The ground is likely to be on the soft side of good for today’s Nottingham card where I hope to see King Of Clubs (1.45) go one better in the extended mile maiden than was the case here last month when he went down by just a short head.
Oisin Murphy takes over in the saddle for the first time today and I hope to see the champion jockey make plenty of use of Hughie Morrison’s three-year-old who will get further later in the season. The yard had a welcome winner at Newbury on Saturday ending a frustrating run for the stable. There is 11/10 around at the time of posting.
Cochise is a progressive stayer who is only 5lbs higher for scoring over 1m 6f here earlier in the month and today’s step up in trip to two miles will suit Roger Charlton’s five-year-old. He looks sure to run a big race, but Warranty will appreciate the drop back in trip having looked a non-stayer over a marathon trip at Pontefract last time. He is another to consider but the each way vote goes to Contrebasse (3.30) who was no match for Let Me Be at Ripon last time but was unfortunate to run into such a well-treated rival on that occasion and is just 1lb higher today. The ew recommendation is 8s with 10Bet.
There is a terrific mile handicap at Wolverhampton for three-year-olds and preference for Ilza’Eem (4.10) is marginal over Summa Peto. The selection – 2s with 10Bet – was my fancy for the Esher Cup at Sandown last month but was a late withdrawal with a vet’s certificate. The selection easily landed the odds at Redcar on his reappearance, and I hope to see jockey James Doyle use his plum draw in stall 1 to get into a prominent position going into the first turn.
Summa Peto ran away with an Ayr maiden on his reappearance and will surely rate higher than his current mark of 83 as the season progresses, but I am just not convinced this is his track as he looked in need of a more galloping track when scoring in Scotland last time. This is a top-quality race, and I am convinced several winners will come out of the race.
At Huntingdon, the form of Iconic Muddle’s three-quarters of a length second over today’s C&D was given a boost when the winner followed up at Haydock from an 8lbs higher mark and a 4lbs rise is fair. The 8-y-old only got as far as the second at Plumpton last time when he was brought down. He must go close, but I feel there are races to be won with Shiroccan Roll (5.55) over fences and he gets the vote for Emma Lavelle at 7/2 with MansionBet.
The selection finished third over an additional three furlongs on his chase debut but that was a better race than today’s and I hope to see Tom Bellamy make plenty of use of his mount who does get further than the minimum trip.