Bradsell bounces back to form in the Coolmore Wootton Basset Nunthorpe

Archie Watson’s sprinting star Bradsell roared back to form on the Knavesmire to land a knockout blow in the Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes.

Similarly to the King George Stakes at Glorious Goodwood earlier in the summer, Ponntos exploded from the stalls to establish an early advantage under Mickael Barzalona.

In close proximity to the Czech challenger however, Hollie Doyle and Bradsell executed what proved to be a race-winning move, sticking to the far-side rail and resisting temptation to join their main market rivals towards the centre of the course.

Both Big Evs and Australian superstar Asfoora travelled comfortably through the first few furlongs under regular riders Tom Marquand and Oisin Murphy respectively, both looking to have the final say in the summer-long duel that has gripped the racing world.

Surprisingly, Mick Appleby’s precocious son of Blue Point soon came under pressure and was nursed home by Marquand to finish a well-beaten eighth, failing to perform to his optimum level for a second year running on the Knavesmire.

The stage looked set for Asfoora to claim her second QIPCO British Champions Series title of 2024 as the daughter of Flying Artie moved ominously towards the front of the main body of runners approaching the closing stages but the script was to be re-written inside the final furlong.

Having remained towards the advantageous far side of the York track, Bradsell and Hollie Doyle travelled into the £500,000 contest with ease and kicked for home, putting distance between themselves and the field deep into the closing stages.

Perennially unfortunate at the Yorkshire venue, George Boughey’s Believing began to pick up strongly in the centre of the track but Bradsell proved too tough to crack, galloping to the line remorselessly to add a second QIPCO British Champions Series victory to a burgeoning CV by three quarters of a length.

Ralph Beckett’s Starlust plugged on well to finish third.

In bouncing back to the form of his stunning Kings Stand Stakes romp, Bradsell was providing an almost speechless Doyle with her tenth career Group 1 success.

Quick to praise the winner, the popular Herefordshire-born jockey told ITV’s Oli Bell that “he is just unbelievable, I don’t have the words to describe him, he’s the comeback kid” (referring to the borderline career ending injury suffered by the son of Tasleet in 2023).

She was also eager to express her admiration for trainer Archie Watson, adding that “I never underestimate Archie’s horses, I just don’t know what he does with them”.