5.10pm Nottingham Tips & Betting Preview 18/08/2017

A field of 12 go to post for this amateur riders race at Nottingham on Friday. See our betting tips and the full race preview below.

IN SUMMARY: With so many of these far from convincing, ready preference is for the unexposed filly SNOWY WINTER who broke her maiden on the second attempt at Hamilton. Despite being outpaced on handicap debut, she rallied well to finish fourth, only beaten two lengths and she should be much happier upped further in distance. Her jockey has been in the winners of late and she should quite simply have too much potential for this field. Diamonds A Dancing won his latest start under today’s rider at Carlise and is the obvious danger.

1 DIAMONDS A DANCING – Course and distance winner for Donald McCain who has struck up a good partnership with his rider, last seen winning a similar race at Carlisle in August by a neck over a subsequent winner. He’s now five pounds higher here but is likely to be thereabouts if in the same form again with conditions to suit, so he’s one to consider.

2 CHELWOOD GATE – Ran well at Wolverhampton seven days ago despite a bias to prominent runners, finishing second after coming home very strongly late on. He is up another pound thanks to that placed effort and he will have each way claims again if there is a strong pace granted to him, which isn’t guaranteed and he may just find himself outpaced at a crucial stage on this occasion.

3 PRETTY JEWEL – 25/1 winner on her latest start at Salisbury under today’s rider, with the pace perhaps collapsing late on as he was detached in last at an early stage. He has been raised six pounds as a result and goes up markedly in trip for this, with both those factors big negatives. She is still lightly raced but looks booked for a struggle here as her stamina is far from proven.

4 BOB’S BOY – Well beaten on his stable debut at Catterick on his latest start, never really involved and never better than mid-division. The handicapper hasn’t taken any pity on him and he remains on the same mark and a drop in trip is far from guaranteed to suit. Hard to recommend on this occasion.

5 BUSKIN RIVER – Lightly raced, inconsistent three-year-old for James Eustace who was a good second at Windsor in September 2016, though he failed to back that up in May when well beaten at Chelmsford. That said, he’s an interesting proposition now upped in trip, though his pedigree gives no hope of him staying this distance. James Smith takes the ride, which is positive, but it’s hard to recommend him.

6 SAGA SPRINT – One win from 15 career starts and she has failed to catch the eye on her runs this season for John Jenkins. She gave his rider no help when never going with any zest at Yarmouth on her latest start. Plenty of improvement is needed here and it’s hard to see her reaching the frame in her current mood.

7 SNOWY WINTER – Won a maiden at the second attempt for Archie Watson over the mile distance and she was far from disgraced on handicap debut to finish fourth, rallying well after being outpaced. She remains unexposed for an in form yard and she should be happier now upped in trip, so a bold bid is likely. She has a claimer who has already been in the winners of late and he can gain another here on this filly who should improve past these.

8 DRUID’S DIAMOND – In good form recently for Mark Walford, first past the post on his penultimate start at Beverley before being placed second and he filled that position again over course and distance when last seen. He is on the same mark and has each way claims once again, though he does need to settle better early on if he’s to have a chance at the finish on this occasion.

9 TINGO IN THE TALE – Very hard to win with, only winning three of her 54 career starts, though she wasn’t disgraced when fourth over course and distance on her penultimate start on stable debut. She failed to back that up when last seen, but she should be happier back down in trip and couldn’t be discounted for each way terms if running to her best off this mark.

10 BALMONT BELLE – Lightly raced seven-year-old mare for Barry Leavy who hasn’t won since August 2013 and doesn’t look likely to add to her tally here. She was last seen at Chepstow where she was always in the rear, making a short-lived move at the two furlong before fading out of things. A huge amount of improvement is needed on that and she’s far from progressive, so she’s dismissed with some confidence.

11 FOYLESIDEVIEW – Another with an extremely poor strike rate, only winning one of his 35 career starts and he more often than not flatters to deceive. He travelled well at Lingfield on his latest start but found nothing when ridden and went backwards and he’s got to overcome a 132 day break if he’s to be taking this. Hard to make a case for him, with cut in the ground unlikely to help his chances.

12 DESIGNAMENTO – Well held in three maidens for Ed de Giles towads the back end of last year, showing almost nothing on all three occasions. He now makes his handicap debut upped in trip off a very low mark, which could be perceived as interesting. However, he’s got a 310 day break to overcome and is not of interest.