July 05 / 15.05 Sandown

15.05

Good To Firm

Davies Group Handicap

  • Prize money: £12885
  • 0m 5f 10y
  • Class 2
  • 6 runners
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Davies Group Handicap

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

10/1 (Won)

  • Win: £5.50
  • Place: £2.40

Form: -18580 D

Last run: 19 days

W: 9st 4lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 94

Form & Verdict
Hasn't shone the last twice but it was a Listed race the first time and at Thirsk most recently his low draw was a negative; now 5lb lower than when creditable fifth of 17 at York (5f, good) in May and not written off.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

(5)

27th Sep 2025

Good To Soft

0m 5f 0y

Class 2

14:05 Haydock

Tees Spirit

9st 1lb

J: Rowan Scott

T: Adrian Nicholls

Capable 5f performer on his day but has not made the frame in six runs this year; a slow start meant he couldn't adopt his usual front-running tactics at York five weeks ago, and his mark is tumbling, but he's risky.

20/1

19th

4

(18)

20th Aug 2025

Good To Firm

0m 5f 89y

Class 2

13:50 York

Tees Spirit

9st 5lb

J: Jack Nicholls

T: Adrian Nicholls

Smart front-runner on his day; the handicapper took a dim view of his Beverley win last September and he has found it tough going this time around, including at Redcar 11 days ago after a wind op; he is well handicapped again now though and should have a big run in him if his high draw proves no hindrance.

40/1

8/1

  • Place: £2.70

Form: 65007- D

Last run: 272 days

W: 8st 11lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 87

Form & Verdict
Well handicapped on last year's best efforts and it's possible a break will have helped; however, his form went the wrong way towards the end of last season, with slow starts being a problem; something to prove on return.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

13

(9)

13th May 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 42y

Class 3

14:40 Yarmouth

Existent

8st 10lb

J: Jack Nicholls

T: Stuart Williams

Ended a lengthy losing run at Southwell in January and posted a respectable effort at Newmarket (5f, good) last month; however, he was down the field at Ascot (5f, good to firm) 12 days ago and is now just 1-46 on turf; others preferred.

20/1

14th

15

(16)

1st May 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 0y

Class 4

16:20 Ascot

Existent

9st 1lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Stuart Williams

Ended a lengthy losing run at Southwell in January and he is just 1lb higher today; solid effort at Newmarket 17 days ago when not ideally positioned; each-way claims at a track where he has run well in much better races than this one.

12/1

4th

8

(6)

14th Apr 2026

Good

0m 5f 0y

Class 3

15:35 Newmarket

Existent

8st 6lb

J: Hollie Doyle

T: Stuart Williams

Close call in a Group 3 here in 2022 and deserves so much better than his very modest turf strike-rate, given how many fine races he continues to run in defeat, such as when going down narrowly to both Rosario and Regal Envoy on different 5f runs (good and good to firm) last May; some cold comfort that he won on AW in January but tough to support for the win.

10/1

OUR TIP

Form: 105-05 D

Last run: 41 days

W: 10st 0lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 104

Form & Verdict
9yo who was below best in Meydan last winter and same story on last month's British return at Salisbury; however, he's spent the vast majority of his career in Group/Listed races and it very much catches the eye that's he 3-3 in handicaps, the latest at York last August when 1lb higher; respected.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

5

(10)

22nd Feb 2025

Standard

0m 4f 214y

Class 1

14:40 Southwell (AW)

Equilateral

9st 2lb

J: Cieren Fallon

T: Charles Hills

taken down early, in rear, brief headway over 1f out, no impression

10/1

5th

1

(2)

25th Jan 2025

Standard

0m 5f 21y

Class 2

17:50 Wolverhampton (AW)

Equilateral

9st 9lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Charles Hills

took keen hold, in touch with leaders

100/30

5th

1

(2)

25th Jan 2025

Standard

0m 5f 21y

Class 2

17:50 Wolverhampton (AW)

Equilateral

9st 9lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Charles Hills

took keen hold, in touch with leaders, headway on outer over 1f out, weakened final 110yds

100/30

7/2

Form: -12513 D

Last run: 7 days

W: 8st 13lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 89

Form & Verdict
Won with these cheekpieces back on at Windsor (5f, good to firm) last month and creditable third of 13 at Newcastle (5f, AW) last Friday off this 2lb higher mark; can give another good account and could be in the shake-up.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

(12)

2nd Nov 2024

Standard

0m 6f 16y

Class 3

18:50 Southwell (AW)

Navello

9st 3lb

J: Grace McEntee

T: George Boughey

Latest run at Nottingham is easy to forgive (unsuitable ground) and he had recorded a career-best RPR when winning at Wolverhampton (5f) on his penultimate start; no issue with 6f but 5f is possibly his optimum.

20/1

7

(12)

2nd Nov 2024

Standard

0m 6f 16y

Class 3

18:50 Southwell (AW)

Navello

9st 3lb

J: Grace McEntee

T: George Boughey

in rear, eased and pulled up over 4f out

20/1

7th

2

(3)

16th Oct 2024

Soft

0m 5f 8y

Class 3

16:50 Nottingham

Navello

9st 9lb

J: Grace McEntee

T: George Boughey

prominent

11/1

2/1

Form: 503821 CD

Last run: 34 days

W: 9st 4lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 94

Form & Verdict
Back to form when going close at Goodwood (5f, good) in May, then went one better at Epsom (5f, good to soft), both under Joe Leavy; remains 2lb lower than when winning this race last year (good; sole course visit) and he's won on fast ground in the past; ticks lots of boxes.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

8

(7)

22nd May 2026

Soft

0m 5f 0y

Class 3

17:27 Goodwood

Dream Composer

9st 3lb

J: Dougie Costello

T: Tony Carroll

Regained the winning thread at Ripon (5f, good) on stable/seasonal debut when 5lb lower and rider took off 7lb; this seems a harder task but he remains well treated on peak form and is a dual winner at Goodwood; enters calculations.

9/2

1st

5

(1)

25th Apr 2026

Good

0m 5f 0y

Class 2

16:10 Ripon

Dream Composer

8st 10lb

J: Myla Coppins

T: Tony Carroll

Ten-time winner down the years for James Evans; drew a blank in 2025 but runner-up twice off marks in the 90s, including reappearance, so well treated starting out for Tony Carroll (same owners); interesting to see what the betting makes of him.

14/1

2

(7)

20th Oct 2025

Good

0m 5f 3y

Class 4

17:08 Pontefract

Dream Composer

9st 10lb

J: Tom Marquand

T: James Evans

Won over C&D (good to firm) last August and twice went close over C&D earlier this year (good); versatile ground-wise; he's gone off the boil more recently but perhaps the first-time blinkers (replacing cheekpieces) and the return to this track will prompt a revival; on a reduced mark.

12/1

Form: 136-55 CD

Last run: 13 days

W: 9st 1lb

3 yo Filly

OR: 96

Form & Verdict
Three 2yo wins last year, including C&D novice (good to soft) and Deauville Listed (5f, very soft); she's been a fair fifth in Listed races on her two starts this year (heavy/good to firm) but needs something extra now making her first handicap start off a lofty mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

4

(1)

5th Jul 2024

Good To Firm

0m 5f 10y

Class 2

15:05 Sandown

Graceful Thunder

9st 1lb

J: William Buick

T: George Boughey

Three 2yo wins last year, including C&D novice (good to soft) and Deauville Listed (5f, very soft); she's been a fair fifth in Listed races on her two starts this year (heavy/good to firm) but needs something extra now making her first handicap start off a lofty mark.

9/2

5th

9

(1)

22nd Jun 2024

Good To Firm

0m 5f 0y

Class 1

18:25 Ayr

Graceful Thunder

9st 0lb

J: Kieran O’Neill

T: George Boughey

Three wins as a 2yo, notably a Listed win in France last August (5f, very soft; Gaenari back in second); fifth of 12 in a Chantilly Listed race on her return in March (5.5f, heavy); stable can do little wrong at present but it could be that she would prefer slower ground.

5/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £24.30
Straight Forecast £23.41
Trifecta £130.50

Selections

POSTDATA:

Navello

The Times:

Equilateral

SPOTLIGHT:

Dream Composer

RP RATINGS:

Existent

NEWMARKET:

Graceful Thunder

Daily Mail:

Tees Spirit

The Guardian:

Navello

Daily Mirror:

Navello

The Star:

Navello

Daily Record:

Navello

The Sun:

Dream Composer

TOPSPEED:

Existent

Telegraph:

Equilateral

D Express:

Equilateral