle on what she achieved at Windsor, but she’s certainly useful, progressive and bred to be a good bit better than this. Half sibling Klondike has shown his best form for this trainer at this track. The draw looks a bit unkind, but that effect can lessen somewhat on the round course as the week progresses.

SPIRIT OF SUMMER is my likeliest bet at the odds in the Convivial (4.45). There will be a few not fully tuned for this, but that’s unlikely in this case, as connections always have a keen eye on the purse for this race and struck two years ago with Hoo Ya Mal. This homebred is out of a mare that has already produced a stakes performer from her only previous runner, which augurs well for continued progression.

TREASURE TIME is my answer to a really tough finale. He’s been a slowish burn but is getting the hang of it now, and – although a beaten favourite at Goodwood – there was quite a lot to like about the run. The yard is going even better now.