3.55pm Nottingham Tips & Betting Preview 03/08/2017

A Class 5 mile handicap with a little over £3,200 to the winner. Our expert tip and runner by runner preview to this myracing.com sponsored race is below.

IN SUMMARY: Badenscoth produced a career best last time out and is still lightly raced enough to be open to further improvement. PROSECUTION is interesting dropped in trip given that he has been so keen over further, he has been well backed the last twice so is evidently well regarded and has soft ground winners in his pedigree. Both Hidden Oasis and Captain Revelation enjoy soft ground but both are slightly vulnerable in the final furlong over this trip unless this turns tactical.

1 WOODY BAY – NON RUNNER Seven year old is three pounds below his last winning mark but has shown little in two starts this year. He scoped dirty after his most recent race so that poor effort can be excused. A mile on soft ground is perfect for him if he is able to find his old form, dropping into a Class 5 for the first time in over two years. He looks a huge player on this drop in grade and gets the vote.

2 DUTCH ARTIST –  Just a single success to his credit, a Catterick maiden on his debut for the yard. His best run this season came over this trip on soft ground so conditions will hold no fears for him. Three runs since that effort however leave him with plenty to prove, finishing last twice and then beaten in a claimer doesn’t suggest that he is a likely winner here.

3 WEALTH TAX – Just one of his eight career starts has come on turf, a run that was easily the worst he has produced. That was on soft ground in May and while the mile and a quarter trip may have stretched him on the surface on that occasion, he is still difficult to support now.

4 BADENSCOTH – Both wins have come on the all weather, but ran fine over this trip on good to soft at Windsor earlier in the season. Jack Duern gets on well with him, a positive as Duern himself has said that “he’s not straightforward.” He was impressive when scoring last time out, a clear career best. He will need another back on turf, but there is still improvement to come.

5 TAN ARABIQ – Another to show his best form on the all weather, he is a turf winner, shocking punters at Thirsk over this trip last season when popping up at 80/1. He is entitled to come on for his run last month (his first for six months) but is going to need to if he is to land this from a four pound higher mark than his narrow Wolverhampton victory in January.

6 CAPTAIN REVELATION – Twelve of his fifteen best runs have all come on the all weather, the three runs on the turf that intersperse those have all been at Chester. He has won over a mile at Southwell, but it appears to stretch him a little on turf. The ground won’t be a problem but he is likely to find a couple who are stronger stayers in the final furlong.

7 HIDDEN OASIS – Got going all too late at Ffos Las last time out over slightly shorter, giving the impression that a step back up would suit. The last time he tried this trip on soft ground however, he was well behind Captain Revelation when weakening late on. He hung badly left when under pressure last time so although the ability is there, he has his quirks as well which hold him back.

8 INGLEBY ANGEL – Losing run stretches back to September 2015, his mark now thirty five pounds lower than when kicking off his 2016 campaign in the Lincoln. Won on heavy ground in his youth but the majority of his best form has been on much quicker. Undoubtedly well enough handicapped to be given a chance but he appears to be regressing quicker than the handicapper can drop his mark.

9 PROSECUTION – Not beaten far in any of three middle distance handicaps this season. He is rather headstrong so it is interesting to note connections dropping him back half a mile to this trip. He has been well punted the last twice so connections clearly believe the ability is there, he is one of the more unexposed runners in the field and with soft ground winners in his pedigree, he gets the vote.

10 DOMINANNIE – Twelve race maiden has shown glimmers of ability. She has an each way chance off this mark with a well run test at a mile suiting well. Connections will be looking for the ground to dry out, while the harder they go in front, the better it is going to suit her hold up style.