Hi all,
Nottingham
The best of today’s action is at Nottingham where the feature race is the Listed British EBF Nottinghamshire Oaks Stakes (4.10). Golden Lyra won a Listed race at Saint-Cloud last October (Heavy) and will be popular choice with punters even giving 3lb to her nine rivals.
There are three Irish challengers in Sunset Shiraz, Annerville and Hotter Than Hades. The best of them looks to be the first named who was 5th of 10 in a Group 3 at the Curragh on her seasonal return and shaped last time like the step up to 1m 2f would suit.
The Sir Michael Stoute trained Crystal Caprice is from a family who do better with age and is another who’s capable of further improvement for the step up to 1m 2f. Soft ground does ask a new question of the 4-year-old but if she handles, she’s very much in the mix. Trainer won this race in 2019 & 2022.
Misty Dancer improved in the second half of last season completing a handicap hat trick at Newbury (soft)in October. She was a disappointing 5/2 favourite for a similar race at Doncaster on her final start last season. Maybe that run came too quickly for her on heavy ground and she’s worth another try in this company.
Crystal Caprice – 1pt win – 7/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
3:40 – Belhaven was a disappointing last of nine at Redcar on her seasonal return. She didn’t get the best of runs 2f out and wasn’t given a hard ride when her chance was gone. Better than she was able to show last time, and hopefully drying ground can see her in a better light.
Belhaven – 1pt win – 7/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
There’s a decent card at Ascot on Wednesday where the highlight of a seven race card is the Group 3 Longines Sagaro Stakes. I’m likely to have some selections there so watch your inboxes for any updates.
As for the rest of the week, I will be giving Thursday a miss but will be back on Friday for the start of Newmarket’s three day Guineas Festival.
Cheers
John