2025 Nunthorpe Stakes News - Quotes From Connections
The 2025 Nunthorpe Stakes at York's Ebor Festival is generating excitement as 17 sprinters prepare to compete. Trainers and connections have shared insights, highlighting key horses. Ger Lyons is cautiously optimistic about Lady Iman, while Adrian Murray believes Arizona Blaze is among the favorites. Henry Dwyer is confident in Asfoora's competitive form, and Richard Hughes expects strong performances from Sariydah Dariyan. John Quinn's Jm Jungle and Ed Walker's Mgheera also promise thrilling performances. The stakes are high, and racing enthusiasts are eagerly awaiting the action.
- Key quotes ahead of the 2025 Nunthorpe Stakes
- This Group One will be run at York on Friday 22nd August
- Read quotes from Ger Lyons, Henry Dwyer, Ed Walker and more on our website
- Ger Lyons (Lady Iman)
- Adrian Murray (Arizona Blaze)
- Henry Dwyer (Asfoora)
- Richard Hughes (Sariydah Dariyan)
- Jack Davidson (She's Quality)
- John Quinn (Jm Jungle)
- Ed Walker (Mgheera and Celandine)
- Jonathan Portman (Rumstar)
- Harry Bentley (Spicy Marg)
- Adam Ryan (Assistant trainer to Washington Heights)
- William Knight (Frost At Dawn)
Nunthorpe Stakes Quotes
The penultimate day of the Ebor Festival is headlined by the Nunthorpe Stakes, and 17 sprinters have been declared for this year's renewal of this thrilling, five-furlong Group One.
Here are the quotes from the connections of the horses who'll run in Friday's renewal of the Nunthorpe Stakes.
2025 Nunthorpe Stakes - Key Quotes
Ger Lyons (Lady Iman)
Don't get me wrong, if she goes and wins the Nunthorpe we'll all be delighted! I just don't like babies taking on older horses, but it is what it is. And, don't forget, while it's 8st on paper, you have to take in all the allowances so it's not 8st, it's 8st 4lb or whatever.
But if you're ever going to do something like this with one, you do it with her. She's got the perfect temperament for it, but we've still got to get there.
Joe (Fanning) sat beside me in the weighing room back when I was riding. She has 8st, so Joe rides here. It's what Roger wants. I don't own these horses and I've got to do what I'm told.
Adrian Murray (Arizona Blaze)
He’s among the favorites and that is because he always turns up on the day – hopefully he will do again in the Nunthorpe.
He’s a very exciting horse, he never runs a bad race and the sprint division is wide open this year. There’s no standout horse this season, all the big sprints are being won by different horses. Ours is one of the favorites, but it’s wide open.
I was talking to Roger O’Callaghan (owner of star two-year-old Lady Iman) the other day and they are going to York because of that, it could be a big field. It’s exciting times ahead, for sure.
Henry Dwyer (Asfoora)
I couldn't be happier with her and we have no excuses this week. She ran a good race at Ascot when she was beaten two lengths but we didn’t think she was anywhere near the mark fitness-wise. We went to Goodwood with a bit of optimism but we were hamstrung by the weather and condition of the track. I think she's peaked now and I'm very happy with her going into Friday. I'd be shocked if she didn't prove highly competitive.
Richard Hughes (Sariydah Dariyan)
We hope we have a great chance, she’s really going the right way.
Last time when she won at York it was the first time she was ridden the way I like. She was covered up and ridden for a turn of foot and she just exploded. We were able to see the best of her ridden that way.
I don’t think coming back to five furlongs will be too much of a hindrance to her and I think she’s quite fast.
I wouldn’t swap her for anything and with No Half Measures as well we know we have two nice fillies.
Jack Davidson (She's Quality)
She is a super filly and that is four seconds this year now at a high level, but I think it will all come good in the Nunthorpe. The rain probably didn't help, but I am very proud of her. She is the best sprinter in Ireland.
John Quinn (Jm Jungle)
He is so good on these tracks, but then he's just a good horse. He's probably not as good going up a hill, but we don't have to worry about that too much.
He came up against American Affair earlier in the year and it is just very good sprint form.
Jason (Hart) said after York last time that he'd love to ride him in the Nunthorpe, where they go lickety-split as that would suit him really well. He is a Group Two winner now and we don't have far to go, 20-odd miles, so that is something to look forward to.
Ed Walker (Mgheera and Celandine)
Mgheera, it’s been the plan since the Temple Stakes. We thought we’d take in Ascot and that went terribly wrong (withdrawn at the start). Then we felt we needed a run in between the Temple Stakes and the Nunthorpe, so squeezed in Ireland. That was a big run in Ireland – very happy with her. I just think the very slick nature of York, flat track, hopefully fast ground is exactly what she wants.
We’re really excited about her. Touch wood, she’s in good nick – she’s a definite runner as long as the ground stays good or faster and she’s been training really well.
Celandine’s in great form. She’s definitely trained on. I’m adamant that she will be comfortable with the five furlongs. I feel she just about hangs on over six – like she did in the Lowther – and I’m really excited about seeing her in a strong five furlongs.
She showed great speed in the Molecomb as a two-year-old. The owners are supportive, so I think we’re going to roll the dice in the Nunthorpe.
Jonathan Portman (Rumstar)
We looked at it but when entries closed we didn't feel it was the race for him. At the beginning of the year it was a race we never had in mind; we thought if we'd go for any Group 1 it would be the Prix de l'Abbaye, which he's entered for.
But there are very few options for him at this time, he seems extremely well and we're probably going to take a leap of faith and run him at York. Everyone else seems to be doing it, so we thought we'd do it too. I don't think anyone's won a Group 1 staying at home.
We thought he ran better in Ireland the other day. You've got two fantastic runs against three underwhelming runs, but that's the nature of sprinting.
Harry Bentley (Spicy Marg)
It is a while since a two-year-old won the Nunthorpe but not many have tried. Her time was really fast at Goodwood and she gave me a ‘push-button feel’ when I rode her in work. All the signs are positive.
Adam Ryan (Assistant trainer to Washington Heights)
He's been going against the best company around and been doing well. The good thing with him though is he's as tough as metal and just keeps on going.
It takes a brave horse to get past him and he really knuckled down in the last furlong. He's getting faster and he loves to hear his hooves rattle, so thankfully the weather's been kind to us.
William Knight (Frost At Dawn)
She seems in really good nick. She's put weight back on and we just hope and pray that the rain stays away. If it's genuinely good-to-firm ground, I think she can run a massive race.
She's in the form of her life at the moment. She looks so much stronger this year than last, and York will really suit her as a track.
Related
Top Betting Sites
Betting offers
Upcoming Events
27 May 2026
- Daily Tips on May 27th -
- Horse Racing
28 May 2026
- 2026 Brigadier Gerard Stakes -
- Horse Racing
30 May 2026
- 2026 Lester Piggott Stakes -
- Horse Racing
Load More
