VC Bet Nunthorpe Stakes

Forty one entries were recently announced for the Group One VC Bet Nunthorpe Stakes to be run at York on August 18 and sponsors VC Bet were delighted with the quality of the runners. Last year's winner Bahamian Pirate who landed a 16/1 shock victory is again in the line up and will be attempting to defy the years as he is now ten years old. Stable companion Strike up the Band is at the other end of the age ladder as he is the only two year old among the entries. He has been in the first two in all his four races and finished runner up twice in 48 hours at the Royal Ascot at York meeting last month. Dandy Nicholls' other representatives are Lafi who just failed to beat the progressive sprinter Resplendent Glory at Sandown's Eclipse fixture, the in form Gift Horse and the rejuvenated Fire Up The Band. Aidan O'Brien has entered Ad Valorem, Airwave, Cougar Cat and Russian Blue and will be anxious to land this Group One £220,000 race in which has been successful in recent years with Mozart and Stravinsky. Interestingly enough, 10 of last year's 12 participants are among the entries and VC Bet's PR Manager Neal Wilkins commented: "We are extremely happy with both the quality and quantity of the entries. It proves once again that if the right level of prize money is available then the right horse will turn up. Top class sprinters like Nuclear Debate, Mozart, Oassis Dream and Kyllachy have proved their worth during our association with the Nunthorpe."