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

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.”