York Day Three Tips: Fast finishing Ortensia the In-Play wager

Ortensia winning at Goodwood last month
It will take a little more than 57 seconds to crown the fastest five furlong horse in Europe at York this Friday. Four horses dominate the market for the Nunthorpe Stakes, but Racing UK analyst Graham Cunningham feels it could boil down to a straight shootout between the best of British and a powerful Aussie raider.
Ortensia and Bated Breath the pair to focus on in the Nunthorpe
Predicting the tactical nature of big sprints is key to any trading policy and Friday's Nunthorpe (due off at 15:40) is no exception.
So here goes. Last year's runner-up Hamish McGonagall will help force things on the far side from stall one, but the best of the speed could be middle to high via Masamah in 14 and Tangerine Trees in 20.
I'm slightly worried about stall 19 for the hugely progressive Pearl Secret if Jamie Spencer opts for holdup tactics in such a big field.
By contrast, Bated Breath looks bound to go forward from his high draw and, having beaten the 2010 Nunthorpe hero Sole Power twice already this season, Roger Charlton's powerful traveller looks a danger to all in his bid to gain that elusive first Group 1 success.
If the rain stays away Bated Breath is a perfectly plausible winner here and I confidently expect his price to shorten appreciably in the run.
However, strong finishers tend to have a major say in the Nunthorpe and provided there isn't too much rain the strongest finisher of all here could be Ortensia.
This Aussie globetrotter boiled over at Royal Ascot before getting stuck in a bog for the July Cup, but the way she shrugged off a 7lb penalty in Goodwood's King George Stakes last month was highly impressive.
Ortensia unleashed a striking turn of foot to come from near last to first in the space of a furlong that day.
Caution is advised if it hammers down, but the faster they go the better for Ortensia and a similar surge to Goodwood from two out will see her pre-race odds tumble rapidly.
Morawij can give the Molecomb another boost
The pieces of the juvenile jigsaw are slowly falling into place this season and events at York this week have given a strong nod towards a couple of youngsters on duty this Friday.
First up is Morawij in the Gimcrack Stakes at 14.30.
Roger Varian's colt took the eye constantly in the paddock prior to the Molecomb Stakes at Glorious Goodwood and ran a screamer for second with Thursday's big Sales race hero Hototo well back in third.
Six furlongs shouldn't trouble him and the way he travelled at Goodwood gives him ample potential as a back to lay prospect in a race where plenty of the field look very closely matched.
Hototo's Wednesday win confirmed that Kevin Ryan has his juveniles in fine fettle and the BHA handicapper may have taken a chance in awarding Burning Blaze a mark of 86 for the nursery at 16:50.
This speedy colt is very well regarded and showed bags of speed to win a maiden over course and distance on his second start.
The next three home all won on their subsequent outing and Burning Blaze tops my shortlist here in a hot handicap where the highly progressive Majestic Moon also warrants a positive mention.
Bright can Strike in valuable maiden
Last but not least this Friday a word on the Convivial Maiden Stakes at 16:15.
Wentworth and Bright Strike look the pair to focus on here and the key issue relates to which of the pair improves most on the back of highly promising debut efforts.
Traffic trouble blighted Wentworth at Goodwood in a race which is working out well overall, but Bright Strike caught the eye every bit as much when finishing third at Newmarket in a race which has already thrown up a handful of winners.
Bright Strike came home strongly at HQ even though Buick seemed anxious not to give him a hard time. Considerable improvement looks on the cards and he's plainly more than good enough to go close unless there is a very smart one in opposition.
Friday recommendations
Back Morawij in the 14:30 and lay off at 2.01/1 in running
Back Ortensia in the 15:40 and lay off at 2.56/4 in running
Back Bright Strike in the 16:15 and lay off at 2.01/1 in running
Back Burning Blaze in the 16:50 and lay off at 2.56/4 in running