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16:20 Nottingham We start with the Nottinghamshire Oaks and the Godolphin charge Dream Child looks set to go well as the top-rated filly in the field. She was 2nd to Miss Marjurie at Goodwood in the Daisy Warwick Stakes and Miss Marjurie held her form to win the Group 3 Pinnacle Stakes at Haydock on Saturday. Charlie Appleby’s filly wasn’t too far away from Miss Marjurie at Goodwood and comes her off the same mark. That 2nd was her best piece of form on turf as she has done most of her winning on the all-weather. A replication of that run should see her go fairly close in this race. She is stepping down in trip too, so is likely to follow usual tactics of being held up before mounting a late challenge. There are still quite a few that you can make cases for to challenge Dream Child. Groovejet will be running for the first time out of the David Morris yard after switching from Peter Chapple-Hyam. She was 2nd in the Park Hill Stakes back in September but her mark looks too high however she has shown form in Group company. Solar Magic and Pleasant Valley are other that arguments can be made for. The Gosden filly steps up to this trip for the first time and on pedigree should manage it being a half-sister to Group 1 winner Medicean. Pleasant Valley will have to improve on her 5th in a Listed race two starts ago before dropping in class to win a Class 3. Dream Child (E/W if 9/2+)
20:30 Punchestown For the second selection we take a trip over the Irish sea to Punchestown where we go jumping. Eight Till Late is an apt name considering there is still a selection to come plus his recent runs have been creditable. In April he beat Gordon Elliot’s Eshtiaal, who has recently racked up a quick fire hat-trick suggesting he beat a useful type. He won his last start well at Limerick and despite being 7lb higher for that success he looks a fairly progressive type and the one to be with in this contest. Lean And Keen returns to jumping after three runs on the flat and looks the most evident threat. At the backend of last season he showed he could be a smart type winning a maiden hurdle at Cork and beat Pyromaniac at Listowel. Pyromaniac has gone on to finish 3rd in the Supreme Hurdle at Cheltenham. Shutter Island was a useful 2nd last time out and could build on that effort. One to take note of is Somethingwonderful. He returns hurdling, where he was fairly consistent, after an unsuccessful and unhappy time over fences. He is off the same mark when he finished 2nd as Navan in a Handicap Hurdle. Gordon Elliot’s Seeyouallincoppers is likely to go off favourite after a consistent start to this season with form figures of 322. His latest 2nd was his narrowest defeat, only by a neck at Tramore. He is off the same mark as that run plus Jack Kennedy takes the ride and claims 7lb. Eight Till Late (E/W)
21:10 Ripon For the third selection we go back on the level at Ripon in the final race at the Yorkshire track and the penultimate race of the day. A 2m Handicap to finish where it is hard to look elsewhere than the in-form Politbureau running for Micky Hammond, who is having a good spell at the moment. From three starts on the flat this season he has won two and was 2nd by a head on the other. His Ayr win last time out was majorly convincing and the handicapper has put him up 8lb for that but he is the in-form horse who it looks will take some beating here stepping up in class. The Karl Burke horse Arcamante won last time out and has only gone up 2lb should go well building on that effort. Lady Yeats may need a bit more cut in the ground to be seen to her best as her two wins have come on good to soft ground while Tuscan Gold has been consistent without winning and would be expected to make the frame and possibly a 1-2 for Micky Hammond. Politbureau (WIN)