Andy Holding is back with four tips from today's action, with runners at Nottingham and Navan.
13:30 Nottingham
OPTICALITY (best price 9/1) arrives here still a maiden after eight starts, but with four of her most recent performances being good enough to hit the frame, it’s surely only a matter of time before she strikes oil and today could well be her day.
Third in a well-run handicap at Wolverhampton last time out, the form of that race a month ago got a timely boost when the fourth one, Ciotog, bolted up back at the same track last week and with Night Bear also going on to breathe life into the form of her previous effort on the turf at Ffos Las, it’s clear she’s been up against some stern opposition for the grade in recent times.
Although it’s only a limited sample size, at least she appeared to handle rain-softened ground at the Welsh venue back in August and with today’s long straight and trip similar to the one she faced that day, the daughter of Coach House can’t have too many excuses if she fails to shine.
15:00 Navan
The combination of Johnny Murtagh and Jamie Powell have been seen to really good effect on numerous occasions so far this season and with HALF NUTZ (best price 13/2) being one of their most successful recent projects, the strong trainer/jockey team are fancied to put another one on the board.
A horse who often takes a while to come to hand – usually coinciding with soft Autumnal ground - true to form, the son of Sir Prancealot roared back to his best with a vengeance at The Curragh last time out, and with his performance signalling the potential for him to follow up that smooth success, everything looks set fair for him to back up that view.
Impressing with the way he cruised into contention at the two pole despite forfeiting ground at the start, the five-year-old wasn’t too shabby either when asked to put the race to bed inside the final furlong and with him going on to win with more in hand than the bare result suggests, there’s every chance he can overcome the hike in the ratings from a potentially favourable high draw (runners often come over towards the nearside at this time of year on soft ground).
16:10 Navan
NEW HILL (best price 6/1) has recent form figures that wouldn’t scream out she’s a winner waiting to happen, but a closer look into her latest effort at Tipperary suggests otherwise and for that reason, she is worth more than a second glance here today.
Only on the fringes of the action in most her previous starts this term, Sheila Lavery’s filly went through her latest encounter with a good deal more purpose, and if it wasn’t for getting checked in her run on more than one occasion at the Limerick Junction track, there’s little doubt she would have had a say in the finish.
Well-backed from 20/1 into half those odds three days ago, it’s clear many were anticipating an improved effort – which was forthcoming – and with a mile on soft ground considered close to her optimum, the daughter of Dragon Pulse should give a giid account.
17:30 Nottingham
An extremely competitive 1m2f handicap to conclude the card, but it’s a race that ASCENDING (NAP) (best price 9/2) should find well within his range based on his latest effort at Newbury.
Attracting a similar sized field at the Berkshire venue, the race in question turned out to be a strongly run one courtesy of the exploits of Lawn Ranger and Clive Cox’s inmate was one of few who managed to make late gains from the back of the field.
Looking at the speed figure and the subsequent form of the race from the Berkshire venue, it was clearly a decent one for the grade and considering it was his first try over 1m2f, his options become more expansive going forward.
Indeed, his previous attempts over a mile also go a long way to back up that view and with his only career success at Goodwood during the Summer coming on a soft surface, today’s ground is likely to inconvenience him less than most.
