Nunthorpe Stakes Tips 2023: Back this big priced runner to down Highfield Princess at York

Nunthorpe Stakes tip for the 5f Group 1 sprint which takes place at York on Friday afternoon at 15:35, as reigning champion Highfield Princess looks to retain the crown she won emphatically last season. Our in-house tipster Steve Chambers previews the event here and takes on John Quinn's speedball with a big priced each-way alternative...

A stunning two-and-a-half length winner of the Nunthorpe Stakes last season, Highfield Princess will look to emulate the likes of Battaash and Mecca's Angel by winning back-to-back renewals of the 5f sprint and she is a red-hot favourite to claim glory at York on Friday afternoon. Second in the King's Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot, she then went and finished third later in the week in the Platinum Jubilee Stakes, but returned to winning ways last time out when bounding to victory in the Group 2 King George Stakes at Glorious Goodwood.

A top class performer over the minimum five furlongs, she had very little to beat that day at Goodwood, so a step back up to Group 1 company is a notable worry, but having shone on the Knavesmire last season then it's hard to not see her going very close here. However, with an abundance of speedy rivals taking her on here then she looks short enough in the betting around the 6/4 mark and it could be worth taking her on with an each-way alternative.

Archie Watson's Bradsell was the contender that got the better of Highfield Princess in the aforementioned King's Stand Stakes and will be looking to frank that form once again, but he's not been seen since that victory in June, so it's unknown whether he remains in the same form and he could find it tough to get the better of John Quinn's mare again.

You have to go way back to 2007 to find the last two-year-old winner of the Nunthorpe Stakes as Kingsgate Native was a winner 16 years ago, but in Big Evs there's another rapid juvenile looking to claim the event for the two-year-old generation. Mick Appleby's son of Blue Point will receive a huge weight pull, but he showed when winning the Windsor Castle Stakes and Molecomb Stakes that he's a real top notch sprinter, but taking on the older, more experienced sprinters will be a tough ask.

Ed Bethell's Regional is a fascinating contender as the five-year-old has been one of the most progressive sprinters in training this season as having won a York handicap he then went and landed a Listed contest at Haydock Park last time out. Now stepping up into Group 1 company he will face a much sterner test, but he will need to improve significantly again and may just find this a bridge too far.

Karl Burke's Dramatised kicked off her season with a fine win in the Group 2 Temple Stakes at Haydock Park, but failed to follow up when down the field in the King's Stand Stakes and having failed to land a blow in the Lowther Stakes at York last season the former Queen Mary winner may be up against here.

One at a double-figured price that could run well is Henry Candy's TWILIGHT CALLS, who suffered a troubling passage in the King's Stand Stakes back in June, but he still managed to finish a staying-on fourth and if he can repeat that effort then has to come into calculations as an each-way player. He's one that will need significant luck in running as he will be storming home in the closing stages, but with Frankie Dettori in the saddle he could well at least sneak a place and can even challenge for glory at big odds.

Of the others, Platinum Jubilee Stakes winner Khaadem will be attempting to land another big win here, but a drop back to five furlongs isn't ideal, while the likes of Equality and Nymphadora are another brace of decent performers that have to be respected in what should be a thrilling renewal.