'He was by far the superior horse there' - can anyone stop Nunthorpe hero Bradsell following up in the Flying Five?

British sprinters have been wiping the floor with the Irish in recent years but the Flying Five has stayed at home in six of the last nine runnings. However, it looks an uphill struggle for the home team this year.

Bradsell and Believing filled the first two spots in the Nunthorpe and they seem likely to fight it out for top-level honours again. The Archie Watson-trained Bradsell has underperformed on both his visits to the Curragh, finishing fourth in the Phoenix Stakes as a juvenile when 11-8 favourite and well beaten into seventh in this race last year.

While that has to be a concern, he has returned this season in spectacular form. He was off for 329 days before landing a Listed race at Deauville in cosy style and secured his second Group 1 at York 19 days later by three quarters of a length. That contest panned out quite well for him as he got a lovely tow by tracking Ponntos and it was all over once Hollie Doyle glided to the front two furlongs from home.

Believing ran a belter to get close to the winner given she was drawn in 13 and had to race on the near side away from the main pace. Bradsell got first run on her and was in full flight at the furlong pole, while Believing was still going through the gears and had plenty of ground to make up.

Bradsell was pretty dominant on the day but George Boughey's filly is the value and can overturn the form. She showed a liking for this track when winning the Sapphire Stakes in July and she can land her first Group 1.

Bucanero Fuerte has put in some huge efforts at this track for Adrian Murray, most notably when powering clear of Porta Fortuna and Givemethebeatboys in last year's Phoenix. He returned this season with an excellent win in the Lacken Stakes at Naas, showing a brilliant attitude, and ran encouragingly from the front in the Sprint Cup at Haydock eight days ago when sixth.

He'd want a bit of give in the ground over this trip but he has a huge engine and can't be dismissed.

Last year's winner Moss Tucker is another who may want some rain to be at his best but he is very effective on his day. He hasn't been at his best the last twice but is well capable of bouncing back over this course and distance.

Kerdos, Washington Heights and Makarova all cross the Irish Sea with chances but this race can lend itself to course specialists and Go Bears Go can make the frame. He won the Railway at this track in 2021 before finishing a close third behind Ebro River in the Phoenix. On his other visit to the track, he bolted up in Group 3 company in 2022 and he is entitled to come on plenty for his reappearance run in France last month.

Going update

The going is described as good on the straight course and good, good to firm in places on the round course. There is light rain expected on Saturday evening into Sunday, which could bring around 3-4mm of rain before clearing by lunchtime.

What they say

Archie Watson, trainer of Bradsell
He got a good tow into the race in the Nunthorpe on that side but he looked like he was going to absolutely bolt up, then he's probably just waited on them. I thought he was by far the superior horse there. It's great to get a rematch with the second. We're drawn miles apart again so we'll see how we go but I'm delighted with him at home and happy the weather has stayed dry.

Adrian Murray, trainer of Bucanero Fuerte
He showed a lot of speed at Haydock. It was a solid run for his first run after four months off and he was outside his age group for the first time. Coming back to five furlongs shouldn't be any problem. He likes the Curragh and seems very well in himself at home.

Harry Herbert, managing director of Highclere Thoroughbreds, owners of Believing
She was on the wrong side at York, otherwise she'd have gone very close. I'm frustrated by the draw again as she's miles away from the speed, but Ryan Moore knows her very well and he knows the Curragh very well so I hope they can overcome it. She's an extraordinary filly and in fantastic shape so we'll see what happens.

Ed Walker, trainer of Makarova
This has been the aim for quite a while. I'm really looking forward to it because a stiff 5f is just what she needs, as she showed when winning the Coral Charge at Sandown and then finishing third in the Sapphire Stakes here in July. You need a bit of luck in sprints and Believing got more of it that day than she did. Makarova is capable of popping up in one of these races and she's come out of her run in the Nunthorpe in fine form. She'll be helped by any cut in the ground.

Clive Cox, trainer of Jasour and Kerdos
It's a quick turnaround with Jasour after Haydock, but the drying ground at the Curragh will suit him. He settled very well at Haydock, but was drawn on the wrong side. We have targeted Kerdos at this race since Goodwood with the stiff five furlongs being a positive. I felt he ran very well in the King George with his penalty.

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