1.55pm Nottingham Tips & Betting Preview 02/11/2016

The feature race on Wednesday’s Nottingham card is a Class 2 handicap over 5f. Our betting tips focus on a front-runner who could have too much raw speed for a few of these. Read on for the full race preview.

IN SUMMARY: All eight runners in this good-quality sprint handicap have been competitive in Listed/Group company at some stage. Humidor and Double  Up are both slightly lower in the weights that when placed in the Portland Handicap at Doncaster in September and are of interest for that reason but they are among a clutch in the field that will be hoping for a strong gallop and, with that far from assured, it could pay to focus on those with a bit more natural speed. The suggestion is the mare DEMORA, who disappointed on her latest outing but will be suited by today’s ground and could dominate from the front if back on song. Gracious John is another with a point to prove but his Group 2 run at the Curragh in July was excellent and he also has a decent turn of foot.

1 Mobsta – Two wins from his four starts in Pattern company this season, the more recent in a Group 2 contest at the Curragh (6f, yielding to soft) in May; not yet fully exposed and is evidently a class act, but was a bit disappointing when returning from a break last month and isn’t sure to benefit from today’s back in trip.

2 Perfect Pasture – Collected a good pot at the Curragh (6.5f, good to yielding) in summer but finished well down the field after hanging badly in the Great St Wilfrid at Ripon two starts ago and was always on the back foot after a sluggish start in the Ayr Gold Cup last time; now has a point to prove and will require a strong pace over today’s trip.

3 Gracious John – Gave a very good account when third to Mecca’s Angel in a Group 2 at the Curragh (5f, good to yielding) in July and will be a tough not to crack if matching that performance here; both subsequent trips to Ireland resulted in disappointment but he could have this run to suit and is worth a second look.

4 Maarek – Irish-trained veteran who enjoyed his finest hour when winning the Group 1 Abbaye at Longchamp (5f, soft) in October 2013; still retains a significant chunk of ability and stayed on late to claim fourth in a Group 2 at the Curragh (5f, yielding) in September but struggled to get competitive in this year’s Abbaye and has become quite a tricky horse to win with.

5 Double Up – Never really threatened when midfield in Listed company on the Polytrack at Dundalk recently and was a beaten favourite in a Beverley conditions race before that, but ought to be fine on today’s ground and is now 1lb lower than when a creditable fourth in the Portland at Doncaster (5.5f, good) in September; can’t be ruled out.

6 Demora – Likes to race prominently and rallied gamely to score in Listed company at Bath (5f, soft) in April; seen only twice since then and needs to bounce back quickly from a disappointing effort in the Catterick Dash last month, but can be a hard mare to pass when on song and may not have much competition for the early lead today.

7 Humidor – Ahead of Double Up when excellent second in the Portland at Doncaster (5.5f, good) and also ran well when third at Leicester (5f, good to firm) last month; not at best on latest outing but will be fine on today’s ground and can pose a threat from off the pace if there’s a strong gallop.

8 Justice Gold – Certainly not disgraced when midfield in a 6f Listed race on Polytrack in February but was disappointing on both turf runs in the spring and is 3lb out of the weights on this first start for six months; will handle the ground but others have less to prove.

myracing Forecast Prices: 2/1 Double Up, 4/1 Maarek, 6/1 Mobsta, 7/1 Humidor, 8/1 Demora, 10/1 Perfect Pasture, 12/1 Gracious John, 14/1 Justice Good