3.30pm Nottingham Tips & Betting Preview 01/06/2016

IN SUMMARY: You’re Fired has made an excellent start to the season and his connections will presumably have a return to Pattern company on his agenda but, even with Jordan Vaughan taking 5lb off his back, the handicapper has set him a stiff test here. Preference is for THE WARRIOR (13/2), who evidently didn’t make the grade for Aidan O’Brien but has shown enough on his three starts for Amanda Perrett this season to suggest he can win a decent handicap soon. Things haven’t really been going his way over 7f but he’s looks well worth another crack at 1m and, if things pan out more favourably this time, his current mark looks workable. Express Himself fluffed the start at York on his latest outing but his earlier form puts him on the premises and he is also considered.

1 You’re Fired – Progressed well in 2015, winning three times along the way (once over C&D), and has continued the good work this spring, bagging a valuable Haydock handicap (1m, good) before very creditable second in 7f Listed race there; revised BHA mark of 108 asks a lot of him, but he’s expected to be in the thick of things again.

2 Spark Plug – Stayed on well for fifth (of 20) in hot Ascot handicap (1m, good to soft) on final start in 2015 and also gave decent account when sixth at Newbury (1m, good) on last month’s reappearance; seems to lack a change of gear, though, and is reliant upon others making this a thorough test at the trip.

3 Express Himself – Travelled strongly for a long way when seventh in the Lincoln and also ran well when fourth to You’re Fired at Haydock (1m, good) on next outing, where he didn’t get the best of runs; lost his chance at the start in another competitive event last time and can bounce back with another good performance here.

4 Spirit Raiser – Seemed to benefit from fitting of visor when running very well on consecutive starts at Kempton (1m AW) last summer and wasn’t disgraced in Listed company on latest outing; returns from 250-day absence on fairly tough mark and without headgear, though.

5 Two For Two – Now back on same mark as when scoring at Ayr (1m, good to firm) just under a year ago, his second win in that particular event; not at best on either start this season and perhaps a return to Ayr later this month is his main target.

6 Fort Bastion – Placed in Thirsk Hunt Cup (1m, soft) on seasonal debut in April and has also run with credit over 7f on faster ground on both subsequent outings; unlikely to be far away but hasn’t been a frequent winner in recent years and holds no secrets from the handicapper.

7 The Warrior – Won just once from nine starts for Aidan O’Brien and was sold for 22,000gns in the autumn; all three runs over 7f for new stable this season and been respectable and he hasn’t really enjoyed the run of the race in any of them; looks well worth another crack at 1m and could have a say.

8 Off Art – Made pleasing seasonal debut when close third at Doncaster (1m2f, good) in April but wasn’t in same form at York last month; may find 1m on fast ground too sharp today and hasn’t tasted victory since 2013; others have more pressing claims.

9 Room Key – Held his own in Group company last season but remains without a win since his 2yo debut in 2014 and first-time blinkers didn’t appear to help much when he was always towards rear in 7f York handicap last month; another 2lb lower today but overall profile not appealing.

myracing Forecast Prices: 4/1 Express Himself, 5/1 You’re Fired, Spark Plug, Fort Bastion, 6/1 Spirit Raiser, The Warrior, 10/1 Room Key, 16/1 Off Art, 20/1 Two For Two