Tees Aggregates

Nicholls picked him up at the breeze-ups — a kind of auction where young horses are assessed by how fast they move — and the horse showed promise immediately. He was unlucky on debut at Doncaster, getting bumped and knocked sideways but still battling on to finish, which is exactly the kind of toughness trainers love to see. Nicholls was confident enough afterwards to say publicly that he expected the horse to win soon, and he was right. The first win came at Leicester in July 2024, followed by a second at Beverley in August 2025, suggesting a horse who shows up in the summer months.

The ground matters a great deal here. On fast, dry ground Tees Aggregates has won 3 of 9 races — that's 1 in 3, which is a remarkable conversion rate and tells you this is a horse who transforms on a dry track. On other ground, the wins dry up almost entirely. Any time the forecast shows sunshine and firm conditions, he becomes a very different proposition.

Jockey Harrison Shaw has developed a clear partnership with the horse, winning 2 of their 8 races together — 1 in 4, which is well above the horse's overall average. Shaw has also worked out what makes him tick. After a run at Catterick where Tees Aggregates pulled too hard and essentially burned himself out, Shaw took a different approach next time — settled him behind other horses, let him travel into the race rather than fight it, and the horse responded by finding plenty when it mattered. Small tactical adjustments, but the difference between a midfield finish and a win.

The last six runs have produced no victories, and the most recent win is now ten months ago. But Nicholls's yard has sent out 12 winners this season and is clearly in decent form. With summer approaching, dry ground on the way, and a jockey who knows exactly how to ride him, Tees Aggregates is the kind of horse worth keeping an eye on.