A couple of nice places at odds of 25/1 mean that we arrive at the halfway stage of the Ebor meeting in reasonable profit.

It certainly doesn’t get any easier, though, and day three on the Knavesmire is full of the usual head-scratching puzzles...

1.55 – 1m3f Handicap

This race is usually won by a horse towards the top of the handicap.

Four-year-olds have a great recent record, accounting for the last four winners, but it's a five-year-old that interests me.

MUKHAYYAM carried a welter burden of 10st to victory here in July, is versatile in terms of ground and also gets this trip well. 

At odds of , Tim Easterby’s gelding represents decent each-way value.

2.25 – Lonsdale Cup (Group 2)

The smallest field of the day but still a difficult race to assess.

Dartmouth looked like he would stay a two-mile trip with ease when winning the Betway Yorkshire Cup back in May, but was unsuccessful when defending his Hardwicke crown at Royal Ascot over 1m4f.

Today he goes further than he’s ever gone before and has to be taken on at a short price.

The horse I want to do that with is HIGHER POWER  .

James Fanshawe’s five-year-old didn’t handle the undulations at Goodwood last time but will be better suited to York’s wide, flat track.

The distance is also no problem, having been among the first two home every time over two miles – apart from that day at Goodwood.

3.00 – City of York Stakes (Group 3)

Nearly 20 runners line up here, and with all of similar ability there isn’t a clear market leader.

Horses older than five haven’t won this race at all during the last decade, so we can narrow the field down by eliminating the older horses from our shortlist.

Despite the competitive nature of the race, the average winning SP is actually shorter than 5/1 in the last eight years.

Like Higher Power in race two, JUNGLE CAT didn’t handle the quirky nature of the Goodwood track last time.

An element of his price is based on that last run, but he’s definitely capable of running a big race.

Forgiving him is the step to a bit of each-way value at .

3.35 – Nunthorpe Stakes (Group 1)

While I’ll agree that this is one of the best races of the entire Ebor meeting, these kind of high-class sprints certainly aren’t my forte in terms of tipping.

A duel between Battaash and Lady Aurelia will be exciting, but may be best watched with an each-way interest elsewhere.

MARSHA is my tentative selection at .

4.15 – Maiden Stakes

A handful of this field haven’t seen a racetrack before, and that’s going to count against them on the stats.

Seven previous seasons of this race has only once seen a horse win on debut.

Four of the last seven winners have returned at a double-figure price, with only two winning favourites in that time.

With all things considered, I’ll chance a small win bet on CAPITAL FLIGHT  – who was an unlucky third on debut at Goodwood last time out.

4.50 – 7f Handicap

Sammy Jo Bell gets on well with STARLIGHT ROMANCE, with a record of 1/3/2 on Richard Fahey’s three-year-old this season.

She can certainly find the places on this filly again at a big price of .