18th Aug 2016 | Horse Racing
Nunthorpe Tip: Mecca’s Angel
Bounced back to form at the Curragh with the fastest closing sectional seen at the track all season. Forecast rain will only enhance her chances.
Mecca’s Angel bids to retain her Nunthorpe title in the 3.40 York and she’s got plenty in her favour. Firstly, she is drawn in stall 7 and as we have seen this week (and all season) low numbers have been favoured on the straight track.
Since her juvenile campaign, her record is up there with the best. She has won 7 of her last 11 starts and her only poor performance came at Royal Ascot, a run so impossibly bad there must have been a physical problem.
The good news is that she bounced back at the Curragh with a 3 length defeat of Brando. The pace wasn’t especially strong (107.8% finishing speed) but Mecca’s Angel clocked a fast time and ran away from her rivals.
Her 3f closing sectional of 32.62s was the fastest in the race by 0.28s and the quickest at the track all season, comprising 953 runners. When adjusting for pace, I gave her a speed rating of 116, only Limato (118) has done better but that was over 6f in the July Cup.
Michael Dods is concerned about the fast ground but she’s won on good and the weather forecast is in his favour, with rain scheduled to fall from midday right up until the start of the race.
Odds correct at time of publishing: 15:56 18th Aug, 2016 but subject to change
