September 23 / 14.43 Leicester

14.43

Good To Firm

Russell Gillett’s 60th Birthday Celebration Fillies’ Nursery Handicap

  • Prize money: £3663.8
  • 0m 6f 0y
  • Class 5
  • 10 runners
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Russell Gillett’s 60th Birthday Celebration Fillies’ Nursery Handicap

Runners: 10 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Rain

Form: 7305

Last run: 34 days

W: 9st 9lb

2 yo Filly

OR: 69

Form & Verdict
No apparent reason why she shouldn't be effective on turf; however, has recorded her clear best efforts in two AW attempts, latest on nursery debut; something to prove back in this sphere.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

(8)

23rd Jul 2025

Good To Soft

0m 6f 0y

Class 6

20:08 Leicester

Cristalino

9st 7lb

J: David Egan

T: Kevin Philippart De Foy

0-7 and she's not made an impact in four AW handicaps (6f/7f); mark continues to fall but she needs to raise her game on this return to turf.

9/1

1

(6)

19th Feb 2025

Standard To Slow

0m 7f 0y

Class 6

18:00 Kempton (AW)

Cristalino

9st 9lb

J: Warren Fentiman

T: Kevin Philippart De Foy

Promising third in a 6f novice here last July but she's not gone on from that and was down the field in nurseries in her final three runs last year; returns after a short break and she needs improvement back up in trip.

10/1

4th

3

(3)

31st Dec 2024

Standard

0m 6f 1y

Class 5

12:44 Lingfield (AW)

Cristalino

9st 6lb

J: David Probert

T: Kevin Philippart De Foy

Yet to achieve much in two nurseries but she's dropped 5lb as a result and possible this well-bred filly will do better at some point.

9/1

Form: 02384

Last run: 11 days

W: 9st 9lb

2 yo Filly

OR: 69

Form & Verdict
Went close at Kempton (AW) in June but has regressed since and the fitting of blinkers had no effect last time; now goes in visor; not guaranteed to run to her mark on handicap debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

5

(3)

26th Feb 2025

Standard To Slow

0m 7f 0y

Class 6

16:55 Kempton (AW)

Mystical Elegance

9st 5lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Simon Hodgson

Form has been going the wrong way for a while now; gets a good jockey booking, but otherwise hard to fancy.

16/1

8th

8

(8)

3rd Feb 2025

Standard

0m 7f 36y

Class 6

17:30 Wolverhampton (AW)

Mystical Elegance

9st 2lb

J: Jack Mitchell

T: Simon Hodgson

Well beaten in three 6f handicaps for new yard this winter; cheekpiece experiment quickly aborted; down in the weights and the return to 7f could help.

25/1

8th

8

(8)

3rd Feb 2025

Standard

0m 7f 36y

Class 6

17:30 Wolverhampton (AW)

Mystical Elegance

9st 2lb

J: Jack Mitchell

T: Simon Hodgson

Well beaten in three 6f handicaps for new yard this winter; cheekpiece experiment quickly aborted; down in the weights and the return to 7f could help.

25/1

OUR TIP

Abandoned

Form: 543

Last run: 18 days

W: 9st 8lb

2 yo Filly

OR: 68

Form & Verdict
Form figures of 543 reflect that she's steadily getting the hang of things, keeping-on third at Wolverhampton (6f, AW) most recently; commands respect, assuming she's able to sustain the progress.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

3

(2)

26th Jun 2025

Good To Firm

0m 6f 18y

Class 5

15:57 Nottingham

Forteleza

9st 9lb

J: Luke Morris

T: Archie Watson

Had a wide draw but still went close at Wolverhampton last month (6f), as she did in a Redcar nursery last season; well held at Goodwood since then but needs considering with blinkers on for cheekpieces.

7/1

8th

2

(5)

13th Jun 2025

Good

0m 6f 0y

Class 5

19:15 Goodwood

Forteleza

9st 8lb

J: William Cox

T: Archie Watson

Found to be in season when closing out last year with a poor one and has had a couple of wide stalls to deal with this spring, including when going close from the front at Wolverhampton last time; nudged up 2lb but is one to consider.

6/1

2nd

6

(11)

19th May 2025

Standard

0m 6f 20y

Class 5

20:00 Wolverhampton (AW)

Forteleza

9st 8lb

J: William Cox

T: Archie Watson

Placed twice as a 2yo, including C&D, and she made a satisfactory seasonal return when sixth at Windsor three weeks ago; drawn wide here though and may need some more weight off her back.

12/1

Abandoned

Form: 105 D

Last run: 75 days

W: 9st 8lb

2 yo Filly

OR: 68

Form & Verdict
Last-gasp success at Brighton (6f, good to firm) on debut; subsequently well beaten in Listed event and modest fifth in soft-ground nursery; not fully sure what to expect from her.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

10

(13)

2nd Nov 2025

Heavy

0m 7f 0y

13:55 Curragh

Miss Nifty

9st 3lb

J: Yudish Geerdharry

T: Ms Sheila Lavery

On yard debut took a 1m2f Naas handicap under today's rider in June and ended a poor run of form with unlucky nose defeat by Longseoir over C&D last month, not clear run and allowing winner first run before running on really strongly at the finish; good chance of overturning that form give a clearer run if handling conditions.

13/2

2nd

10

(13)

2nd Nov 2025

Heavy

0m 7f 0y

13:55 Curragh

Miss Nifty

9st 3lb

J: Yudish Geerdharry

T: Ms Sheila Lavery

On yard debut took a 1m2f Naas handicap under today's rider in June and ended a poor run of form with unlucky nose defeat by Longseoir over C&D last month, not clear run and allowing winner first run before running on really strongly at the finish; good chance of overturning that form give a clearer run if handling conditions.

13/2

2nd

10

(13)

2nd Nov 2025

Heavy

0m 7f 0y

13:55 Curragh

Miss Nifty

9st 3lb

J: Yudish Geerdharry

T: Ms Sheila Lavery

On yard debut took a 1m2f Naas handicap under today's rider in June and ended a poor run of form with unlucky nose defeat by Longseoir over C&D last month, not clear run and allowing winner first run before running on really strongly at the finish; good chance of overturning that form give a clearer run if handling conditions.

13/2

Form: 457

Last run: 51 days

W: 9st 6lb

2 yo Filly

OR: 66

Form & Verdict
Thrice-raced filly who has regressive results over 5f (debut was encouraging); however, this combination of new trip and switch to handicap level may well prompt a turnaround; shortlisted.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

11

(5)

21st Jul 2025

Good

0m 7f 50y

Class 6

15:00 Ayr

Summer Of Light

9st 4lb

J: Dylan Hogan

T: Denis Quinn

Disappointing in two starts since joining this yard but blinkers now go on, she's well handicapped on some of her form and rain would be welcomed.

33/1

12th

1

(8)

9th Apr 2025

Standard To Slow

0m 7f 0y

Class 6

19:40 Kempton (AW)

Summer Of Light

9st 9lb

J: Fred Daly

T: Denis Quinn

Lost her way for Michael Wigham and didn't do enough when starting out for Denis Quinn off a break at Lingfield 12 days ago to warrant backing here; hood removed.

25/1

Form: 3559

Last run: 43 days

W: 9st 5lb

2 yo Filly

OR: 65

Form & Verdict
Close third in Kempton AW contest in April; has failed to repeat that form on turf since, finishing last in 7f nursery here most recently; looks far from solid.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

2

(3)

21st Oct 2024

Standard

0m 6f 16y

Class 6

18:45 Southwell (AW)

Washington Dancer

9st 6lb

J: P J McDonald

T: David Evans

Close third on her debut (5f, Polytrack) in April; struggled in three turf runs since, tailed off on nursery debut latest (7f, good to firm); hopes pinned on the return to AW sparking a revival.

16/1

9th

2

(4)

11th Aug 2024

Good To Firm

0m 7f 0y

Class 6

14:00 Leicester

Washington Dancer

9st 11lb

J: David Probert

T: David Evans

sweating, took keen hold, prominent

10/1

Abandoned

Form: 135904

Last run: 28 days

W: 9st 3lb

2 yo Filly

OR: 63

Form & Verdict
Won on AW in April then ran well in the Lily Agnes at Chester, both over 5f; form subsequently dipped until showing signs of a revival last time; could go well off this reduced mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

11

(8)

25th Sep 2024

Good

0m 5f 217y

Class 5

14:10 Redcar

Lady Lightning

9st 4lb

J: Silvestre De Sousa

T: Ed Dunlop

slowly away

20/1

4th

1

(5)

26th Aug 2024

Good To Soft

0m 5f 16y

Class 6

14:25 Chepstow

Lady Lightning

9st 11lb

J: Tom Marquand

T: Ed Dunlop

Made a flying start when winning at Wolverhampton (5f), then third of nine at Chester (good); form has nosedived since, including in AW handicaps, but first-time blinkers might put her back on track.

11/1

Form: 621413 D BF

Last run: 35 days

W: 9st 3lb

2 yo Filly

OR: 63

Form & Verdict
Rested five weeks since Windsor defeat when likely feeling the effects of a busy spell; successful in nurseries in July/August (both 6f, good to firm) and the form has received a few boosts; still of interest.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

(3)

16th Sep 2025

Standard

0m 6f 20y

Class 6

18:30 Wolverhampton (AW)

Piranha Rama

9st 7lb

J: Joe Leavy

T: David Evans

7lb lower than when winning a Chelmsford nursery (6f, Polytrack) last November and 5lb lower than when second of 11 at Salisbury (6f, good to firm) in May, but she has disappointed since; others preferred.

9/1

8th

6

(2)

28th Jul 2025

Good

0m 6f 12y

Class 6

19:35 Windsor

Piranha Rama

9st 8lb

J: Lewis Edmunds

T: David Evans

Three 6f wins as a 2yo but she's blown hot and cold this year and has finished down the field in last three starts; on dangerous mark but losing run is now up to ten and others are more convincing; new headgear.

12/1

Form: 668

Last run: 21 days

W: 9st 2lb

2 yo Filly

OR: 62

Form & Verdict
Unable to land a blow in novice races, best effort when sixth at Goodwood (6f) on penultimate occasion; looks the type to do better in handicaps and is interesting, especially if the market speaks favourably.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

10

(8)

17th Jan 2025

Standard

1m 0f 13y

Class 5

19:00 Southwell (AW)

Empowered Queen

8st 12lb

J: Nicola Currie

T: Ollie Sangster

led

7/1

9th

10

(8)

17th Jan 2025

Standard

1m 0f 13y

Class 5

19:00 Southwell (AW)

Empowered Queen

8st 12lb

J: Nicola Currie

T: Ollie Sangster

led

7/1

4th

7

(4)

3rd Jan 2025

Standard

0m 7f 14y

Class 5

18:00 Southwell (AW)

Empowered Queen

9st 1lb

J: Nicola Currie

T: Ollie Sangster

Finished in the frame in all three nurseries late last year (demoted a place on penultimate start), going down by less than a length when fourth of 12 here (6f; first-time cheekpieces) last month; return to this trip may suit and she holds each-way claims.

7/1

Abandoned

Form: 0035

Last run: 33 days

W: 8st 9lb

2 yo Filly

OR: 55

Form & Verdict
Very easy to back in four outings, clear best effort when 25-1 third in Bath maiden (5.7f, firm) on penultimate; not a solid option and any further market weakness would be a negative.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

4

(8)

30th Mar 2026

Standard

1m 0f 142y

Class 6

20:00 Wolverhampton (AW)

Galette

9st 9lb

J: Rob Hornby

T: Jonathan Portman

Maiden who has raced mostly at up to 1m; back to form when third of ten in a 7f classified event here (first-time blinkers) in February but she's since run poorly at Lingfield; up against it at the weights.

50/1

7th

4

(1)

10th Feb 2026

Standard

1m 0f 1y

Class 6

14:18 Lingfield (AW)

Galette

9st 9lb

J: Rob Hornby

T: Jonathan Portman

16-race maiden with a basement BHA mark of 37; ran surprisingly well when an 80-1 third in a 7f classified race four days but she looked a tricky ride in the new blinkers.

20/1

3rd

1

(1)

6th Feb 2026

Standard

0m 7f 36y

Class 6

14:42 Wolverhampton (AW)

Galette

9st 9lb

J: Rob Hornby

T: Jonathan Portman

0-15 and hard to make a case for on recent efforts, even at this level; blinkers now given a go.

20/1

Verdict

The shortlist is headed by the interesting nursery debutantes FORTELEZA, Empowered Queen and Summer Of Light in that provisional order of preference, which is open to flexibility depending on the market signals. Piranha Rama and Lady Lightning look the most solid options among the fillies who already have handicap form.[Steve Boow]