1.40pm Nottingham Tips & Preview – myracing Meeting 15/06/2017

A race won in 2016 by Godolphin’s Blue Point who heads to Royal Ascot next week for the Commonwealth Cup. Read on for our runner by runner preview for the opening race on the myracing sponsored card at Nottingham.

IN SUMMARY: KIT MARLOWE has the experience to run these into the ground from the front in typical Mark Johnston fashion. He didn’t enjoy the soft ground at Newbury last time and will be far happier back on this sound surface. Another twice raced individual in Central City looks his biggest danger while Manthoor and Flavius Titus appeal most of the set of nicely bred newcomers.

1 BIB AND TUCKER – A 20,000 euro half brother to two year old winners Salford Secret and Gioia Di Vita, the latter winning on his racecourse debut. Trainer David Brown is 0/10 with juvenile runners this season but he and owner John Fretwell are a potent combination, especially when the money comes so despite what looks a wider than ideal draw, he is worth a second look.

2 CENTRAL CITY – One of just four in the field who can boast racecourse experience already, following on from a debut fourth at Doncaster with a third in the Lily Agnes at Chester. He was the subject of support on the latter occasion, despite a wide draw, shaping with promise and suggesting that the step up a furlong to this trip will suit him. His dam was third in the Italian 1000 Guineas and half sister Katebird progressed with racing as a juvenile last year so looks one of the more likely ones.

3 COSA NOSTRA – Sire has made an excellent start with eight individual winners from his first crop already. The dam has produced a couple of winners from her three offspring who have hit the track so far but further is likely to suit in time and he is probably best watched for future reference on his debut.

4 ETEFAAQ – Cost 110,000 guineas at the Craven Breeze Ups, out of a dam who herself was a scorer on her juvenile debut. Breeze up purchases are often a little more forward because of that process which is a positive for a yard who are not quite as forward first time as they are when Richard Hannon Snr was in charge. Has a draw just one off the rails and if benefitting from the breeze should be right in the firing line first time up.

5 FINAL ROCK – Dam was a six furlong winner, albeit only at a lowly level from a mark of just 50. Sir Mark Prescott’s juveniles tend to be ones for further down the line with his breeding suggesting that mile or ten furlong handicaps next season are going to be a likelier place to score a success than here.

6 FLAVIUS TITUS – Sire’s progeny have made a steady start, just the two winners so far but twelve further placed horses on top. Dam won over six furlongs on the all weather at Kempton in a short three race career, with this, her second foal fetching six figures at the sales. He is bred to be a sprinter and with Roger Varian already having four winners from just nine juvenile runners this season, he strikes as one of the more forward of the unraced ones and looks a likely type.

7 GREAT PROSPECTOR – Has the plum draw right on the stands rail and although his dam was unraced, there is enough speed in the pedigree to suggest that he may take advantage of his berth. He boasts the like of smart sprinter Millyant (dam of Mirza) and Birchwood as close relatives so he is well worth each way consideration.

8 KIT MARLOWE – Twice raced, he never looked entirely happy on soft ground last time at Newbury but still plugged away to the line. A half brother to both Tam Lin and Blue Rambler suggest that middle distances are going to suit in time so it is credit to his ability that he was able to finish a close second over five furlongs on his debut. Likely to be ridden aggressively to make use of his stamina, he could be the pace angle into the race and at this track the mix of pace and experience could make him hard to catch.

9 MANTHOOR – Half brother to a nice type in Silver Rainbow who won as a juvenile but didn’t really come into her own until she ran up a sequence as a four year old. She had plenty of natural speed so he should be forward enough to do himself justice, with the Owen Burrows yard in smart form of late, including a two year old winner at Yarmouth last week. He is rumoured to be showing plenty of speed on the gallops at home and appeals most of the newcomers.

10 TALE OF TAILS – A bargain basement buy, costing a mere 800 guineas, he is unlikely to be forward enough to get involved here. His dam won over 9.5f at Wolverhampton in a Class 6 handicap off a mark of 57 so middle distance handicaps beckon as a three year old.

11 WESTFIELD WONDER – Shaped with a modicum of promise for the future despite failing to beat a rival home on his Ripon debut. Sprinting will be his game with plenty of sprinters in the damline, albeit only at a low level. Trainer Ronald Thompson is 0/40 with juveniles since taking his licence back out again in 2015 so looks one for handicaps.

12 JO’S GIRL – Has only run to a modest level so far in two starts. Is the sole filly in the field so gets a five pound allowance and the return to quicker ground looks in her favour, having got bogged down on soft last time at Wetherby. There are plenty of winners in her pedigree, including as two year olds so she is one to note for nurseries next time out.