Steve Ryder is back with three tips for today's action.
16:15 Nottingham
This looks a weak 0-60 handicap and I am willing to take a chance on OCEAN RIDGE (best priced at 16/1) at a big price on his handicap debut. The three-year-old cost nearly 200,00 euros as a two-year-old but was sold for only 8,500gns later that year following only one run for Godolphin and Charlie Appleby. He finished well beaten on his next two starts for Seamus Durack in novice/maiden races over 7f but this is much more realistic now on his handicap debut.
Ocean Ridge now makes his handicap debut off an opening mark of 54 and now steps up in trip from 7f to 1m½f in a first-time tongue tie and he looks worth taking a chance on at a big price.
17:15 Nottingham
Han Solo Berger comes into this race in good form but preference instead goes to GRANDFATHER TOM (best priced at 6/1) on his return to Nottingham. The Robert Cowell trained eight-year-old won over this course and distance in 2019 off a mark of 71 before finishing a close 2nd over this course and distance in June 2022 off a mark of 65. He went on to finish 2nd another two times later that season before winning off a career low mark of 59 on his penultimate start at Lingfield last month.
Grandfather Tom runs here off a mark of 64 so he is still well handicapped on old form and he should be suited by this return to this course and distance with four places on offer.
17:35 Chantilly
Connections of MARSHMAN (best priced at 9/4) bid to give him a confidence booster in preparation for Royal Ascot in this Group 2 in France. The Karl Burke trained colt won his first two career starts before finishing a close 2nd behind Noble Style in the Group 2 Gimcrack Stakes at York last season. He made a winning reappearance over 5½f at Chantilly in the Group 3 Prix Sigy before shaping well in the Group 2 Duke Of York Clipper Stakes last time back over 6f.
Marshman travelled well throughout that contest but was just caught on the wrong side of the track and weakened late on over 6f to finish 5th. He is well worth attempting this drop to 5f and I expect him to win this race before heading to Royal Ascot.
