Bradsell© Photo Healy Racing
Bradsell will attempt to remain unbeaten for the year and replicate his thrilling Nunthorpe success at the Curragh on Sunday in the Bar One Racing Flying Five Stakes
Archie Watson ’s star sprinter has been in imperious form since returning from a career-threatening injury, dashing to a comeback victory in France before romping away with York’s feature sprint last month.
Bradsell’s previous visits to the Curragh – both as a two-year-old and in this race last season – have ended in disappointment, but in the form of his life, the four-year-old has the chance to erase his Irish demons in the hands of Hollie Doyle.
“Archie seems very happy with him and we go there full of confidence,” said Oliver St Lawrence, racing manager to Fawzi Nass of Bahrani owners Victorious Racing.
“The way he won at York has always been his style, he likes to sit just off a strong pace and he is able to sustain it. I think it’s fair to say he is as good as ever this year and that is certainly how we view him.
“In the Phoenix Stakes as a two-year-old, he fractured his tibia and still managed to finish fourth – he probably fractured it coming out of the stalls in hindsight. And last year, Highfield Princess and him were drawn the wrong side and it just didn’t happen.
“Bradsell and Believing seem to be on opposite sides of the track, which is similar to York, but what will be, will be and we will go there with confidence.
“I think there are horses that will go forward on our side and I would suspect some of the horses that are more tilting their hats are probably likely to put on a strong pace.”
Chasing home Bradsell at York was George Boughey’s Believing, who has been an ever-present at the business end of the biggest sprints this year.
A Curragh winner earlier in the campaign, the Highclere Thoroughbreds-owned filly flew home from an unhelpful draw on the Knavesmire and is backed to give another solid account.
Boughey said: “She has gone from strength to strength all year and she was probably unlucky to be on the wrong side in the Nunthorpe and she was the only horse to run a big race from that side on the straight course this year.
“She goes there with every chance. She never lets anyone down and if she can keep turning up in the same form, she is going to give us a good shot.”
Also amongst the British raiding party is Clive Cox’s duo of Kerdos and Jasour
The latter only ran last weekend in Haydock’s Sprint Cup, but makes a quick return while also testing his credentials over the minimum distance for the first time since his early two-year-old days.
“He only ran last weekend in the Haydock Sprint and the ground and a high draw were very much not in the reckoning as it worked out, but I’m very pleased with how he has come back this week,” said Cox.
“It wouldn’t have been a long-term objective, but the way the weather has been behaving, it became a possibility. He’s a horse I think would be very agreeable over five furlongs.”
The Irish contingent of Ken Condon’s Moss Tucker Jessica Harrington’s Givemethebeatboys and Adrian Murray’s Bucanero Fuerte are others to make a quick return after appearing at Haydock.
Murray is confident that respectable appearance, when fading late into sixth, will have sharpened up his Group One winner, who races this time at the scene of some of his finest hours.
The trainer said: “We think he just needed the run at Haydock and hopefully that will have put him right for this week.
“A stiff five furlongs will be right up his street and hopefully he will run a big race. Every time you run a sprint, you get a different result, but we would be confident we would be bang there now.”
David Loughnane ’s Go Bears Go will also don the Amo Racing silks of Kia Joorabchian’s racing operation and is another with fond memories of the Kildare venue from his formative years in training with the Shropshire-based Irishman.
Now a five-year-old, he is back from a spell in America with Wesley Ward, with Loughnane hopeful he is seeing signs of the old Go Bears Go in his homework.
“It’s a tough ask and the Flying Five is a competitive race – you could run the race 10 times and get a different result,” said Loughnane.
“He loves the Curragh and is in super order at home and we will take a crack and see how it goes.
“He’s coming back to his old self and definitely showing us that spark. He’s in a good place mentally and fingers crossed he can put in a good run.”
Wearing cheekpieces for the first time is the consistent Washington Heights who will bid to follow in the footsteps of Glass Slippers and win this for Kevin Ryan.
“I think he ran a decent race in the Nunthorpe and unfortunately he was just drawn on the wrong side and needed to be drawn lower,” explained Cosmo Charlton, racing manager for owners Hambleton Racing.
“Also, the rain that came the night before might have just taken the edge out of the ground, but he has come out of the race well and is training well and we just don’t want to see too much rain.
“I think a stiff five at the Curragh will suit him, he gets the six well and is in good form. He’s in the hands of a master sprint trainer and we’re delighted Tom (Eaves) is going over to ride. Fingers crossed he can run a big race for us.”
