4.30pm Nottingham Tips & Betting Preview 03/08/2017

Only the four runners going to post, but a fascinating mile and a quarter contest nonetheless as a falsely run race is no help to most. Read on for our runner by runner preview and expert guide for this myracing.com sponsored race.

IN SUMMARY: Tough to split these four but DEINONYCHUS could be the one to make the running, often the place to be when the ground is on the soft side, especially in small fields. He was rated as high as 84 in the past so with conditions in his favour, he can take this from 67. Azzir looks the biggest danger, he has been in decent form this season, placed twice off this mark. Lexington Law is ideally suited by a little further than this so he won’t want this to turn tactical, while Katebird looks a little high in the handicap.

1 LEXINGTON LAW – Lacks nothing for consistency but is yet to get his head in front from ten career starts. Cut in the ground is no problem for him for all that this trip appears to be a little on the short side. A mark of 82 should be no issue but a small field here could be the precursor to a falsely run race so it will be interesting to see if connections try and force the issue on him given that he stays further.

2 AZZIR – Both career wins have come on good ground over this trip, the latter of the pair from this mark. He has placed form on a much softer surface, so conditions here will hold no fears whether the turf dries out or not. Placed on both runs so far in 2017, he is another who won’t want this to turn into a tactical affair in a small field. He has stayed on well at the end of his 2017 starts from this mark so has a solid chance if the race is run to suit.

3 DEINONYCHUS – Connections will be hoping that the ground doesn’t dry out too much as he relishes ground on the soft side. He was placed over this course and distance in June, doing best of a small field in against a handicap blot. Placed again since over an extra quarter mile, he was right up in the vanguard from the start there, so could be the pace angle into the contest. The yard does well here and if able to dictate his own fractions in front, he is a big player.

4 KATEBIRD – A winner over this course and distance last year as a juvenile on soft ground. She notched up her only win so far this season on a better surface at Beverley, again over this trip, powering clear to get the better of subsequent winner Bollin Ted. She has struggled from this career high mark the last twice, including when making the running at Yarmouth. Has the weight allowance in her favour but even that isn’t enough to convince that she is the likely winner.