An excellent midweek card from Nottingham this afternoon including the return of the exciting lightly-raced 5-year-old Pearl Secret (3.40) last seen running a blinder when third at Royal Ascot back in June in the Group 1 King's Stand Stakes. The selection goes well fresh, will enjoy the ground and really should make a winning reappearance although Tom Dascombe's Fine ‘n Dandy is one to watch out for later on in the season.
The feature race is the listed Further Flight Stakes named in honour of Barry Hills' grey stayer and the race has been won by some good sorts in the past. Continuum has been gelded and sold by Prince Khalid Abdullah for 240,000 Guineas over the winter and is a fascinating contender although his long term future may lie over hurdles. Biographer will enjoy the ground but Ryan Moore is booked for High Jinx (4.10) and he gets the nod although this 1m 6f trip is on the sharp side for him.
Trainer James Fanshawe has made a good start to the season and the selection finished 2 lengths in front of Biographer at Doncaster (2m 2f) back in September and the pair meet on the same terms this afternoon.
The opening Mile Maiden (Division I) promises to throw up a number of future winners with Art Of War, She's Gorgeous and the newcomers Slemy and Sacred Act worth more than a passing interest. The selection however is Fast Delivery (2.10) fourth at Doncaster on debut in a race that is working out very well. The fact that he went off favourite for that hot contest suggests he had been showing plenty at home and he is currently 66/1 at BetVictor to emulate his sire Authorized and win the Derby in June.
There was plenty of market support for Romsdal (6.00 Kempton) at Doncaster on debut and he ran very well finishing third behind a pair of more experienced rivals. His dam was placed over 1m 6f so this slight step up in trip should suit with that experience behind him and I would be disappointed if he couldn't break his maiden at the second attempt.
Luca Cumani had his 65th birthday earlier in the week and the Newmarket handler has a couple of good opportunities for a belated birthday present including with the once-raced Don'T (6.30) who bids to maintain her unbeaten record having caused a 25/1 shock on debut over C&D back in October. That race was run at a very steady gallop and she did very well in the circumstances to get up close home.
The 12f Handicap later in the card is a terrific little contest with a number of the runners stepping up in trip on their handicap debut including Coastal Storm and Mushala but I thought there was more to come from hat-trick seeking Enquiring (7.00) last time and a 2lb rise looks fair especially with the step up in trip likely to suit.
White Nile and Argent Knight make their all-weather debuts in the feature 2 mile Handicap which promises to be a belter. Top-weight Noble Silk comes into the race on the back of an excellent second to Castilo Del Diablo and he has never finished out of the first three in seven starts on polytrack. He is sure to run well but Poitin (7.30) has only been raised 3lbs for her win over C&D last time and that is negated by the claim of the excellent Oisin Murphy; that was her first start over 2m and she is open to further improvement at the trip.
For all the latest odds go to BetVictor.com
