April 28 / 16.40 Sandown

16.40

Heavy

Nordoff & Robbins Christine McVie Memorial Handicap

  • Prize money: £7731
  • 1m 1f 209y
  • Class 4
  • 4 runners
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Nordoff & Robbins Christine McVie Memorial Handicap

Runners: 4 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

Form: 424-12

Last run: 11 days

W: 9st 8lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 83

Form & Verdict
0-3 last season; has shown some improvement with blinkers this term, winning a 1m3f novice event then second in 1m4f handicap, both at Kempton (AW); may have more to offer in the retained blinds.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

3

(5)

29th May 2026

Good To Firm

1m 3f 198y

Class 5

15:20 Brighton

Maasai Mara

9st 8lb

J: William Carson

T: John O’Shea

Regressed over hurdles last year but there was some encouragement with a hood deployed when fourth of seven at Wolverhampton (1m4f, AW) on his Flat return last month; blinkers (retained) were back on when a pace bias and wide draw did for him at Chester three weeks ago; not entirely ruled out.

14/1

12th

7

(12)

8th May 2026

Good

1m 4f 63y

Class 4

17:20 Chester

Maasai Mara

9st 10lb

J: Alec Voikhansky

T: John O’Shea

Lost his way over hurdles last year and made only a mildly encouraging return to the Flat when keeping-on fourth of seven at Wolverhampton (1m4f, AW; first-time hood) last month; not the most obvious answer.

40/1

4th

4

(5)

4th Apr 2026

Standard

1m 4f 51y

Class 4

19:30 Wolverhampton (AW)

Maasai Mara

9st 2lb

J: William Carson

T: John O’Shea

Lost his way over hurdles, running poorly in two runs back from a break last November; the usual cheekpieces are replaced by a first-time hood and it's hard to believe he's still up to this sort of mark on the Flat.

33/1

OUR TIP

Abandoned

Form: 631-

Last run: 201 days

W: 9st 8lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 83

Form & Verdict
Showed steady progress in three races at Goodwood last term, justifying favouritism the final time (1m1f, good to soft); looks the type to improve further and do well in handicaps this year.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

5

(1)

28th Apr 2026

Good To Firm

1m 2f 17y

Class 2

15:15 Epsom

Rathgar

8st 12lb

J: Tom Marquand

T: Jack Channon

Beat 13 rivals to win at Newbury (1m2f, good) ten days ago on his second start back from some time off; back up 4lb but he's just 1lb higher than when second in this last year and he's a solid contender.

9/2

1st

2

(10)

18th Apr 2026

Good

1m 2f 0y

Class 4

16:55 Newbury

Rathgar

9st 9lb

J: Tom Marquand

T: Jack Channon

Ran creditably over 1m2f on good ground on first three starts last season and back-to-form fourth of 13 at Kempton (AW) three weeks ago; thereabouts if the returning cheekpieces (worn on final start in 2024, below form) don't have an adverse effect.

12/1

4th

12

(13)

28th Mar 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 2f 219y

Class 2

14:42 Kempton (AW)

Rathgar

8st 6lb

J: Rose Dawes

T: Jack Channon

Ran creditably on first three starts last season, before two lesser displays in the summer; versatile ground-wise on turf and although he's raced only twice on AW, in first half of 2024, the first of those runs was creditable; the widest draw does not help today, however.

25/1

Abandoned

Form: 53-2 BF

Last run: 27 days

W: 9st 4lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 79

Form & Verdict
Creditable second in Doncaster maiden (1m2f, heavy; favourite) on seasonal debut, posting another placed effort; this thrice-raced colt may well start to progress now handicapping; respected.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

4

(8)

30th Aug 2024

Good

1m 1f 209y

Class 4

16:00 Sandown

Ribal

9st 9lb

J: Kieran Shoemark

T: Stuart Williams

1m2f second last year on his only race at Sandown; second off today's mark at Epsom (1m2f, good to firm) on penultimate start was easily the best of his four runs on turf this season but his only win remains an AW maiden.

11/1

10th

9

(10)

15th Aug 2024

Good To Firm

1m 2f 0y

Class 4

18:00 Windsor

Ribal

9st 1lb

J: Hayley Turner

T: Stuart Williams

Looked to be suited by the step back up in trip when runner-up at Epsom (1m2f, good to firm) a fortnight ago, despite not looking at home on the track; may be able to build on that performance today and he's a possible.

10/1

2nd

6

(8)

1st Aug 2024

Good

1m 2f 17y

Class 5

18:00 Epsom

Ribal

9st 10lb

J: Jack Doughty

T: Stuart Williams

took keen hold, in touch with leaders, headway on outer after 3f, soon hampered rival, edged left and hampered 4f out, hung left from over 2f out, soon led, no extra and headed towards finish

14/1

Abandoned

Form: 437-

Last run: 163 days

W: 9st 4lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 79

Form & Verdict
Made the frame in his two turf races last year, on good to soft on second occasion, and it's best to forgive his AW flop afterwards (had an abnormal scope post-race); gelded since; looks open to improvement on handicap debut; interesting.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

18th Jan 2026

Yielding

1m 7f 168y

13:40 Thurles

Feud

11st 12lb

J: Sean O’Keeffe

T: Richard John O’Brien

Maiden/novice wins during the summer of 2024; mostly disappointing in the meantime, 35l behind at Leopardstown last time (2m, yielding); others preferred.

33/1

1

27th Sep 2025

Good To Yielding

2m 4f 0y

15:20 Listowel

Feud

11st 12lb

J: Danny Mullins

T: Richard John O’Brien

Dual novice winner (including here over 2m) last year; best effort in 2025 a neck second at Wexford (2m1f, gd-yld) on penultimate; didn't back that up off 7lb higher at Newton Abbott latest (pulled up); talented on his day but difficult to predict.

11/1

1

30th Aug 2025

Good

2m 5f 122y

Class 2

16:30 Newton Abbot

Feud

12st 0lb

J: Danny Mullins

T: Richard John O’Brien

Launched hurdling career with two 2m wins in novice company last year and was close second on handicap debut at Wexford (2m1f, good to yielding) this month; could have untapped potential over this longer trip; commands respect.

5/2

Verdict

With the forecast testing ground no apparent issue, RIBAL could well build on his Doncaster reappearance effort and go one better. Fellow handicap debutants Feud (narrow second choice) and Rathgar are interesting, while Maasai Mara is hard to dismiss in the retained blinkers.[Steve Boow]

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Ribal

NEWMARKET:

Maasai Mara

The Times:

Feud

D Express:

Rathgar

RP Ratings:

Ribal

POSTDATA:

Ribal

Telegraph:

Ribal

The Guardian:

Ribal

Daily Mail:

Ribal

The Star:

Feud

Daily Record:

Rathgar

Daily Mirror:

Maasai Mara

The Sun:

Maasai Mara