It's the penultimate afternoon of the Ebor Festival at York on Friday and that can only mean one thing, the Nunthorpe Stakes.
York's flagship sprint contest comes over the flying five furlongs and has been won by some of the smartest sprinters around down the years.
This year, Highfield Princess – the pride of Yorkshire – will bid to emulate Borderlescott, Mecca's Angel and Battaash,who are the only three horses to retain the crown so far this century.
Enda McElhinney provides his analysis of the big race as well as some other selections on day three at York's marquee meeting, where they begin racing at 1.50pm with the Nunthorpe due off at 3.35pm.
3.35pm - Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes (Group 1, 5f)
York's fastest Group 1 contest and, for many, the highlight of the meeting, the Nunthorpe Stakes is a fantastic spectacle as the runners scorch their way across the Knavesmire.
The obvious starting point is last year's winner HIGHFIELD PRINCESS as John Quinn's mare bids to become the fourth horse this century to land back-to-back renewals of this contest.
She stamped herself as the class act in the sprinting division late last summer, winning the Prix Maurice de Gheest, Nunthorpe and the Flying Five in Ireland in a little over a month.
Her comeback effort here in May, when she was collared late on trying to concede a penalty in the 6f Duke of York Stakes, was satisfactory and she then went out on her shield in the King's Stand (5f) and the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (6f) at Royal Ascot in June.
At Glorious Goodwood earlier this month, she routed her rivals in the King George Qatar Stakes and that race could be a major pointer as to how Friday's feature will play out.
She did, of course, finish second to the re-opposing Bradsell in the King's Stand in June, although the Archie Watson-trained winner had to survive a stewards' inquiry after veering towards Highfield Princess late on.
Connections of the runner-up couldn't have realistically expected that result to be overturned but back on her 'home turf', the mare can delight the York crowds by winning the Nunthorpe for the second year running.
Bradsell hasn't been seen since that Royal Ascot win 66 days ago. It was a career-best that afternoon and connections did remarkably well to get last year's Coventry winner back from the injury that ended his two-year-old season prematurely. This track and trip might just be too sharp for him, however.
Dramatised and Twilight Calls were behind in the King's Stand and need to bounce back, while Khaadem was a shock winner of the Jubilee Stakes but was well held afterwards in the July Cup and is another for whom the five-furlong trip is a worry. He has five lengths to find on Highfield Princess from 12 months ago.
Similar sentiments apply to Aesop's Fables as he looks to become Aidan O'Brien's first Nunthorpe winner in 22 years.
Big Evs was supplemented for the race after his Glorious Goodwood success in the Molecomb. He's progressing quickly for Mick Appleby and deserves his place, albeit Kingsgate Native in 2007 is the only two-year-old to win the Nunthorpe in the last three decades.
Regional broke the 5f track record at Haydock in May when he won the Achilles Stakes for Ed Bethell and Callum Rodriguez, adding to his seasonal comeback win over this C&D in a handicap off a mark of 100. He has low mileage on the clock for a five-year-old and will relish the speed test. It's possible he can have a say in the finish.
SELECTION: HIGHFIELD PRINCESS @ 6/4
2.25 - Weatherbys Hamilton Lonsdale Cup Stakes (Group 2, 2m)
This should be an intriguing contest for stayers in the wake of Quickthorn landing the Goodwood Cup at the start of the month. Tom Marquand pinched a big early lead there and couldn't be pegged back, so his rivals will be eager to avoid a similar scenario unfolding now.
The Nathaniel gelding is very dangerous in those circumstances but it seems highly unlikely he will be accommodated so readily this time.
Coltrane (third) and COURAGE MON AMI (sixth) were behind last time and the Ascot Gold Cup winner might be the one to bounce back for Frankie Dettori and the Gosdens.
He was progressing at a rate of knots prior to Goodwood and that race simply didn't unfold to his liking, so it may be wise to not read too much into the outcome.
Coltrane is also a player for Andrew Balding and Oisin Murphy, while Giavellotto was another who didn't get the chance to shine at Goodwood and could fare much better in a more conventional contest now.
He won the Yorkshire Cup here in May and remains unexposed at this trip.
SELECTION: COURAGE MON AMI @ 3/1
3.00 - Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Gimcrack Stakes (Group 2, 6f)
Kylian did some good late work in the Molecomb at Goodwood last time and might have more to give up in trip as he tackles six furlongs for the first time, although he was well held there and may need to improve again if Karl Burke is to win this race for the first time.
Once-raced Newmarket novice winner King's Gamble should have plenty of improvement to come for Ralph Beckett, while Jehangeer (Kevin Ryan) and Power Mode (Alice Haynes) are also capable of better.
Emperor's Son came unstuck in the Coventry at Royal Ascot soon after a debut win at Carlisle. The Richard Fahey-trained colt could do better now after a break but JOHANNES BRAHMS might give Aidan O'Brien his first Gimcrack success since Rock Of Gibraltar won the race in 2001.
This Siyouni colt won over 6f at Naas on debut in May and his second to Big Evs in the Windsor Castle at Royal Ascot (5f, good) is a strong form line. He came through strongly late on to finish runner-up to the Nunthorpe entry and a return to this distance bodes well under Ryan Moore.
SELECTION: JOHANNES BRAHMS @ 3/1
