We’ve not got a lot of evidence to go by, but NORDIC LIGHTS fits the profile of an improving, unexposed horse at a nice price in the Dante at York on Thursday.
Unbeaten in two starts, he could be anything at this stage as he’s one of the first crop of three-year-olds by first-season sire Intello, who had a big winner in another Derby Trial at Chester recently.
No-one knows how successful he will be as a stallion but early evidence suggests his progeny could be underestimated.
At 10/1 in an open race, I like it.
I’m also going to be tempted to back Aidan O’Brien’s runner JAMES COOK at the same price, as O’Brien’s always improve for their first run and his – which was also only his third career start – was a good fourth behind Crossed Baton in the Derby Trial at Epsom.
He’s a full brother to Arc winner Found, who was a top-end Group One horse a few years ago, so he has huge potential to match his lightly-raced profile.
I thought he shaped well at Epsom and quickened well despite not making up the sufficient ground from the back, eventually running out of puff.
If he strips fitter this time he is right up there and can outrun his odds.
0.75pts each-way Nordic Lights @10/1, 15:30 York, Thursday (Bet365 1,2,3, 1/4)
0.75pts each-way James Cook @10/1, 15:30 York, Thursday (Bet365 1,2,3, 1/4)