July 31 / 19.05 Leicester

19.05

Good To Firm

Melita Group Nursery Handicap

  • Prize money: £3663.8
  • 0m 5f 0y
  • Class 6
  • 8 runners
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Melita Group Nursery Handicap

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

5/1 (Won)

  • Win: £5.00
  • Place: £1.60

Form: 635

Last run: 11 days

W: 9st 8lb

2 yo Colt

OR: 64

Form & Verdict
He has run to a similar level in three turf maidens this summer; potential improver now handicapping but such progress is a necessity.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

8

(10)

30th Aug 2026

Soft

0m 5f 0y

Class 5

15:55 Beverley

Tees Aggregates

9st 7lb

J: Jack Nicholls

T: Adrian Nicholls

Successful off this mark at Catterick (5f, good to firm) in June but he hasn't beaten many home in three runs since; has a C&D win to his name but soft ground not sure to suit and others are safer.

20/1

10th

1

(8)

17th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 0y

Class 5

16:15 Catterick

Tees Aggregates

10st 0lb

J: Jack Garritty

T: Adrian Nicholls

Two of his four wins have come over C&D, the latest in June off a 2lb lower mark; come up short in two Class 4 runs since; not discounted back down in grade.

8/1

14th

12

(16)

25th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 0y

Class 4

13:30 York

Tees Aggregates

11st 4lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Adrian Nicholls

June win came in a small field at Catterick (5f) but he finished behind Kodiac Thriller when only seventh of nine at Ripon next time; well beaten on only run at York; bit to prove.

20/1

9/2

  • Place: £2.60

Form: 5763

Last run: 14 days

W: 8st 8lb

2 yo Filly

OR: 50

Form & Verdict
Had wind surgery prior to her nursery debut at Bath two weeks ago, a race in which she was short of room at a crucial stage; can do better and her yard won the corresponding event 12 months ago.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

11

(3)

17th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 0y

Class 5

16:15 Catterick

Cheerleader

8st 12lb

J: Andrew Mullen

T: Tina Jackson

Won a C&D handicap off this mark last May; close third at Ripon three weeks ago but that was a lowly 0-55 handicap; more required in this field.

7/1

3rd

1

(4)

27th Jul 2026

Good

0m 5f 0y

Class 6

20:40 Ripon

Cheerleader

9st 9lb

J: Warren Fentiman

T: Tina Jackson

Recorded a quickfire double at Redcar and Catterick in May last year; underwent her second bout of wind surgery prior to returning this summer with below-par efforts at Thirsk and Pontefract, but back on her last winning mark so cannot dismiss.

7/2

4th

10

(5)

7th Jul 2026

Good

0m 5f 3y

Class 5

16:48 Pontefract

Cheerleader

9st 1lb

J: Joanna Mason

T: Tina Jackson

Won her first two starts for the yard in May last year, but her form since then has been uneven; well held on last month's Thirsk return (5f, good; first start since a second wind operation) and she needs to improve on that.

16/1

OUR TIP

10/1

  • Place: £2.40

Form: 256

Last run: 18 days

W: 9st 10lb

2 yo Filly

OR: 66

Form & Verdict
She hasn't yet built on her Ripon debut (5f, soft) but this is an ease in grade and she's bred to be making an impact at this level; market can guide.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

10

(11)

1st Sep 2026

Standard

0m 6f 20y

Class 6

20:00 Wolverhampton (AW)

She Went Whoosh

8st 9lb

J: William Cox

T: Scott Dixon

1-38, the win gained over 5f at Lingfield (AW) in spring 2025; came second off her basement mark at Bath (5.7f, good to firm) in May but recent efforts have been disappointing.

33/1

9th

8

(1)

17th Aug 2026

Standard

0m 5f 21y

Class 6

19:40 Wolverhampton (AW)

She Went Whoosh

9st 9lb

J: Christian Howarth

T: Scott Dixon

Sole win from 37 starts came on the AW at Lingfield (5f) last April; runner-up at Bath (5.7f, good to firm) in May but she's struggled in four starts since; stablemate of Megaphone.

20/1

Form: 844

Last run: 18 days

W: 9st 0lb

2 yo Filly

OR: 56

Form & Verdict
Slight progress in each of his three runs this summer while leaving the impression better could be forthcoming; switch to nurseries provides a more realistic opening; shortlisted.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

4

(7)

1st Oct 2024

Standard

0m 6f 0y

Class 6

18:00 Newcastle (AW)

River Blackwater

9st 9lb

J: Daniel Tudhope

T: David O’Meara

Sole Tapeta effort, when springing a 25-1 surprise off a 5lb lower mark over 6f at Southwell, was a good bit better than any of her five turf efforts; one to consider back on the AW.

10/1

8th

7

(2)

16th Sep 2024

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 6

14:15 Thirsk

River Blackwater

9st 4lb

J: Mark Winn

T: David O’Meara

Showed improved form on AW debut (second handicap start, first run at 6f) when a 25-1 winner of a Southwell nursery last time; up 5lb; chance if reproducing that form if as good back on grass.

11/2

Form: 548

Last run: 32 days

W: 9st 11lb

2 yo Colt

OR: 67

Form & Verdict
The pick of his three runs came over C&D but that form doesn't look entirely convincing and the handicapper doesn't look to have taken any chances; market may tell a different story though.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

3

(7)

28th Aug 2026

Good

0m 5f 0y

Class 6

14:00 Ffos Las

Son Of Astar

9st 7lb

J: David Probert

T: Tony Carroll

Has won here on good ground but appreciates it softer, as he showed when going close over 5f at Chepstow three runs back; he's considered off a good mark.

7/1

7th

5

(5)

24th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 16y

Class 6

20:11 Chepstow

Son Of Astar

9st 0lb

J: George Wood

T: Tony Carroll

2lb lower than for the latest of three wins last year, but this season's form has been patchy and the suitability of ground faster than good is still to be established.

8/1

10th

1

(10)

13th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

0m 5f 10y

Class 6

14:30 Bath

Son Of Astar

9st 11lb

J: Jack Callan

T: Tony Carroll

Scored three times (including over C&D) in 2025; back to his best in refitted blinkers with head second of nine in 5f Chepstow handicap a week ago; up 3lb but holds very good claims with talented 3lb claimer Jack Callan up.

100/30

Form: 025424

Last run: 14 days

W: 9st 4lb

2 yo Filly

OR: 60

Form & Verdict
More exposed than her rivals but she's proven her merit in nurseries, finishing second off this mark at Catterick three weeks ago (5f, soft); surprising if there weren't a few in here capable of improving past her.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

7

(9)

18th Oct 2024

Standard

0m 6f 0y

Class 6

18:30 Newcastle (AW)

Stat Goddess

9st 5lb

J: Ryan Sexton

T: Craig Lidster

Exposed 12-race maiden but she's slipping down the weights and she wasn't beaten far over C&D 17 days ago; still to totally convince over this trip though.

8/1

5th

10

(2)

1st Oct 2024

Standard

0m 6f 0y

Class 6

18:00 Newcastle (AW)

Stat Goddess

9st 2lb

J: Shane Gray

T: Craig Lidster

Exposed maiden who started the bigger price of her trainer's pair when a well-held third behind Indy's Angel over C&D last Tuesday (first run beyond 5f); hard to find a reason why she'll turn things round.

12/1

3rd

4

(9)

24th Sep 2024

Standard

0m 6f 0y

Class 6

18:30 Newcastle (AW)

Stat Goddess

9st 7lb

J: Sam James

T: Craig Lidster

Ten-race maiden who has raced exclusively at 5f; runner-up a couple of times at Catterick but she's not progressing and hopes rest on the extra furlong having a positive effect; yard runs two.

10/1

10/1

Form: 04463

Last run: 38 days

W: 9st 9lb

2 yo Gelding

OR: 65

Form & Verdict
He doesn't appear to be straightforward and was a well-beaten last of three in a Ffos Las novice (5f, good to soft) last time; visor experiment quickly aborted; these connections won the corresponding race in 2022 and perhaps he'll show more on his nursery debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

2

(2)

6th Feb 2025

Standard

0m 4f 214y

Class 6

19:00 Southwell (AW)

Roysdelight

9st 9lb

J: Billy Loughnane

T: David Evans

in touch with leaders

10/1

6th

2

(2)

6th Feb 2025

Standard

0m 4f 214y

Class 6

19:00 Southwell (AW)

Roysdelight

9st 9lb

J: Billy Loughnane

T: David Evans

in touch with leaders

10/1

4/1

Form: 534

Last run: 57 days

W: 9st 9lb

2 yo Filly

OR: 65

Form & Verdict
Clear promise in her three runs in May-June while leaving the distinct impression we hadn't seen the best of her yet; looks to have been let in lightly into nurseries and she's an intriguing contender, for all fast ground will be a new experience.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

8

(1)

5th Jun 2026

Good

0m 5f 160y

Class 5

18:40 Bath

Emporess

9st 1lb

J: William Carson

T: Tony Carroll

Scored over C&D on heavy in October 2024 and recorded her second win, at Windsor (6f, soft), last September; below that form on her two subsequent starts last year and watching brief advised on this reappearance unless the ground turns in her favour.

16/1

10th

7

(10)

9th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

0m 5f 160y

Class 5

16:47 Bath

Emporess

9st 3lb

J: William Carson

T: Tony Carroll

Took a C&D nursery (heavy) this time last year and September's Windsor score reaffirmed her greater effectiveness on slow ground, so largely drying forecast not ideal; back down 2lb now unpenalised again, at least.

16/1

9th

12

(10)

8th Sep 2025

Soft

0m 6f 12y

Class 4

17:34 Windsor

Emporess

9st 1lb

J: William Carson

T: Tony Carroll

Seems ideally suited by testing ground, winning a nursery on heavy last season and running her best race for her new stable when powering home over C&D last week (soft); penalty demands more but she's coming here at the top of her game and that doesn't apply to several of her rivals.

5/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £41.30
Straight Forecast £42.75
Tricast £374.08
Trifecta £285.70

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Emporess

The Guardian:

River Blackwater

The Star:

Cheerleader

POSTDATA:

She Went Whoosh

Daily Mirror:

River Blackwater

RP RATINGS:

Emporess

The Times:

Emporess

Telegraph:

Emporess

Daily Mail:

Emporess

D Express:

Emporess

The Sun:

Emporess

Daily Record:

Cheerleader