Nunthorpe Preview: Swiss Spirit to gain deserved success

Friday is my favourite day of the Ebor meeting. I'm a confirmed speed freak and, though the Juddmonte International, the Yorkshire Oaks and the Ebor itself have their charms, particularly when Frankel was charging down the Knavesmire 12 months ago, in my mind nothing comes close to watching the sprinters battle it out in the Nunthorpe Stakes.

The only thing that could heighten that experience is by having invested some hard-earned on the victor, so we better get cracking in our attempt to seek out the most likely candidate. Where to start? Current market leader, and top-rated on Timeform weight-adjusted ratings, Shea Shea looks just as good a place as any. 

The Mike de Kock-trained six-year-old, successful in the Group 1 Al Quoz at Meydan in March, has competed twice in this country this season, finishing second in the King's Stand Stakes and fourth in the July Cup. He was nailed on the line by Sole Power at Ascot, having first mastered those that raced down his side of the track, and seemed to find the stiff six furlongs at Newmarket too taxing as, having made menacing headway to look the main threat to Lethal Force, he flattened out at the finish. 

The drop back to five furlongs at York, a notoriously sharp test, will play more to Shea Shea's strengths and he certainly looks the one to beat, but is there enough juice in his present price of 4.77/2? The jury's out on that one I'm afraid, though there are a few alternatives at a range of odds. 

Sole Power, successful in this race three years ago, heads the challengers and he merits serious consideration as he has been in fine form this term. Wins in both the Palace House and the King's Stand, alongside creditable efforts in the Temple Stakes and the July Cup, evidence the theory that he is at the top of his game and the drop back to five furlongs will prove ideal as he has never appealed as one who would excel at six, such is his turn of foot. 

Sole Power is almost certain to run his race, and were he at his very best he would be bang there at the finish, but the thing with him is that he is something of a standing dish in these top sprints and he could just be eclipsed by one that is still on the upgrade. 

That horse, namely Moviesta, is the only one to bear a Timeform "p" on his rating and he comes here on the back of a career-best in the King George Stakes at Glorious Goodwood last time, where he got the better of Swiss Spirit at the death. 

Shamefully I must admit that I managed to get Moviesta beaten in maidens at both Pontefract and Ripon last year, and his progression this term has left me scratching my head as to just how that happened. 

Moviesta's rapidly-progressive profile shows no signs of abating any time soon and being a C&D winner he has already confirmed his effectiveness for this test, all factors that make him an appealing proposition, though it would be wrong were we not to assess the chances of the aforementioned Swiss Spirit.

Swiss Spirit has become something of a frustrating horse for me and others, as he looks for all the world to be a top-notch sprinter and a Group 1 winner in waiting. He's proven himself as being one of the best around at present with several good efforts this season but the impression is that fortune has not been in his favour, particularly so in when runner-up in both the Temple Stakes and the King George Stakes.

Swiss Spirit almost certainly wouldn't have beaten Moviesta at Goodwood though there is no denying that the winner drifting across the track did inhibit John Gosden's charge, and that came after Swiss Spirit had found himself racing down the "wrong" side, with the action taking place away from where he and William Buick established a position. 

I'm almost certainly going to go in on Swiss Spirit again, desperately hoping that August 23 is his day and that Lady Luck finally shines her light on him, but can I recommend him as leading the ante-post prospect? 

The answer to that question is a resounding yes, particularly at his current price of 12.523/2, though it is worth having a saver on Moviesta purely because any further progression, which seems likely, could see him land this with some ease. 

Recommendation:
Back Swiss Spirit & Moviesta in the Nunthorpe Stakes

Have you checked out our new, improved Facebook page? It's the place to go for our features & tips!