All Eyes on Lady Iman: Filly Aims for Nunthorpe Stakes Glory The Irish Angle team have hailed the decision to run Lady Iman in the Nunthorpe Stakes at York on Friday. A two-year-old has not won the race since 2007 but Lady Iman is the favourite ahead of the likes of Arizona Blaze and Asfoona. After Lady Iman’s win in a Group 3 race at Goodwood last month, trainer Ger Lyons admitted it was the owners who wanted to send her to the Ebor Festival. Joe Fanning Could Play A Big Role “It'll be interesting, a two-year-old showing up against the older horses,” Emma Nagle said on irishracing.com’s Irish Angle show this week. “I heard Ger [Lyons] getting interviewed after her win at Goodwood, and it sounded as if it was definitely in the owner's race planning more than his — I think he was kind of gunning to go to America for the Breeders' Cup. It's something that he normally likes to do. “But look, she'll be very dangerous even taking on the old horses. I know it's tough, but she'll get loads of weight. “They've looked at Joe Fanning — a jockey who's well able to ride at those lower weights. “Two-year-olds have done it in the past. It'll be tough, but she's a speedball — very good over five furlongs. “I'd say she should have a massive shout. I don't think Ger — maybe if it wasn't his actual idea, it sounded as if it might have been the owners — but I don't think he would be sending her there if he didn't think she could be bang there. It'll be exciting. “And there's a good strong Irish team of horses going over to York. So, it'll be great racing.” ‘This Is Exactly How It Should Be’ Racing journalist Johnny Ward said he was impressed by the strength of the Irish entries for the Nunthorpe Stakes. “I love this, I have to say. I think two or three of the first four in the market for the sprint are Irish-trained, which is incredible really because we haven't had proper sprinters in a long time. “But a couple of things on this. The O'Callaghans obviously want to run the horse — this is exactly how it should be. The owner should be saying, 'I want to run the horse here’. “Ger Lyons is brilliant value in interviews. He's like, 'Well, wouldn't be doing it, but the owner wants to do it.' Perfect. So, if it goes wrong, Ger will say, 'To be honest, I wasn't mad keen on it anyway.' And the owner has already said, 'If it goes wrong, so what? we're in it for the sport of it’. “But as a horse racing betting market — how can you deduce what chance this horse has as a two-year-old filly — she's getting an unbelievable amount of weight — but for me, a two-year-old filly to take on these horses it’s almost outlandish that she could beat them. “So, how do you figure out where the weight actually may make the difference here? That's a really hard one to call. I'm surprised she's favourite, but there we go. “I think it's been a great story so far, even without the horse running yet.” irishracing.com editor Vincent Finegan had the final word and revealed he would not be backing against Lady Iman. “Two-year-olds have won it before, and I think she's very good. So, I'd be inclined to be on her side. We'll see what happens.” Watch This Week's Irish Angle
