Doyle: French filly can land Nunthorpe

Wesley Ward’s ace sprinter Bacio is bidding to back up his Royal Ascot success in the Nunthorpe on day three of York's Ebor Festival; Doyle believes Francis-Henri Graffard’s filly holds the aces with conditions in her favour.

Hollie returns to preview Friday’s top-class action from York’s Ebor Festival, which includes the Group One Nunthorpe Stakes.

I do fear the change in conditions, following significant rain on the Knavesmire, will compromise the chances of the lightning-fast US raider Bacio in the Coolmore City Of Troy Nunthorpe Stakes (3:35) at York on Friday.

Wesley Ward's colt demonstrated unbelievable speed in the big three-year-old handicap at Royal Ascot, and there's no doubt the fast five-furlongs at York is ideal for him, but he's built his reputation on much faster ground.

By contrast, Aga Khan Studs' filly Rayevka won a Group race at ParisLongchamp in May on soft conditions before finding only Mission Central too good in the Group One King Charles III Stakes at the Royal meeting.

She's versatile and speedy, and the stage looks set for her to turn the tables on Aidan O'Brien's colt, who probably didn't handle the track in the July Cup last time but is another who would be more potent on quicker ground.

Don't let a string of second places put you off Adaay Of Scarlett in the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Gimcrack Stakes (3:00) at York.

Hugo Palmer's colt has found one too good in all the big Group Twos this season - the Coventry Stakes, the July Stakes, and then the Richmond Stakes last time at the Goodwood Festival. He's done nothing wrong in defeat, though, and looks to have been found a great opportunity to set the record straight in a weaker renewal than the races he's been contesting.

While the first-time cheekpieces should give regular rider Oisin Murphy that vital extra gear, he will need to handle easier conditions than he's been used to, though his dam was effective with cut in the ground, which can only be a positive.

Aidan O'Brien's Marco Polo is an intriguing runner. The once-raced son of Night Of Thunder must be highly regarded at Ballydoyle to be pitched into this Group Two, so expect this half-brother to the useful Saber Strike to pose a big threat to his more-experienced rivals.

Local trainer Kevin Ryan has a great record in this race with four wins to his name, and his unbeaten colt Matteo could be overpriced in his pursuit of a hat-trick. This is tougher than the Beverley conditions race he won so gamely, but I can see him putting up a big performance all the same.

Caballo De Mar - a dual winner at the very highest level - can bounce back from a below-par run in the Gold Cup when he returns in the Group Two Weatherbys Lonsdale Cup Stakes (2:25).

George Scott's star was found to be suffering from heat stress after stopping quickly at the Royal meeting, but he should be ready to show his best over this extended two miles, with the rain-softened ground in his favour.

Ralph Beckett's Amiloc is unproven at this distance after unseating Hector Crouch at the start in the Goodwood Cup, but I expect this longer trip to bring the best out of him.