Nottingham hosts’ this afternoon’s stand-out fixture with Pleasant Valley (4.20) taken to land the feature fillies’ listed stakes over a mile and a quarter for Luca Cumani and Adam Kirby. The selection has progressed with both age and experience, putting her best foot forward last time out when bolting-up in a four runner handicap on her seasonal debut five weeks ago at Pontefract. The Shamardal filly’s handicap mark has been revised to a mark of 105, which has seen her upped in grade accordingly however her 5th in a similar contest when beaten 5l by subsequent group class fillies Hadaatha and Albasharah last term means she should go clos. Providing the ground isn’t too testing she boasts excellent claims.
Big Baz (3.50) can go close for William Muir in the feature handicap over an extended mile. The selection has been on the go for some time and was below his best last time but the recent rain will help take the sting out of the ground and he has a better draw than Homage who represents the yard of William Haggas whose string are in such outstanding form. Homage was a big disappointment at York on his reappearance but was considered the stable’s Hunt Cup horse at the start of the campaign. Don’t give up on him just yet, especially if the market speaks in his favour.
A competitive handicap over a mile and three quarters looks a potential minefield with Sir Mark Prescott’s Amour De Nuit a fascinating runner making his handicap debut from an opening mark of 69 and, should the money come, would be very dangerous under Luke Morris. David Simcock’s The Cashel Man (4.50) is well-treated for making a winning reappearance last time out at Redcar and can score again under Jim Crowley. The selection made a mockery of his opening mark of 63 and despite a 6lb penalty remains effectively still 3lb well in at the weights when his revised mark comes into effect at the weekend.
At Fontwell Gun Shy (2.40) can follow-up his lto success for the locally-based team of Gary and Jamie Moore. The gelding reverts back to novice company after scoring in a novices’ handicap chase last month at Towcester under Leighton Aspell and with relatively few miles on the clock, remains unexposed, and is open to further improvement.
Perfect Timing is sure to be popular in the handicap chase over two and three quarter miles after scoring just eight days ago at Newton Abbot, however Neil Mulholland’s 7-y-o benefitted from the race falling apart in front him and Forever My Friend (3.40) gets the nod for the team of Peter and Sean Bowen. The selection returns from a break of almost eight months however boasts an excellent record fresh, winning after a similar absence last term, and returns to the same mark when last getting his head in front at Worcester last June.
Ben Pauling’s horses are always dangerous when making their debut over the larger obstacles in Novices’ Handicap Chase company and his Born to Succeed (4.40) is a fascinating contender under David Bass. The selection has improved with every start and makes his debut handicapping from an opening mark of 102. He is significantly up in trip and would be of interest should the market speak in his favour.
An excellent field of ten go to post for the feature Rated Chase at Punchestown and Nicky Henderson‘s 145-rated French Opera a fascinating runner coming across in an attempt to plunder some prize-money. Willie Mullins‘ string are hardly in rude health by the King of Closutton’s standards and his Indevan is overlooked instead for Henry de Bromhead’s Darwins Fox (6.00). The selection was last seen finishing second at the Aintree Festival in a competitive 2m Handicap Chase, staying on strongly in the closing stage, and he 9-y-o should benefit for the step up in trip to record a 3rd career success over the larger obstacles.
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