July 11 / 17.55 Chester

17.55

Good

Mel & Claire Big Birthday Bash Nursery Handicap

  • Prize money: £7731
  • 0m 7f 1y
  • Class 3
  • 5 runners
SKY
View Course
Mel & Claire Big Birthday Bash Nursery Handicap

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly sunny

2/1 (Won)

  • Win: £2.63
  • Place: £1.40

Form: 451

Last run: 15 days

W: 9st 9lb

2 yo Colt

OR: 80

Form & Verdict
Improved with each of his three starts, most recently when justifying favouritism in a Newcastle novice (6f, AW) last month; now goes up in trip on nursery debut but he looks on a fair mark and is a brother to a smart 7f winner; big player for yard with 31% record with 2yos here in recent years.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12th

1

(14)

30th May 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 173y

Class 2

15:45 Carlisle

Sir Albert

9st 9lb

J: Alfie Redman

T: Andrew Balding

2-2 in nurseries last July (7f, good/heavy) and close Listed fifth at Lingfield (7f, AW) this February; has top weight in this hot handicap but 7lb claimer is recruited and the step up to nearly 1m may help.

40/1

5th

4

(7)

28th Feb 2026

Standard

0m 7f 1y

Class 1

14:35 Lingfield (AW)

Sir Albert

9st 4lb

J: Jason Watson

T: Andrew Balding

Progressive 2yo last summer, winning a novice at Newcastle (6f) before adding 7f nursery wins at Chester (good) and Goodwood (heavy); took another step forward when a close third in Listed company at Doncaster's St Leger meeting but he failed to fire at Ascot on Champions Day; has the highest BHA rating in the field and returns with his stable in good form.

7/2

9/4

  • Place: £1.30

Form: 541 D

Last run: 29 days

W: 9st 6lb

2 yo Colt

OR: 77

Form & Verdict
Showed promise with his fourth at York (6f, good) in May and built on that with a dominant display against two rivals at Chelmsford (7f, AW) last month; this is tougher on nursery debut but he's been progressive in his three runs so far and still has plenty of potential.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

4

(5)

22nd Oct 2025

Standard To Slow

1m 0f 0y

Class 4

18:10 Kempton (AW)

Champion Island

9st 3lb

J: Rob Hornby

T: Charlie Johnston

Just third of five in funny race at Newcastle last time and is in danger of becoming exposed, especially as stepping up to 1m promised to unlock more; connections opt for more severe headgear this time.

20/1

3rd

2

(5)

4th Oct 2025

Standard

1m 0f 5y

Class 4

19:15 Newcastle (AW)

Champion Island

9st 5lb

J: Andrew Mullen

T: Charlie Johnston

Prominent racer; readily saw off his two rivals in a 7f novice at Chelmsford in June and his first two nursery runs were both solid efforts; well beaten at York six weeks ago and now moves up in distance with cheekpieces added; considered.

13/2

OUR TIP

Form: 642

Last run: 16 days

W: 9st 2lb

2 yo Gelding

OR: 73

Form & Verdict
Beaten around 8l in first two runs (5f/6f) but showed a lot more upped to 7f when a strong-finishing second at Kempton (AW) two weeks ago; should have more to offer now switched to a nursery and he's in the mix on a workable mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

(4)

12th Sep 2025

Good To Soft

0m 6f 213y

Class 4

17:10 Salisbury

Steel Drum

9st 4lb

J: Georgia Dobie

T: Eve Johnson Houghton

Six-race maiden; runner-up at Kempton (7f novice, AW) in June, and third of five at Chester (7f nursery, good) a few weeks later; latest run was disappointing (last of four) and it is slightly disconcerting to see him drop into a seller in hastily applied blinkers; bit to prove.

4/1

2

(1)

20th Aug 2025

Standard To Slow

1m 0f 0y

Class 4

18:50 Kempton (AW)

Steel Drum

9st 2lb

J: Charles Bishop

T: Eve Johnson Houghton

0-5; shaped well when running on for third of five at Chester (7f) on his handicap debut last month, and a heavy-ground defeat at Goodwood since is probably worth forgiving; the step up to 1m could suit and the return to AW is no problem (runner-up here in June).

13/8

10

(1)

31st Jul 2025

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 2

16:20 Goodwood

Steel Drum

8st 5lb

J: Georgia Dobie

T: Eve Johnson Houghton

Now 0-4 but he sat in last of five when third to Sir Albert and Champion Island last time at Chester (7f, good) and was closing on the front two late on; he could easily finish to some effect and make his presence felt if they go hard here.

16/1

7/1

Form: 566

Last run: 31 days

W: 8st 7lb

2 yo Filly

OR: 64

Form & Verdict
Finished in mid division in her three qualifying runs, most recently when a 4l sixth at Salisbury (6f, good to firm) last month; still early days but this is competitive on nursery debut and she needs improvement.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

(5)

3rd Oct 2025

Standard

1m 0f 13y

Class 5

16:35 Southwell (AW)

Dubai Time

9st 4lb

J: Billy Loughnane

T: Hugo Palmer

Made it 2-4 in nurseries when holding off a strong finisher at Chester (7f, good to soft) two weeks ago; 3lb higher at this new trip but she still has potential and is out of a half-sister to a 1m2f winner; key player.

11/4

1st

4

(5)

20th Sep 2025

Soft

0m 7f 1y

Class 5

13:55 Chester

Dubai Time

9st 6lb

J: Luke Morris

T: Hugo Palmer

Off the mark at sixth attempt when landing a Chepstow nursery (7f, good) in July; only third of six at Newmarket last time but that was a tactical race and she stayed on well in the closing stages; still has potential at this trip and she's only 2lb higher than for her penultimate run; in the mix.

9/2

3rd

6

(1)

16th Aug 2025

Good To Firm

0m 7f 0y

Class 3

15:15 Newmarket (July)

Dubai Time

8st 7lb

J: Saffie Osborne

T: Hugo Palmer

Got off the mark at Chepstow (7f, good) last month on second nursery start; it's possible she'll continue to improve but she had just a nose to spare in that Class 6 contest, and is back in tougher company in this Class 3.

5/1

7/1

Form: 537152 D

Last run: 8 days

W: 9st 2lb

2 yo Filly

OR: 73

Form & Verdict
Improved for the step up to 7f when winning a fillies' maiden at Lingfield (good) in May; stiff task at Newbury next time and she resumed her progress when runner-up on nursery debut at Kempton last week; conditions should be fine back on turf but she's gone up 4lb and needs to find more with headgear added.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

(5)

3rd Jun 2026

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 6

20:42 Ripon

Paroda Diva

9st 9lb

J: Andrew Mullen

T: Patrick Neville

Proved suited by the step up to 1m at Haydock (good to soft) last time, recording a first win since joining her current yard and belatedly doubling her tally; unexposed at this trip; shortlisted.

4/1

1st

11

(5)

22nd May 2026

Soft

0m 7f 212y

Class 5

17:15 Haydock

Paroda Diva

8st 13lb

J: Andrew Mullen

T: Patrick Neville

She's raced 13 times and won just once (last May); also unproven on slow ground; however, she kept on galloping when sixth of 11 over 7f at Newmarket three weeks ago and this first crack at 1m is worth a go.

33/1

6th

10

(3)

2nd May 2026

Good

0m 7f 0y

Class 4

17:20 Newmarket

Paroda Diva

8st 6lb

J: Jack Dace

T: Patrick Neville

Just one win from 12 attempts, but she hasn't been long with her current yard and she seemed unsuited by the drop back to 5f when a never-nearer fourth of eight at Catterick ten days ago; looks well handicapped and the return to 7f should be right up her street.

20/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £4.80
Straight Forecast £4.34
Trifecta £14.40

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Champion Island

SPOTLIGHT:

Sir Albert

The Guardian:

Steel Drum

POSTDATA:

Sir Albert

Daily Mail:

Sir Albert

Daily Record:

Sir Albert

TOPSPEED:

Champion Island

The Times:

Champion Island

Telegraph:

Champion Island

D Express:

Champion Island

Daily Mirror:

Champion Island

The Sun:

Champion Island

The Star:

Champion Island