Archie Watson's Group One winning colt Bradsell is all systems go for another bash at Group One glory as he heads to York next week looking to land the Nunthorpe Stakes.
An emphatic winner at York on seasonal debut last term in a Novice Stakes bolting up by nine lengths, he was last seen at Royal Ascot taking the Group Two Coventry Stakes with more in hand at the line.
The form of that race has been massively franked with the likes of Persian Force, Blackbeard and Royal Scotsman all going on to perform well throughout last year in good Group races.
Bradsell was seen just once more last term when only fourth in the Group One Phoenix Stakes behind the winner Little Big Bear.
It was revealed that he had picked up an injury in the race which was the reason for his poor run and he was put away for the rest of the season.
Returning this term at Ascot in the Group Three Commonwealth Cup Trial he travelled beautifully into the race but when asked to win the race just showed his time off the track when obviously not 100% fit.
Sent to Haydock in the Group Two Sandy Lane Stakes a mixture of track bias and wanting the drop down to 5f saw him finish third behind Little Big Bear.
Supplemented for the Group One King's Stands Stakes at Royal Ascot he ran out a very good winner from leading sprinter Highfield Princess.
Bradsell and Highfield Princess look set to battle it out in the Nunthorpe at York in a few weeks time 👀
— The Winners Enclosure (@TWEnclosure) August 10, 2023
They were first and second in the King's Stand at Royal Ascot 🎩
Who wins Round Two? 🥊
🎬 @itvracing pic.twitter.com/jXslQnbspd
Staying at 5f Bradsell is currently the second favourite for the Nunthorpe Stakes and having been saved for the race since the Royal meeting he holds a leading chance.
(Credit ATR) Watson said: “I don’t see a sharper five furlongs being a problem.
“He travels so well that nothing can really take him far enough into his races. Over the quick five furlongs at York he should get a nice tow deep into the race.
“I would say it’s (his absence) a reflection of the options over five furlongs,” said the trainer.
“He won his Group One at Ascot, so I didn’t feel the need to go to the Group Two at Goodwood, and I wasn’t going to step him back up to six furlongs in between either.
“I have been delighted with him since Ascot. He cantered away in his routine for six weeks and then has been galloping well through August into this race.”
He added: “He has obviously got very good form on good and good to firm ground.
“We haven’t deliberately avoided cut in the ground. His maiden win was on good to soft but until we run on proper soft ground we won’t know.
“I never get overly concerned about it until you know that a horse doesn’t handle a certain type of ground. If it rains, it rains.”