8.00pm Nottingham Tips & Betting Preview 12/05/2017

This is a Class 5 handicap over 1m 2f, see our betting tips and the full race preview below.

IN SUMMARY: Sir Michael Stoute doesn’t train many 68-rated horses and NATAHN MAYER can come home in front today. He makes his handicap debut off a lowly-mark following some modest efforts in maiden company and he should be seen to much better effect over 1m 2f with a run under his belt. Alexander M is well-treated following a good second on his last start at Goodwood whilst Chocolate Box also makes appeal with surely more to come this season.

1 GLORIOUS POWER – Well-beaten on handicap debut at Epsom last month off a mark of 80 in Class 4 company. He’s down in grade today and dropped 3lbs in the weights which should see him run to a much better level but he will certainly need to improve to win this now up in trip to 1m 2f. The stable have sent out just 2 winners from their last 33 runners and they have a poor 8% strike rate at Nottingham so he may be worth opposing.

2 SEE THE CITY – Won a similar handicap to today’s over an extended mile at Nottingham off a mark of 67 last August. There was money about for him on his seasonal reappearance over C&D but he was comfortably held and a one pound drop in the weights doesn’t exactly spark much enthusiasm. James Eustace has sent out two winners from his last 30 runners at Nottingham and his son of Lawman is worth taking on here on firmer ground.

3 CHOCOLATE BOX – 4-race maiden making his seasonal return to action today for the Luca Cumani stable. He ran a nice race when well-supported at Newcastle on his final start last year finishing a 3 1/2 length third behind some fair sorts. He remains on a mark of 74 and connections haven’t gelded him so they clearly feel there is more to come from this unexposed sort and he could get involved here if he has progressed from 2 to 3.

4 ZEHRAH – Makes her handicap debut today off a reasonable mark having shown some ability in a Chelmsford maiden in March. They were relatively weak maidens so this grade is probably the right for her with more to come over longer trips. It’s a small surprise she’s not been stepped up to 1m 4f based on breeding and she may just be vulnerable again in this for a stable without a winner from 10 runners in the past fortnight.

5 SOLENT MEADS – Another handicap debutante in this having raced in four maidens on the sand last winter. He showed improvement on his latest start to finish fourth of eleven but that came in a Class 6 maiden and the handicapper has raised him 3lbs for that effort and much more is needed here. The booking of Dane O’Neill catches the eye for this yard and he’s worth close attention in the betting today.

6 CHALLOW – 11-race maiden who has found his grade having run to a modest level in this company on his last three starts. He was only beaten 3 1/2 lengths off this mark 11-days ago although he had the assistance of Mitch Godwin’s claim that day which he loses today and it’s difficult to see where the improvement will come from to see him come out on top today. He steps up in trip which may see him in better light but that’s clutching at straws.

7 LUNAR JET – Fourth of eight on his handicap debut at the end of last month when only beaten 1 1/4 lengths. He should progress again following that run off today’s mark and Ben Curtis takes over in the saddle which looks like a positive move for a stable that have an 11% strike rate here. He’s worth close attention in the betting given any support would suggest he’s improved again and that could see him come out on top on these terms.

8 NATHAN MAYER – Sir Michael Stoute does well at Nottingham and his Nathaniel gelding could be popular here. He makes his handicap debut off a mark of 68, a lowly rating for this yard and there’s likely much more to come having had his first run off a seasonal break and gelding operation. Fran Berry takes the ride and connections will be disappointed if he isn’t able to get competitive off this rating. Plenty more to come.

9 GLORVINA – Failed to land a Newcaslte maiden when well-supported last September when sent off the 5/2 favourite. He’s gone close on two occasions since including a Berevely maiden and connections switch him to handicap company off what looks to be a reasonable opening mark. He’s slightly vulnerable to a couple in this who look slightly more progressive and the step up in trip doesn’t look ideal so he may be worth taking on today.

10 ALEXANDER M – Finished second of twelve just 6 days ago in a fair handicap at Goodwood. He is likely to follow up that run with a good effort here off the same mark and it’s notable that connections turn him out so quickly before he is reassessed. He arrives here race fit and with form to his name so he must rank as one of the leading contenders for a yard operating at a 17% strike rate in the past fortnight.

11 CITY DREAMER – Likely to come on for his seasonal reappearance last month when beaten 7 3/4 lengths by some nice enough sorts. This is a step down in grade and with a 2lb lower mark, he could be threatening here receiving plenty of weight from a modest bunch of rivals. He has something to find on form and is another to watch closely in the market for a yard that are capable with their handicap runners on the flat.