April 30 / 16.35 Nottingham

16.35

Soft

British EBF Nottinghamshire Oaks Stakes (Listed Race) (Fillies & Mares)

  • Prize money: £31190.5
  • 1m 2f 50y
  • Class 1
  • 8 runners
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British EBF Nottinghamshire Oaks Stakes (Listed Race) (Fillies & Mares)

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

Form: 3-4211 D

Last run: 24 days

W: 9st 2lb

4 yo Filly

OR: 80

Form & Verdict
Successful in middle-distance handicaps on AW the last twice (maiden previously); at the top of her game but faces a much stiffer task in this grade back on turf; has the worst chance at the weights.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

1

(7)

23rd Jun 2024

Good

1m 4f 5y

Class 1

15:00 Pontefract

Avon Light

9st 2lb

J: Clifford Lee

T: William Muir & Chris Grassick

Consistent handicapper until form dipped sharply in the Goodwood race won by Ayyab; stiff task at the weights, upped to Listed grade.

33/1

9th

7

(8)

24th May 2024

Good

1m 3f 218y

Class 3

15:00 Goodwood

Avon Light

9st 7lb

J: Saffie Osborne

T: William Muir & Chris Grassick

Maiden prior to finding the winning thread on AW in February/April, then ran creditably at Ascot (1m2f, good) in hat-trick attempt; remains in form and gives the impression she's worth a crack at 1m4f.

10/1

9th

7

(8)

24th May 2024

Good

1m 3f 218y

Class 3

15:00 Goodwood

Avon Light

9st 7lb

J: Saffie Osborne

T: William Muir & Chris Grassick

Maiden prior to finding the winning thread on AW in February/April, then ran creditably at Ascot (1m2f, good) in hat-trick attempt; remains in form and gives the impression she's worth a crack at 1m4f.

10/1

OUR TIP

Abandoned

Form: 38245-

Last run: 179 days

W: 9st 2lb

5 yo Filly

OR: 102

Form & Verdict
Has plenty of Listed/Group form, mostly over longer trips, peak effort when second in the 1m5f Geoffrey Freer at Newbury last August; not crying out for return to 1m2f but is a major contender on ratings.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

1

(9)

3rd Aug 2024

Good To Firm

1m 4f 0y

Class 1

14:40 Newmarket (July)

Ching Shih

9st 9lb

J: Saffie Osborne

T: David Simcock

held up in rear

14/1

11th

1

(2)

20th Jul 2024

Good To Soft

1m 4f 0y

Class 1

18:35 Newmarket (July)

Ching Shih

9st 6lb

J: Jamie Spencer

T: David Simcock

Losing spell goes back to her 2yo win but she couldn't have gone much closer to putting that right in Listed race at Pontefract (1m4f, good to firm) four weeks ago, going down by a nose (reopposing Divina Grace was third); claims if in similar form but she does have a bit of an in-and-out profile.

12/1

2nd

3

(10)

23rd Jun 2024

Good

1m 4f 5y

Class 1

15:00 Pontefract

Ching Shih

9st 2lb

J: Callum Rodriguez

T: David Simcock

Losing spell goes back to her 2yo win; respectable third in this race last year but has a question mark over current form; comfortably held in both outings this term.

12/1

Abandoned

Form: 21106- D

Last run: 171 days

W: 9st 2lb

4 yo Filly

OR: 91

Form & Verdict
Unraced on soft/heavy; gained wins at novice/handicap level last term; not disgraced in Listed grade (1m2f, AW) on final outing but finished only in midfield and needs to show improvement on reappearance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

1

(6)

17th Aug 2024

Good

1m 6f 0y

Class 3

15:45 Newmarket (July)

Elegancia

9st 12lb

J: David Probert

T: Harry Charlton

Kept on strongly when second to all-the-way winner Attila The Honey at Newbury (13.2f, good) last month; unexposed at this sort of trip and could have more to offer; on the shortlist.

7/2

2nd

2

(4)

19th Jul 2024

Good To Soft

1m 5f 61y

Class 3

16:45 Newbury

Elegancia

9st 10lb

J: William Buick

T: Harry Charlton

Two wins last year (1m2f, good to soft/good to firm) and close fourth at Newmarket (1m2f, good to firm) most recently; stamina to prove now up in trip but her dam won at up to 1m4f and this lightly raced 4yo can be in the mix if seeing out the distance.

8/1

4th

2

(5)

29th Jun 2024

Good To Firm

1m 2f 0y

Class 3

17:10 Newmarket (July)

Elegancia

10st 0lb

J: William Buick

T: Harry Charlton

Successful over 1m2f at Bath (novice; good to soft) and Ascot (handicap; good to firm) at the end of last summer; out of depth when a remote last of four in Sandown Group 3 on reappearance but respected back in these calmer waters.

5/2

Form: /3466-

Last run: 255 days

W: 9st 2lb

4 yo Filly

OR: 105

Form & Verdict
Acts on heavy ground; came up short in last year's Oaks; progressive RPRs on French soil otherwise, including at Group 1 level; on ratings this looks her best chance since 2yo debut win; respected.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

6

(3)

25th Sep 2024

Heavy

1m 1f 197y

Class 1

16:05 Goodwood

Heartache Tonight

8st 13lb

J: Kieran Shoemark

T: David Menuisier

prominent

8/1

7th

2

(1)

22nd May 2024

Good

1m 2f 0y

Class 1

15:20 Ayr

Heartache Tonight

9st 2lb

J: Paul Mulrennan

T: David Menuisier

Her best efforts have come on soft ground or slower (unraced on good to soft) and she was soundly beaten in a Group 2 at Newmarket (1m1f, good) on her recent reappearance; however, she may have needed the run and last season's Group-race performances in France give her a leading shout.

3/1

7th

2

(1)

22nd May 2024

Good

1m 2f 0y

Class 1

15:20 Ayr

Heartache Tonight

9st 2lb

J: Paul Mulrennan

T: David Menuisier

Her best efforts have come on soft ground or slower (unraced on good to soft) and she was soundly beaten in a Group 2 at Newmarket (1m1f, good) on her recent reappearance; however, she may have needed the run and last season's Group-race performances in France give her a leading shout.

3/1

Form: 82114- C

Last run: 178 days

W: 9st 2lb

5 yo Filly

OR: 96

Form & Verdict
Acts on any going; useful handicapper who ran respectably in Listed race at Newmarket on last appearance (has a good record there); won at this course as a 2yo; frame possibilities on the figures.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

3

(1)

28th Jun 2024

Standard

1m 2f 42y

Class 1

18:00 Newcastle (AW)

Madame Ambassador

9st 7lb

J: Joe Fanning

T: Charlie Johnston

Has won three of her last six starts including an Ayr Listed contest (1m2f, good) last month; ran well to finish fifth of 13 in a Haydock Group 3 (1m4f, good) 20 days ago and placed in both AW starts, but she may be vulnerable to a less-exposed type.

14/1

5th

4

(2)

8th Jun 2024

Good

1m 3f 175y

Class 1

15:00 Haydock

Madame Ambassador

9st 2lb

J: Joe Fanning

T: Charlie Johnston

in touch with leaders, short of room over 2f out, soon outpaced and lost position, rallied inside final furlong

8/1

1st

3

(6)

22nd May 2024

Good

1m 2f 0y

Class 1

15:20 Ayr

Madame Ambassador

9st 2lb

J: Joe Fanning

T: Charlie Johnston

Prominent-racer who won two handicaps in a row at Newmarket (1m2f, good/good to firm) last autumn before fair fourth of six in Listed race there (1m2f, heavy); below par in Goodwood Listed race (1m4f, soft) on return but could improve for that outing and is not ruled out.

5/1

Form: 15518- D

Last run: 200 days

W: 9st 2lb

4 yo Filly

OR: 86

Form & Verdict
Record of 2-7 for the Gosden stable, the wins gained at novice/handicap level; soundly beaten in Group 3 on last appearance and this looks another difficult assignment on ratings; debut for David O'Meara.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

6

(1)

23rd Jun 2024

Good

1m 4f 5y

Class 1

15:00 Pontefract

Never Ending

9st 2lb

J: Daniel Tudhope

T: David O’Meara

Solid performance in Haydock handicap (1m2f, soft) last month on second start for new stable, beating Doha who gave the form a big boost when winning at Royal Ascot on Wednesday; has won on good to firm; may be capable of further progress, provided she stays this new trip.

10/1

1st

2

(7)

24th May 2024

Good To Soft

1m 2f 42y

Class 4

16:55 Haydock

Never Ending

9st 9lb

J: Daniel Tudhope

T: David O’Meara

Ran seven times (in these colours) for the Gosdens, winning twice (1m/1m2f, good to firm/soft); soundly beaten fourth of six on stable and seasonal debut at Redcar (1m2f, soft) three weeks ago but may have needed the run and is not ruled out in a first-time tongue-tie.

13/2

1st

2

(7)

24th May 2024

Good To Soft

1m 2f 42y

Class 4

16:55 Haydock

Never Ending

9st 9lb

J: Daniel Tudhope

T: David O’Meara

Ran seven times (in these colours) for the Gosdens, winning twice (1m/1m2f, good to firm/soft); soundly beaten fourth of six on stable and seasonal debut at Redcar (1m2f, soft) three weeks ago but may have needed the run and is not ruled out in a first-time tongue-tie.

13/2

Form: 5250-4

Last run: 29 days

W: 9st 2lb

4 yo Filly

OR: 98

Form & Verdict
Acts on soft; useful filly whose form last season included creditable efforts at Royal Ascot (Group 2) and Hamilton (Listed); faced stiff task against some smart males on reappearance and this is easier.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

3

(6)

27th Sep 2024

Good

1m 4f 0y

Class 1

14:25 Newmarket

Sea Of Roses

9st 5lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Andrew Balding

Seventh attempt at a Listed race saw her finally win one at Windsor (11.4f, soft) five weeks ago, switching to front-running in a small field and holding on by a neck; now searches for her Group-race breakthrough (she's run in six) and she has each-way claims.

5/1

1st

3

(5)

24th Aug 2024

Good To Firm

1m 3f 99y

Class 1

18:15 Windsor

Sea Of Roses

9st 2lb

J: Hayley Turner

T: Andrew Balding

took keen hold, made all, switched to far side over 2f out, pushed along over 1f out, faced challenges inside final furlong, just did enough

8/1

3rd

5

(5)

14th Aug 2024

Good To Firm

1m 1f 201y

Class 1

16:30 Salisbury

Sea Of Roses

9st 4lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Andrew Balding

Hasn't been able to win at Group/Listed level (0-12) since winning a maiden at two but posted a peak RPR when third of 14 in 1m2f Newcastle Group 3 last time; that entitles her to serious consideration back in a Listed race.

4/1

Abandoned

Form: 17088- C

Last run: 121 days

W: 9st 2lb

5 yo Filly

OR: 90

Form & Verdict
Successful in three handicaps on soft ground last season; limitations exposed in Listed grade subsequently, albeit mostly on AW; still needs to prove she's up to this level, regardless of sphere.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

(8)

30th Sep 2024

Good To Soft

1m 1f 35y

Class 3

15:35 Hamilton

Zarabanda

9st 11lb

J: Daniel Tudhope

T: David O’Meara

Course winner who comes here in good form, fourth of nine in 1m2f Chester handicap 16 days ago; she ought to be thereabouts eased 1lb.

9/2

4th

4

(3)

14th Sep 2024

Heavy

1m 2f 70y

Class 3

16:05 Chester

Zarabanda

9st 7lb

J: Ben Robinson

T: David O’Meara

Useful mare who won three times on soft ground last year; often highly tried this year but creditable fourth back in a handicap at Haydock (1m2f, good to soft) last week; reasons to think she'll run well but Stressfree is still the more appealing of the yard's pair.

9/1

4th

1

(1)

5th Sep 2024

Good To Soft

1m 2f 42y

Class 3

16:50 Haydock

Zarabanda

10st 1lb

J: Daniel Tudhope

T: David O’Meara

Mixed form in Listed races on last three starts but she was a creditable fourth at York two runs ago (1m2f, good to firm) and she's won three of her eight handicaps (all on soft); interesting now back in a handicap.

12/1

Verdict

Class-dropper HEARTACHE TONIGHT appears to have the best chance, assuming her French form is transferred back to British soil at the second attempt. Ching Shih (second choice) and Sea Of Roses look the biggest dangers.[Steve Boow]