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15:35 Nottingham
The first selection comes in a nursery where there are only six runners but it looks a fascinating contest.
Bathos has won his last four nurseries showing signs of improvement in every run. He now has to defy an 8lb rise and has to give weight to his rivals, which will make things a little tricky. You can’t discount his chances with the form he’s being showing and Joe Fanning is likely to get him out in front in a bid to make all like when fending off eight rivals at Newmarket last time. However Rioca made all when scoring at Ffos Las and if getting away on terms could take him on for the lead.
For me Dal Harraild has shaped with a great deal of promise and William Haggas’ juvenile got off the mark at Haydock when last on course 34 days ago. That performance showed he could be a useful performer next term and the way he asserted himself in the closing stages suggesting the step-up in trip should be ideal. A pedigree full of black type performers and in time he is very likely to be able to add to that. Tactically Pat Cosgrave is likely to try and settle him in behind Bathos, which could help this son of Champs Elysees.
Turn Tide is worthy of a mention after his win at Newcastle when beating King’s Pavilion. He, like Bathos, is having to give weight to his rivals which could make him vulnerable but this David Brown trained juvenile should remain competitive.
Dal Haraild (WIN)
16:10 Nottingham
We stay at Nottingham to take in their next race, which is a one-mile handicap. As things stand 17-runners are set to take their chance giving this race a good each-way shape.
Just Be Lucky was last seen running at Clonmel in May for Jim Bolger but will be having his first run for Ivan Furtado, who has shown himself to be a good trainer to recruit horses and getting them into the winners enclosure. He’s placed in all three of his maidens across the Irish Sea and looks set to run his race off this mark of 73. Furtado has also reached for the cheekpieces for the first time in hope to eek that bit extra out of him at the finish.
Dha Chara is quite an interesting runner after an absence of 130-days. He is yet to win but went close at Pontefract in a similar sort of race. He led before not finding extra close home to see him beaten by a head. After a break he should be fresh enough and Sarah Hollinshead has booked Rob Hornby, who takes 5lb off which gives him a chance in my book.
Fei Kuai looks the one to beat on paper. She got off the mark at Chepstow last time after hinting at promise in her previous run at Newmarket. The way she won suggested that the step back up to a mile would suit her and has experience in big fields, so this shouldn’t be a problem. Dutch Descent drops back into this class and his last win came in a class 5 handicap at Ayr, so he has claims based on this. He is only 2lb higher than that winning mark and this race could be run to suit. He found some form at Pontefract last time and could be the one to watch at a price.
Rocket Ronnie won very well at Hamilton when last seen. That was over the extended mile trip and he ran on strongly in the finish under Graham Lee, so Ed McMahon’s five-year-old has claims. The 4lb rise in the weights should be enough to stop him with how well he won. Mr Pickwick is the least exposed and James Fanshawe is a trainer in form with a strike rate at 33%. The drop back to a mile is one that is likely to suit with the way he didn’t see out his race last time and looks a strong contender
Dutch Descent (E/W)
18:25 Kempton
The last selection takes in Division One of this maiden over seven furlongs on the polytrack.
Lady Cecil’s Cabinet Room has had two starts both on the all-weather however he has been well beaten on both despite finishing second last time. He looks like there is a maiden in him but there is one I prefer to give the nod to over him.
Chester Street ran in a decent maiden at Leicester. The form figure of seventh doesn’t really tell the whole story in a bunched finish where he wasn’t beaten by far and shaped with promise. The winner Move Up has since won a nursery while the Column, who finished a place ahead has also won a maiden. The third Stargazer was second in a Salisbury maiden last week too. There’s a strong all-weather pedigree in him being a brother to Expect, who won on it as a juvenile plus he’s a half-brother to Don’t Touch, who has won the Great St Wilfrid and Ayr Gold Cup. He has plenty of potential and worthy of the vote here.
Archaic is quite interesting making his debut however Charlie Appleby’s juveniles have tended to require their first run this season, so is probably best watched. Frenchman is also unraced and is well-related being a half-brother to smart sprinter Pencil Hill and there will be plenty of speed from him therefore one to watch.
Chester Street (WIN)