5.30pm Nottingham Tips & Preview – myracing Meeting 15/06/2017

The second division of the mile and a quarter Class 6 handicap is the final race on the myracing sponsored meeting at Nottingham. Read on for our experts runner by runner preview and tip for the ‘lucky last.’

IN SUMMARY: THE DUKKERER brings some of the best recent form to the table, although she has not won on turf since 2014, she is still well enough treated on her best form and with the recent weather drying the ground, she has conditions in her favour. Mrs Biggs looks her biggest danger from a mark that she has been competitive from in the past while big runs from Inflexiball and Raashdy would not surprise at double figure prices.

1 PLAYTOTHEWHISTLE – Back to back wins on the Southwell Fibresand in March 2015 the only tallies so far in his career, with an 0/9 record on turf. He ran poorly here on Sunday afternoon when the ground may have been on the soft side for him. He was placed twice at Musselburgh last year when shaping as if this trip would suit from marks of 60 and 61 so 62 now shouldn’t be beyond him but he has a little to prove on current form.

2 RAASHDY – Scored in a maiden at Wolverhampton in December but has struggled to get close to that level of form since, including twice on turf. Both of them were with cut in the ground so with his dam a winner on firm at Newmarket, this first go on a quicker surface should suit. A mark of 60 is fair on his win and with first time blinkers fitted, he may emerge a totally different proposition to the horse who finished a tailed off last at Haydock just a week ago.

3 THE DUKKERER – Consistent mare at this sort of level, though she has not scored on turf since July 2014. Both of those wins came over shorter but she stays this trip fine and as they were both on good to firm, further drying of the ground will certainly be in her favour. She had to drop to 54 to win at Wolverhampton in May, but she has won off marks similar to this in the past and at least brings solid recent form to the table, a big plus in this contest and that gets her the nod.

4 NOUVELLE ERE – Has a better record on the all weather than turf, scoring for the only time on grass over this trip on good to soft at Bath in September 2015. He is horribly inconsistent and with five of his six wins coming from lower marks that this, he is best watched unless there is significant market support.

5 INFLEXIBALL – Nineteen race maiden has been placed from a one pound higher mark than this, over course and distance in 2016. She shaped well to a point when last seen in a deeper race over this trip at Pontefract, fading late on up the hill. This mark of 56 is the lowest she has ever been and although her overall record doesn’t suggest her as the winner, a placed effort would not be a surprise.

6 OUTLAW TORN – Grizzled veteran is fast approaching 150 career races, placed twice in six starts at Nottingham. Quick ground suits on turf and this regular front runner could be hard to peg back on a going day from a mark a pound lower than his most recent win. He is drawn a little wide here for one who likes to race prominently but has an each way chance.

7 MRS BIGGS – Has spent the majority of her career running at trips below a mile but the step up to middle distances this season has seen her take advantage of a dropping mark. She won at Wetherby in May – both the second and third run in the first division – twice placing over a mile and a half since. The return to this trip looks a positive and from a mark of 53, she still has plenty in hand of the handicapper on her old form, big chance.

8 DIAMOND RUNNER – Difficult horse to win with and already on his fourth different trainer. His sole success on turf came in a selling handicap at Thirsk from the basement mark of 45, scoring from 49 on the all weather. Runs off 51 now and although he was second off this mark last time at Newcastle, it was at a seven length distance so needs to up his game if he is to get his head in front again.

9 LITTLE PIPPIN – Best form has come with more cut in the ground than she is going to get here, including when winning a seller at Nottingham on heavy. A mark of 50 doesn’t over burden her but on quicker ground and on her first run in 2017, she looks booked for a struggle.

10 PALINDROME – Nine race maiden is Godolphin bred but was purchased cheaply for £4,500 without ever racing for the ‘boys in blue.’ Her sole turf effort came over this course and distance on debut when showing little and she has struggled for form in low grade handicaps since. She was a little over five lengths adrift of The Dukkerer at Wolverhampton in May and although seven pounds better off, she is going to struggle to reverse those placings.

11 SCENT OF POWER – Drawn widest of all, she has won just once in twenty-six career starts when picking up a seller at Leicester over this trip. She is well enough treated on her best handicap form to have a say but she has not got close to that in recent starts, including when third in another Leicester seller last time, can only be watched.

12 TOUCH THE CLOUDS – Has a win and a pair of places to his credit in eight career starts at Nottingham, so at least boasts form at the venue. That was from a mark of 75 so is ‘stones in’ on that form here from a basement mark but all of this form has been over sprint trips and he looks a very unlikely stayer at this trip on his first run since February.