Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes
Group 1, York 15:35
£500,000 guaranteed,
2yo plus,
5f, Class 1   
Friday 22nd August 2025

1 Asfoora 11/1
2 Ain't Nobody 100/1
3 Frost At Dawn 10/1
17 ran Distances: 1¼l, nse, 1l
Time: 57.38s (slow by 0.08s)

Kevin Ryan’s faith in Ain’t Nobody was handsomely repaid as the three-year-old turned supposed no-hoper into headline act, storming into second place at odds of 100-1.

The colt had hinted at quality as a juvenile when landing the Windsor Castle at Royal Ascot, and there was a glimpse of that spark again this spring when third in the Commonwealth Cup Trial. Yet four lacklustre efforts since meant he was all but written off before heading to the Knavesmire.

Not that Ain’t Nobody got the message. Settled out the back under Kevin Stott, he weaved through late and finished with a flourish, beaten just a length and a quarter by the Australian flyer Asfoora.

“I’m not one to bring horses to make up the numbers. I never have done it and never will,” Ryan declared afterwards, his tone part vindication, part quiet satisfaction.

“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.”

Behind the first two came Frost At Dawn, another bold effort at the top table for William Knight’s filly, who had already finished second in the King Charles III Stakes. Mickael Barzalona had her in the right spot after a slightly sluggish break and she battled on for third at 10-1.

“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,” admitted 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).”

Fourth home was Night Raider, running the best turf race of his career for Karl Burke, who was quick to highlight the colt’s raw ability.

“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,” said Burke.

“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.”

BoyleSports

Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes
(Group 1) (British Champions Series)
£500,000 guaranteed, 2yo plus, 5f, Class 1
17 runners
Going: Good to Firm, Good in places

POS. (DRAW) FORM HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1 (5)    Asfoora 7 9-12 Henry Dwyer Oisin Murphy 11/1
2 (3) 1¼ Ain't Nobody 3 9-13 Kevin Ryan Kevin Stott 100/1
3 (6) nse Frost At Dawn 4 9-12 William Knight Mickael Barzalona 10/1
4 (8) 1 Night Raider 4 10-1 K R Burke Danny Tudhope 15/2
5 (14) nk Rumstar 5 10-1 Jonathan Portman Rob Hornby 11/1
6 (13) nk Jm Jungle 5 10-1 John & Sean Quinn Jason Hart 10/1
7 (2) 1 Sayidah Dariyan 3 9-10 Richard Hughes Ryan Moore 8/1
8 (7) nk Mgheera 5 9-12 Ed Walker William Buick 16/1
9 (16) ½ Celandine 3 9-10 Ed Walker Tom Marquand 33/1
10 (11) nk She's Quality 4 9-12 Jack W Davison James Ryan 11/1
11 (9) 1 Arizona Blaze 3 9-13 Adrian Murray David Egan 9/2F
12 (17) 1 Washington Heights 5 10-1 Kevin Ryan Tom Eaves 18/1
13 (12) shd Kerdos 5 10-1 Clive Cox Rossa Ryan 40/1
14 (4) nk Iman 2 8-2 G M Lyons Joe Fanning 11/2
15 (15) hd Spartan Arrow 5 10-1 Archie Watson Hollie Doyle 66/1
16 (1) 1 Manaccan 6 10-1 John Ryan Clifford Lee 100/1
17 (10) 1¼ Spicy Marg 2 8-2 Michael Bell Harry Bentley 18/1