By Charlie McCann
Decent flat card at Nottingham this afternoon and there is no significant rain forecast so conditions should be just on the soft side of good. There is a valuable juvenile Mile maiden and the form of Storm The Stars (3.00) neck defeat at the hands of Aloft at Newmarket earlier in the month was given a major boost when the winner finished second in the Group One Racing Post Trophy at the weekend. It should be noted that trainer William Haggas had won the previous two renewals of that Newmarket maiden and this Sea The Stars' colt will be tough to beat with that experience behind him.
The beautifully bred Golden Horn is an obvious danger on debut for John Gosden and William Buick and the market should be checked to see if there is any stable confidence.
The favourite (stablemate Fallen In Line) ran no race when Dubai Star (3.30) made a belated winning racecourse debut at Pontefract earlier in the month and the handicapper had a difficult task assessing the merit of that performance. On the face of it a mark an opening mark of 84 hardly looks lenient but he cost 170,000 Guineas as a yearling and could make up into a decent handicapper.
Lightning Spear has a similar profile; the colt won his maiden on his first start but that was back in August 2013 and, despite being by soft ground sire Pivotal, one could argue he is not guaranteed to act on soft ground taking his dam's influence.
Irish raider Dara Tango is a fascinating contender for the Stayers' Handicapper returning from a near two-year lay-off. Trainer Tony Martin is unlikely to have brought his dual-purpose animal across the Irish Sea for a day out but he is 8lbs out of the handicap and would not want any further rain.
You couldn't say the lightly-raced Nabatean (4.00) has been crying out for a step up in trip but trainer Andrew Balding obviously feels it is worth chancing as it will give him a lot more options next term if his son of Rock Of Gibraltar gets today's 1m 6f trip.
At Worcester few jockeys have made a better impression this term than Raymond O'Brien who is excellent value for his 3lb claim and can cause a shock with It's A Doddle (3.50) who is overlooked by AP McCoy in favour of El Macca, also in the colours of JP McManus, for Rebecca Curtis. The selection fell on his last couple of starts last season but showed enough to suggest he could take a hand off his current mark.
A good card at Punchestown where the rain arrived on Tuesday and Shanahan's Turn (3.05) is expected to make a winning chase debut for the new partnership of Henry De Bromhead and Jonathan Burke. The selection won his point-to-point by a distance and ran well in defeat at both the Cheltenham and Punchestown Festivals over timber. Chasingwas always going to be his game, however, and whilst he will get further in time the hope is that this imposing sort can get his fencing career off to a winning start.
Baby Whizz (3.35) failed to cope with the drop back to the minimum trip last time and will appreciate the return to 2m 4f. The selection is still 6lb better off over fences than timber. Kilmurry Kid is likely to ensure there is plenty of pace in the race and that should suit the selection. Mr Fiftyone (2.35) lost his way for Jessica Harrington over timber last season but he is taken to make a winning debut over fences for the yard; first time out might be the time to catch him.
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