1m1f on soft ground will provide a stiff stamina test for the 2yos in the Class 3 nursery on Wednesday’s Nottingham card. Read our horse-by-horse race preview for our experts’ betting tips.
IN SUMMARY: Viking Head displayed a good jolt of improvement to win his maiden on softish ground last month and Pontefract nursery winner Tomorrowcomes, a daughter of Oaks runner-up Yesterday, is also likely to make further progress as she goes up in trip. However, it’s difficult to get away from OUTRE MER, who ran his rivals ragged when winning by 7l on his nursery debut here a week ago and can shrug off his 6lb penalty if handling today’s slower ground. Our Boy has solid credentials and can also make his presence felt.
1 Devil’s Bridge – Belatedly got off the mark in three-runner Newcastle maiden (1m, AW) in August, his fifth start, and certainly didn’t run badly when third of five in Salisbury conditions race (1m, good to firm) last month; also has some form on soft ground but is more exposed than some of these.
2 Viking Heard – Soundly beaten over 7f on first two starts but displayed significant improvement to cause 16/1 surprise in Salisbury maiden (1m, good to soft) last month (made all); could easily have more to offer now upped in trip again for today’s nursery debut and commands respect.
3 Galactic Prince – Created good impression when ready winner of soft-ground Salisbury maiden (7f) in August, his second start, and wasn’t disgraced when tackling Group 3 company later that month;claims on that evidence but took a backward step when only third in a small-field conditions race last time.
4 Outre Mer – Delivered on earlier promise when drawing clear to score by 7l on nursery debut here (1m2f, good) a week ago; that performance is backed-up by the clock and he’ll be a very tough nut to crack under a 6lb penalty if in similar form on today’s slower ground.
5 Tomorrowcomes – Has an excellent pedigree and, having finished second in two maidens in August, came good on nursery debut at Pontefract (1m, good to soft) a fortnight ago; 4lb higher now but shaped as though the increased emphasis on stamina here will suit.
6 Our Boy – Produced strong late burst to win Ffos Las maiden (7.4f, good) by a short-head in August, his fourth start, and ran a game race from the front when fourth in good-quality nursery at Ayr (1m, good to soft) last month; can give another good account here.
7 Kiruna Peak – Stayed on well to win Newmarket maiden (7f, good to firm) in July, her second start, but that wasn’t a strong race for the track and she was disappointing when only eighth behind Tomorrowcomes on subsequent nursery debut at Pontrefract; can’t be written off after that but others appeal more.
myracing Forecast Prices: Evs Outre Mer, 5/1 Tomorrowcomes, 7/1 Devil’s Bridge, Viking Heard, 10/1 Galactic Prince, 12/1 Our Boy, 16/1 Kiruna Peak