September 09 / 15.30 Sandown

15.30

Soft

Les Dove Memorial Nursery Handicap

  • Prize money: £7731
  • 1m 0f 0y
  • Class 3
  • 4 runners
RTV
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Les Dove Memorial Nursery Handicap

Runners: 4 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Thunderstorms

Form: 331 D

Last run: 21 days

W: 9st 9lb

2 yo Colt

OR: 87

Form & Verdict
Plenty of stamina in his pedigree, and he improved for the step up to 1m when making all in seven-runner novice at Carlisle (good; unraced on softer) three weeks ago; entered in the Royal Lodge and the Vertem Futurity; open to further progress and looks a leading contender.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

1

14th May 2026

Good

2m 3f 116y

17:20 Clonmel

Loyal Touch

11st 12lb

J: Gavin Brouder

T: Denis Gerard Hogan

Five-time Flat winner is rated 70 in that sphere; beaten 21l on hurdling debut at Down Royal recently; can do better.

14/1

10th

3

4th May 2026

Good

2m 1f 88y

13:35 Down Royal

Loyal Touch

11st 12lb

J: Gavin Brouder

T: Denis Gerard Hogan

One of two runners for yard; five Flat wins when trained in UK; regressive for this yard, though running well at times; could go well on hurdles debut if jumping holds up.

20/1

Form: 431

Last run: 21 days

W: 9st 6lb

2 yo Colt

OR: 84

Form & Verdict
Has improved with each of his three outings, never headed in 7f novice at Newcastle (AW) last month; should stay today's longer trip and he's still in the Group 1 Vertem Futurity later in the year; his stable continues in excellent form and he commands major respect.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

(8)

28th Jul 2025

Good

0m 7f 50y

Class 4

15:00 Ayr

Animate

9st 8lb

J: Clifford Lee

T: Geoffrey Harker

Won a 6f Catterick handicap in June 2024 (good to soft); best run this time when beaten a nose at Ripon in June (6f, good); poor efforts either side of that; not easy to predict.

16/1

13

(4)

5th Jul 2025

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 4

15:50 Haydock

Animate

9st 2lb

J: David Allan

T: Geoffrey Harker

Missed out by a nose at Ripon last month (6f, good); 3lb higher in a stronger race but he has been rated much higher in the past; couldn't dismiss.

10/1

2nd

9

(11)

4th Jun 2025

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 5

19:52 Ripon

Animate

9st 4lb

J: Sam James

T: Geoffrey Harker

Now 4lb lower than for his Catterick success 12 months ago; made a promising return at that track in April before plenty went wrong back there two weeks later; cheekpieces back on today; betting can help.

10/1

OUR TIP

Abandoned

Form: 431 D

Last run: 14 days

W: 9st 6lb

2 yo Colt

OR: 84

Form & Verdict
280,000gns Frankel colt out of a US Grade 1 winner; built on the promise of his first two starts when gamely making all in novice at Goodwood (1m, soft) two weeks ago; should encounter similar conditions here; very solid.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

11

(11)

30th Jun 2023

Good To Firm

1m 2f 0y

Class 3

20:45 Newmarket (July)

The Parent

8st 7lb

J: Sam Hitchcott

T: Richard Hannon

taken down early

9/1

3rd

7

(4)

17th Jun 2023

Good To Firm

1m 1f 0y

Class 3

13:40 Sandown

The Parent

9st 1lb

J: Pat Dobbs

T: Richard Hannon

Goodwood novice winner (1m, soft) last summer and ran well on his return from 260 days off when beaten 2l into third of 11 at Doncaster (1m, good) a fortnight ago (winner was completing a four-timer); shaped then as though this extra furlong would suit (backed up by his pedigree) and respected off the same mark.

5/1

3rd

2

(10)

3rd Jun 2023

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 4

17:10 Doncaster

The Parent

9st 11lb

J: Pat Dobbs

T: Richard Hannon

Fulfilled previous promise when making all at Goodwood (1m, soft) and was eased off once his chance had gone when sent off the 2-1 favourite for his handicap debut at Newbury (7f, good) on his final 2yo start; good pedigree (by Frankel out of US turf Grade 1 winner) and interesting to see if his supporters' return on reappearance.

8/1

Form: 44239

Last run: 21 days

W: 8st 9lb

2 yo Colt

OR: 73

Form & Verdict
Made the frame on his first four starts (hung left on last two of them) but he ran poorly on his nursery debut at Newbury (7f, good) last time; needs to put that run well behind him.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

5

(8)

3rd Oct 2022

Good To Soft

1m 0f 31y

Class 5

15:47 Windsor

Saxon Scene

9st 7lb

J: Lewis Edmunds

T: William Muir & Chris Grassick

pressed leader, pushed along over 3f out, ridden 2f out, kept on well from over 1f out, no extra and held inside final 110yds

8/1

Verdict

Three last-time-out winners should make for an interesting nursery. All of them are useful prospects and the vote for LOYAL TOUCH is a narrow one, but the selection looks blessed with plenty of stamina and these testing conditions could suit him well. Animate, progressive and from a bang-in-form stable, edges The Parent for the forecast spot.[Richard O’Brien]

Selections

RP Ratings:

Animate

POSTDATA:

The Parent

SPOTLIGHT:

Loyal Touch

TOPSPEED:

Saxon Scene

The Guardian:

The Parent

Daily Mirror:

The Parent

Daily Record:

The Parent

NEWMARKET:

Animate

The Times:

Animate

Daily Mail:

Animate

Daily Express:

Animate

The Sun:

Animate

The Star:

Animate

Telegraph:

Loyal Touch