Bradsell proved he retained all of his ability when bagging the Group 1 Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes at York on Friday.
The Archie Watson-trained 2022 King's Stand Royal Ascot winner has endured an interrupted campaign following an injury but made a winning reappearance with an impressive comeback victory in Listed company at Deauville earlier in the month.
The son of Tasleet, who was freely available to back at 11/2 this morning, was sent off a well-punted at 3/1 on his return to Group 1 level under Hollie Doyle.
As expected, the Czech horse Ponntos took the field along at a rapid clip, but all the while Bradsell was travelling strongly in his slipstream. Doyle came there cruising and once sent to the front at the two-furlong marker, Bradsell looked in full control of the five-furlong Group 1 prize.
George Boughey's Believing went one spot better than when third in the King George Qatar Stakes at Glorious Goodwood, but she never looked like reeling in the eventual winner, who went on to score by a comfortable three-quarters of a length, despite his pre-race antics of nearly taking out his groom.
The Ralph Beckett-trained Starlust ran on well to finish third, while the Australian 6-4 favourite Asfoora was back in fourth. The King George Qatar Stakes hero Big Evs, who was an easy-to-back 7/1 chance, struggled to land a blow and finished back in eighth under Tom Marquand.
"We were getting him ready for Dubai in the spring and he fractured a fetlock in February, and it's been an amazing route back for him," said the winning trainer, Archie Watson.
"I'm not one for sectionals, but I was told he did the fastest closing final two furlongs in the race last year. This year thankfully we were drawn with the Czech horse who goes off quickly."
Bradsell's task was made slightly easier when Regional and defending Nunthorpe champion Live In The Dream both came out, although Watson was unsure as to whether that was going to be beneficial pre-race.
He said: "When Regional and Live In The Dream came out, I couldn't decide if I wanted them in as pace angles or out as very good horses. Luckily Ponntos was always going to do what he did, but Hollie was even taking Bradsell back off him he was going so well today.
"I thought when the injury happened it would be a question of saving him for a stallion job next year, but at every stage, he passed with flying colours. I know the vets like to stay behind the scenes, but they really have done a phenomenal job with this horse."
He added: "We still can't believe a horse like this was buyable for £50,000. That is expensive for us, and I know people see us as a big yard, but we have very few six-figure horses and for us to compete at this sort of level by buying horses at a lower level, it means a lot.
"He won the Coventry and he's a King's Stand winner. Now he's a Nunthorpe winner and I hope he can keep doing more."
Paddy Power cut the winner to 16/1 from 33s for the Betfair Sprint Cup ay Haydock in September.
Hollie Doyle has become a vital part of the Watson team and on their relationship, the trainer said: "It means so much more when it is the two of us having the winners together because we grew together.
"She was just out of her claim when she came to me from Richard Hannon and all of our Group 1 winners have been together. She is a massive part of the team; we work well together and long may it continue."
