October 02 / 15.10 Nottingham

15.10

Soft

Grassroots Series Final Nursery Handicap

  • Prize money: £16200
  • 0m 6f 18y
  • Class 2
  • 6 runners
RTV
View Course
Grassroots Series Final Nursery Handicap

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

OUR TIP

Abandoned

Form: 179027 D

Last run: 19 days

W: 9st 9lb

2 yo Colt

OR: 79

Form & Verdict
Made all when a 6f maiden winner (good) at Hamilton in June; faced a couple of tough tasks in nurseries before his best effort so far, when going close back at Hamilton (6f, heavy) last month; well below that level at Doncaster (6f, good) latest; can be involved if bringing his 'A' game.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

9

(2)

13th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 0y

Class 5

15:45 Beverley

Shazani

9st 4lb

J: Lewis Edmunds

T: Roy Bowring

Made all and held on in tenacious fashion at Doncaster (6f, good to firm) 12 days ago; handily drawn but he faces competition for the lead on what is only the second 5f start of his career.

9/2

1st

4

(5)

1st Aug 2026

Good To Firm

0m 6f 2y

Class 5

18:00 Doncaster

Shazani

9st 8lb

J: Jack Gilligan

T: Roy Bowring

Won the Legends Classified Stakes here (1m; 40-1) last September; knocking on the door over 7f here (23) in recent times; competitively weighted from an unchanged mark, and a danger to all if allowed uncontested lead back at 6f.

4/1

3rd

5

(4)

26th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 6y

Class 5

11:45 Doncaster

Shazani

9st 5lb

J: Alistair Rawlinson

T: Roy Bowring

Broadly inconsistent but his form at Doncaster features a success in last year's Leger Legends race and resurgent effort behind Bella Bisbee in latest start; better off with that rival and due to go back up 1lb in future.

7/2

Form: 1337

Last run: 32 days

W: 9st 7lb

2 yo Gelding

OR: 77

Form & Verdict
Won a Leicester maiden (5f, soft) on debut; bettered that in a Sandown novice event (6f, good to firm) but wasn't able to recapture that form in both a novice event and a nursery in August; more needed.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

(5)

3rd Jul 2025

Standard To Slow

0m 6f 0y

Class 5

20:08 Kempton (AW)

Blewburton

9st 6lb

J: Robert Havlin

T: Marco Botti

Still to add to his debut win but he has finished second in handicaps the last twice, over C&D and then at Lingfield (6f, AW); shouldn't be far away off the same mark as last time.

5/1

3

(7)

5th Jun 2025

Standard

0m 6f 1y

Class 5

14:50 Lingfield (AW)

Blewburton

9st 8lb

J: Warren Fentiman

T: Marco Botti

Best effort for a while when chasing home Ballsgrove Boy at Kempton four weeks ago; slightly better off at the weights but looks more exposed than his old adversary.

8/1

3

(7)

5th Jun 2025

Standard

0m 6f 1y

Class 5

14:50 Lingfield (AW)

Blewburton

9st 8lb

J: Warren Fentiman

T: Marco Botti

Best effort for a while when chasing home Ballsgrove Boy at Kempton four weeks ago; slightly better off at the weights but looks more exposed than his old adversary.

8/1

Abandoned

Form: 244512

Last run: 12 days

W: 9st 4lb

2 yo Colt

OR: 74

Form & Verdict
Raced prominently when a soft-ground winner at Carlisle (6f; blinkered) last month; took a bit more persuasion when keeping on for second at Ayr (6f, good) latest, his best effort to date; up another 2lb; respected.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

9

(1)

21st Aug 2026

Good

0m 6f 6y

Class 4

19:15 Hamilton

Stirrup Cup

9st 7lb

J: David Allan

T: Tim Easterby

Resumed winning ways at Carlisle (6f) and not seen to ideal effect with fifth of eight over C&D later in June; this C&D scorer can't be discounted in refitted cheekpieces after a break.

12/1

Form: 643346

Last run: 19 days

W: 9st 4lb

2 yo Colt

OR: 74

Form & Verdict
0-7 but had been putting in some consistent efforts in defeat until racing freely in first-time blinkers at Doncaster (6f, good) latest; they've now been discarded and the next new challenge for him is soft ground; each-way player if he handles it.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

14

(13)

29th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 0y

Class 2

14:00 Goodwood

Rare Change

8st 5lb

J: Gina Mangan

T: Richard Hughes

Lost chance by blowing the start last time; prevailed narrowly off 1lb lower in Class 4 event over C&D (soft) in June but needs to prove he has the required quality at this better level.

33/1

7th

3

(8)

16th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

0m 6f 0y

Class 3

18:45 Pontefract

Rare Change

9st 9lb

J: Cieren Fallon

T: Richard Hughes

Inconsistent but he won at Goodwood (7f, soft) in June and wasn't beaten far when seventh of 17 at York (7f, good to firm) last time; his career-best performance came when winning easily over C&D (good) last June and he's an intriguing candidate back here; capable of playing a leading role.

9/1

7th

14

(9)

10th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 0y

Class 3

14:10 York

Rare Change

8st 12lb

J: Finley Marsh

T: Richard Hughes

In fine form last spring, winning three times including over C&D; cheekpieces returned at Goodwood last month and he recorded a narrow soft-ground success; 2lb rise shouldn't handicap him out of things and faster ground should be beneficial.

14/1

Form: 553524

Last run: 21 days

W: 8st 13lb

2 yo Filly

OR: 69

Form & Verdict
Has been unable to make much improvement from her second start at Newbury (6f, good to soft) in July, though did go close in a Lingfield fillies' maiden (7f, AW) on her penultimate start; more needed.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

4

(4)

25th Oct 2024

Standard

0m 7f 36y

Class 6

15:56 Wolverhampton (AW)

Lillys Bet

9st 9lb

J: Marco Ghiani

T: William Knight

prominent on inner, lost position over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong

8/1

14th

19

(12)

5th Oct 2024

Soft

0m 6f 0y

Class 2

14:05 Newmarket

Lillys Bet

8st 2lb

J: Amie Waugh

T: William Knight

Has shown a consistent level of form in defeat over 6f/7f on turf/AW, but looks up against it in this company back on grass; hood removed.

66/1

Form: 7554

Last run: 56 days

W: 8st 6lb

2 yo Colt

OR: 62

Form & Verdict
Not devoid of ability in three maidens at double figure prices; 5-1 when racing prominently and just over 1l fourth on nursery debut at Kempton (6f, AW) in August; since gelded; drops 1lb; may yet look well treated.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

2

(3)

23rd Nov 2024

Standard

0m 5f 21y

Class 6

17:55 Wolverhampton (AW)

Eighteencaratgold

9st 9lb

J: Charles Bishop

T: Eve Johnson Houghton

in touch with leaders

9/2

3rd

2

(3)

23rd Nov 2024

Standard

0m 5f 21y

Class 6

17:55 Wolverhampton (AW)

Eighteencaratgold

9st 9lb

J: Charles Bishop

T: Eve Johnson Houghton

in touch with leaders

9/2

9th

6

(8)

9th Nov 2024

Standard

0m 6f 0y

Class 6

18:30 Chelmsford (AW)

Eighteencaratgold

9st 6lb

J: Charles Bishop

T: Eve Johnson Houghton

led

8/1

Verdict

An open contest in which Eve Johnson Houghton has two chances and the answer could be provided by one of them in EIGHTEENCARATGOLD. After a relatively quiet start, he showed more on his handicap debut and, having been gelded, may now be able to improve. Sturrup Cup could be a serious danger, while if Rare Change handles the ground, he should not be far away.[Jonathan Doidge]

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Blewburton

Telegraph:

Stirrup Cup

SPOTLIGHT:

Eighteencaratgold

TOPSPEED:

Shazani

The Sun:

Lilly's Bet

Daily Mail:

Eighteencaratgold

Daily Mirror:

Stirrup Cup

Daily Record:

Stirrup Cup

The Times:

Blewburton

The Guardian:

Blewburton

D Express:

Blewburton

The Star:

Blewburton

POSTDATA:

Shazani