Bradsell won the Nunthorpe Stakes | report and free video replay

Tremendous training performance from Lambourn handler

Bradsell (3/1) went two places better than last year when winning the Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes at York.

Never far from the pace set by Ponntos, the mount of Hollie Doyle was committed for home a fair way out but had a handy break on the field and was always holding on from the fast-finishing runner-up Believing (7/1).

Starlust was a gallant third at 12/1, having looked to be coming with a good challenge two furlongs out, ahead of 6/4 favourite Asfoora who appeared to get going too late in a rather flat performance in fourth. The first four were well clear of Ponntos (16/1) back in fifth.

The Archie Watson-trained winner had missed a large part of this season due to injury but returned with a confidence-boosting win in France last time and took an even bigger step forward with success here, the second Group 1 of his interrupted career.

Reaction from winning connections

“We were getting him ready for Dubai in the spring and he fractured a fetlock in February and it’s been an amazing route back for him,” said Watson.

“I’m not one for sectionals, but I was told he did the fastest closing final two furlongs in the race last year. This year thankfully we were drawn with the Czech horse who goes off quick.

“When Regional and Live In The Dream came out I couldn’t decide if I wanted them in as pace angles or out as very good horses. Luckily Ponntos was always going to go what he did, but Hollie was even taking Bradsell back off him he was going so well today.

“I thought when the injury happened it would be a question of saving him for a stallion job next year, but at every stage he passed with flying colours. I know the vets like to stay behind the scenes, but they really have done a phenomenal job with this horse.”

He went on: “We still can’t believe a horse like this was buyable for £50,000. That is expensive for us and I know people see us as a big yard but we have very few six-figure horses and for us to compete at this sort of level by buying horses at a lower level, it means a lot.

“He won the Coventry and he’s a King’s Stand winner. Now he’s a Nunthorpe winner and I hope he can keep doing more.”

On his relationship with Doyle, Watson added: “It means so much more when it is the two of us having the winners together because we grew together.

“She was just out of her claim when she came to me from Richard Hannon and all of our Group One winners have been together. She is a massive part of the team, we work well together and long may it continue.”

Reaction from winning jockey

In winning another Group One, Doyle proved yet again she is among the best around – with a particular penchant for winning big sprints, having landed the 2022 Prix de l’Abbaye on The Platinum Queen, the 2020 Champions Sprint on Glen Shiel and last year’s King’s Stand with Bradsell.

Alex Greaves was famously the first female jockey to win a Group One in Britain, on Ya Malak, dead-heating in the Nunthorpe with Coastal Bluff in 1997, while Hayley Turner won it outright on Margot Did in 2011.

“It’s a real credit to Archie, when he had his injury we weren’t sure if he was going to run again, but here we are, winning the Nunthorpe,” said an elated Doyle.

“Obviously I’m aware Hayley won this and I think she’s just grateful to see someone else in the position to be capable of winning it.

“The race went perfectly to plan, that was how I saw it unfolding, to be honest. Although I ran the track this morning, and despite there being a draw bias, there was such fresh ground on the other side, I was worried that by race time it might become poached, but clearly not!

“I just feared that the other side might come across and negate the advantage, but the ground Bradsell gained on the others in the first two furlongs was incredible really.

“I could have really done with Ponntos leading me for a bit longer, definitely, but I’m lucky that Bradsell is very straightforward. He was travelling best everywhere.

“I had plenty left in the final furlong but he was idling a bit, I was starting to think I could have gone quicker!”

She went on: “Coming here this week, I didn’t have a strong book of rides numerically, but this was the one I was looking forward to most. I thought he could get me out of jail and Group Ones are Group Ones – there’s not many of them. I haven’t won one since Trueshan in the Prix du Cadran (2023).

“He’s a very special horse to me, I’m really lucky, he’s four now and you never know how long these horses are going to carry on. That’s the problem with Flat horses, they come and go very quickly, so I’m lucky to have him still.

“It’s very important to have these big winners, you can have as many as you like but no one really cares unless you are riding big ones.

“Doing it for Archie makes it really special, and the owners Victorious Racing, they’ve been really loyal to us, so it’s great.”

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