Tag Archive for: Nunthorpe

Ain’t Nobody proves 100-1 odds wide of the mark with brave Nunthorpe effort

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Kevin Ryan was rewarded for keeping the faith in Ain’t Nobody as he outran odds of 100-1 to finish runner-up in the Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes at York.

The three-year-old won the Windsor Castle at Royal Ascot as a juvenile and looked to return to form at the same track this year when a good third in the Commonwealth Cup Trial, but four unplaced runs since meant he headed to the Knavesmire as a rank outsider.

Under Kevin Stott he made a mockery of that estimation, going down by a length and a quarter to the Australian mare Asfoora.

“I’m not one to bring horses to make up the numbers. I never have done it and never will,” Ryan said.

“It’s not about being proved right, it’s having faith in the horse. The owners never question what I do. I told them he was in great form and I said we were going to ride him cold as they’re going to go hard here.

“I said we’ll ride him like when he won at Royal Ascot and it’s worked out a treat.”

William Knight’s King Charles III Stakes second Frost At Dawn was third, another placing at the top level for the 10-1 shot, who was partnered by Mickael Barzalona.

“She’s a star. She’s placed in a Group One again, of course you want to win these races so naturally it’s a bit frustrating,” said Knight.

“She was probably a bit slow away, but Mickael got her up into a nice position, she’s one who just needs to go through the gears but she has run a blinder.

“She’s had plenty of seconds and now a third, but how can you complain? Third in a Group One. I’d just love to find that win at this level.

“She’s not in the Flying Five, but she is in the Abbaye, the ground might go wrong that day for her and the place I’d really love to go to is Del Mar (Breeders’ Cup).”

In fourth was Night Raider, whose trainer Karl Burke said: “That was his best run on turf. When everything goes smoothly for him and he’s relaxed in the prelims and at the start, he’s a horse with a lot of natural ability.

“He’s in the Flying Five and he’s in the Abbaye. He’ll run in all those big sprints and hopefully one day he’ll fall on one.”

Jm Jungle pleases in final gallop ahead of Nunthorpe

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Jm Jungle came through his final piece of work before next week’s Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes at York with flying colours.

John and Sean Quinn’s five-year-old has a remarkably consistent profile for a five-furlong sprinter, and won the Dash at Epsom in June.

He has now progressed out of handicap company and won the Group Two King George Stakes at Goodwood, sparking dreams of a second Nunthorpe in four years for the Quinns, who won with Highfield Princess in 2022.

“He came out of Goodwood absolutely fine and he’s looking well,” said John Quinn.

“He did a little piece of work this (Wednesday) morning and that will be his final piece before the Nunthorpe. We’re happy with him and he’s in good shape.

“We haven’t seen a massive change in him at home this year but he’s definitely stronger. He’s an adequate work horse without being a very good one but he’s sharper.

“He’s a five-year-old gelding now, he’s a sprinter finding his mojo and improving. All he’s done for the last season and a half is improve and improve.

“We keep seeing it and he’s another example that there’s very little between those top handicap sprinters and the Group horses.

“We’re delighted with him and looking forward to York.”

Spicy Marg all set to take on her elders in Nunthorpe

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Spicy Marg is set to be supplemented for next week’s Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes at York.

An impressive winner on her Newmarket debut in early June, Michael Bell’s charge subsequently disappointed in the Queen Mary and the Duchess of Cambridge Stakes, but bounced back to form in some style over five furlongs at Goodwood two weeks ago.

As a juvenile filly Spicy Marg will carry just eight stone if she steps up to take on her elders at Group One level on the Knavesmire and Bell is keen to roll the dice.

He said: “The plan is to give it a go. All the speed analysts seem to think she should be having a crack at it – her figures are very, very good – and she clearly is in very good form.

“I think it’s very relevant her dam (Main Desire) won two Listed races over five furlongs on the Knavesmire, so it’s in her genes she should like the track and I strongly think she will.

“We’re very happy with her and very much looking forward to it.”

Connections are ready to pay the £40,000 supplementary fee to add Spicy Marg to the Nunthorpe field at the weekend, with Hong Kong-based rider Harry Bentley booked for the ride.

“Harry is waiting for his licence to be rubber-stamped by the Hong Kong Jockey Club, he tells me that’s a formality, so the intention is for him to ride,” said Bell, who won the Nunthorpe in 2011 with Margot Did.

“She wants good, fast ground. We’ll wait until Saturday to confirm it, but the intention is very much to supplement her at this stage.”

Another filly bound for the Nunthorpe is the William Knight-trained Frost at Dawn, who was a neck second to American Affair in the King Charles III Stakes at Royal Ascot before finishing fourth in the King George at Goodwood.

Knight said: “She doesn’t need to do much between now and then, she’s put her weight back on already.

“I just hope and pray the rain stays away at York and if it’s good to firm ground there I think she could run a massive race.

“I think she’s in the form of her life at the moment, she just looks so much stronger this year, and I think York will really suit her as a track.

“I just think it’s key that rain stays away and we get a good preparation from now into York. If she can repeat the form from her Ascot run, that puts her bang there.”