Lady Iman and Spicy Marg bid to become rare two-year-old winners of the Group One Nunthorpe Stakes (1,000m) at York on Friday but will face competition from all angles in a 17-runner barn burner.

The Nunthorpe has always been a historically competitive contest and this year’s running is no different, with no stand-out favourite and a host of runners from different age groups.

The last two-year-old to win the Nunthorpe was Kingsgate Native in 2007, but trainer Ger Lyons clearly has confidence behind Lady Iman, with the filly carrying a featherweight after being supplemented.

She is not the only juvenile in the field, with Hong Kong-based Harry Bentley cutting his holiday short to ride Michael Bell’s Spicy Marg.

“It is a while since a two-year-old won the Nunthorpe but not many have tried. Her time was really fast at Goodwood and she gave me a ‘push-button feel’ when I rode her in work. All the signs are positive,” said Bentley.

In terms of form, perhaps Arizona Blaze comes into the race with the best recent run.

He ran riot in the Group Two Sapphire Stakes (1,000m) at the Curragh last month, defeating a reopposing Mgheera by two lengths after being up with the pace throughout.

The speedy Sergei Prokofiev colt will be suited by a race of this nature and his trainer Adrian Murray is confident he will run another big race.

“He’s going to York and it looks an open race,” said Murray. “He’s got a similar profile to Power Blue actually and he always shows up on the day, he never runs a bad race.

“His form stands up well and win or lose he will be bang there, even in defeat he’s been a brilliant horse for us.”

There is also an international element to the race with Australia’s Asfoora continuing her British campaign for trainer Henry Dwyer.

She won the Group One King Charles III Stakes (1,000m) at Royal Ascot last year and followed up with a close fourth in this race, though she does not arrive at York in quite the same form this time around.

Fifth at Royal Ascot behind American Affair, she then only managed seventh behind JM Jungle at Glorious Goodwood last time; she needs to rediscover her best to be winning this contest.

There is also simulcast action from Newmarket on Friday, with the feature being the Listed Hong Kong Jockey Club World Pool Hopeful Stakes (1,200m).

All eyes will be on the Karl Burke-trained Lethal Levi, who drops in class after a short-head defeat in the Group Two Greenlands Stakes (1,200m) at the Curragh two starts back.

He was not beaten far in the Group Three Criterion Stakes (1,400m) at York when last seen and has standout claims at this level.

In opposition are the likes of improving handicapper Ten Pounds and Godolphin’s Dubai Treasure, who improved to win a competitive handicap at Glorious Goodwood last month.

Ferrous and Iberian are others who drop in class, while course regular Invictus Gold and Elmonjed are others to consider in a wide-open affair.