Friday Racing Tips: Back Timeform Horse In Focus Bacio on day three of York's Ebor Festival

13:50, York - Zennor Storm the pick of the 'Sectional' horses

7 (4)

Zennor Storm

• J: Tom Marquand
• T: William Haggas
• F: 11-9042

• SBK 4/1
• EXC 4.9

The three-year-old handicap over this trip at Glorious Goodwood looks the key piece of form here. Runner-up Zennor Storm was one of several who shaped better than the result and is taken to go one place better this time with the longer straight here likely to suit.

His trainer William Haggas won this with Treasure Time in 2024 - who was also placed in the same Goodwood handicap on his preceding start - and looks to have another exciting 'Horse In Focus' on his hands.

Fellow 'Sectional' horse Intense Vision and 'Horse In Focus' Storming Point are others who very much caught the eye in that Goodwood contest and head the dangers.

15:35, York - 'Horse In Focus' Bacio to blitz Nunthorpe rivals

10 (5)

Bacio (Usa)

• J: Juan J. Hernandez
• T: Wesley A. Ward, USA
• F: 121-11

• SBK 7/2
• EXC 5.6

Bacio was most impressive at Royal Ascot and has the potential to dominate a European five furlong sprinting scene that has been thin for a number of years.  

Wesley Ward has twice gone close to winning this Group 1, most agonisingly with Lady Aurelia who was beaten a nose by Marsha in the 2017 renewal, but has a leading contender on his hands once more judging by the speed Bacio showed when easily winning a handicap at the Royal meeting in June.

Top on Timeform's weight-adjusted ratings (with a 'small p' attached to his rating suggesting improvement is expected), the colt can become just the second three-year-old winner in the last 15 years.

17:20, York - Hat-trick on the cards for progressive Silver Lake

9 (8)

Silver Lake

• J: Saffie Osborne
• T: William Haggas
• F: 7-6311

• SBK 3/1
• EXC 3.3

William Haggas has his horses in fine nick at one of his favourite meetings, picking up the Timeform 'Hot Trainer' flag thanks to a run of form that has included a big-race win for Maltese Cross in Wednesday's Great Voltigeur.

A bit further down the stable roster, Silver Lake has proved a different proposition since fitted with a tongue strap in handicaps over this sort of trip, decisively supplementing her breakthrough Salisbury victory at Goodwood three weeks ago.  

She looks a major player again in her hat-trick bid despite a 9 lb higher mark, and can become the fourth three-year-old winner of this race in seven years.

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