Patrick Morris's yard at Prescott has clearly found Lessay's sweet spot. The horse was a late starter, not breaking his maiden until December 2023 at Kempton Park, but once he found a rhythm he has stayed sound and competitive. His most recent win came at Wolverhampton on 28 June, three months ago, and he raced just yesterday, which speaks to his durability. With David Nolan as his regular rider, however, things have not clicked — they have run together five times without a win — so there may be room for improvement with the right partnership.
The numbers reveal what makes Lessay tick. He absolutely thrives on soft, wet ground, winning 2 of 9 races in those conditions (22%), nearly double his overall win rate. Over his preferred distance of seven furlongs to a mile, he has won 4 of 30 races (13%), suggesting he is neither a sprinter nor a stayer but a miler at heart. He has also developed a rapport with Kempton Park, winning 2 of 9 races there, though he does not dominate the course. In Class 4 races, where he typically competes, he has won just once in 19 attempts (5%), which underlines that he is a hard-earned winning opportunity in small fields rather than a banker. Lessay is a horse for patience and wet-weather racing — not glamorous, but honest.
| Course | Races | Results | Last run | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newcastle Galloping |
11 | 1 second, 10 other | 25 Sep | 0% |
| Wolverhampton Galloping |
10 | 2 wins, 1 second, 2 thirds, 5 other | 28 Jun | 20% |
| Kempton Park Galloping |
9 | 2 wins, 3 seconds, 4 other | 15 Sep | 22.2% |
| Southwell Galloping |
6 | 6 other | 5 Feb | 0% |
| chelmsford | 3 | 1 third, 2 other | 11 Sep | 0% |
| Sandown Park Galloping |
2 | 2 other | 26 Jul | 0% |
| Ascot Galloping |
1 | 1 other | 6 Sep | 0% |
| Ffos Las Galloping |
1 | 1 third | 29 Aug | 0% |
| Goodwood Undulating |
1 | 1 other | 4 May | 0% |
| Chepstow Galloping |
1 | 1 other | 8 Aug | 0% |
| Lingfield Park Sharp |
1 | 1 other | 7 Mar | 0% |
| Great Yarmouth Galloping |
1 | 1 other | 22 May | 0% |