Nottingham 5.30

 

A fair few fancy 3 year olds in this none of whom will have experienced the probable weather and underfoot conditions. 

 

AE Houseman, Deferred, Vega Sicilia and Tartan Chief are all potentially progressive 3 year Olds from big Yards but with Going and stamina concerns about all of them I think the one they all have to beat from the younger generation is Clive Cox's ASCENDING. ASCENDING has a win on soft ground at a mile and showed he gets 10 furlongs when runner up last time and in my mind is the one to beat here.

 

Gifted Ruler is upped in Class and Trip, First Officer is another who might not like to get its feet quite so wet and along with Eldrick Jones and Elenas Gift also may be stretched stamina wise in the Conditions. Dal Mallart looks like it may need a break after a solid season.

 

At bigger prices I think GLEN ESK is worth a small interest. Its got some decent form from last season, will have benefitted from a recent return after a short break and my only niggle is the handicap mark, but unlike many I think conditions will suit this one.

 

The pair who would have been sure fire selections but for the expected rain are STRAWMAN and THUNDERCLAP. The former looks very well handicapped, gets the trip and I'm still going to have a small investment in it for that reason in the event its not as soft as I fear. The latter won off 64, 70 and 76 last year, the final run was of Soft ground but the form this year has been poor. A mark of 84, that has reduced to 83 may be too high and a break of 125 is not ideal but this is a likeable type to TRACK forwards from today and I'll have a small nibble on it too as I really do think its a bit of a forgotten horse.