6.30pm Nottingham Tips & Betting Preview 22/04/2017

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

IN SUMMARY: Owen Burrows’ OKOOL should justify his 320,000GNS price tag here. He finished 5 1/4 lengths behind a subsequent Group Three winner last year and he looks the type to really progress as a 3yo with today’s conditions sure to suit. Crystal Ocean should come on a lot for the step up in trip to 1m 2f whilst Immortalised may be one of interest at a bigger price with surely more to come following his debut.

1 CHIEF CRAFTSMAN – Bought for 37,000GNS as a foal and was subsequently sold on for 125,000GNS as a yearling so he’s obviously been pleasing at home. This trip looks perfect on debut and he’s a half-brother to several winners in and around this distance. Luca Cumani has a decent strike rate here (20%) although he has been slightly out of form of late, without a winner from his last 8 runners.

2 CRYSTAL OCEAN – Half-brother to some excellent types including Hillstar and Crystal Zvezda and he made an excellent debut, finishing second of nine in a Class 4 maiden at Newbury. He will have learnt plenty from that experience and the step up in trip to 1m 2f will bring out plenty of improvement in this son of Sea The Stars and on form alone, he’s the one they have to beat. The yard are operating at a 29% strike rate at present.

3 FOREVER SONG – Half-brother to a couple of decent staying types and he debuts here for a yard with an excellent 15% strike rate at present including plenty of maiden winners. 1m 2f looks a stiff enough test on debut given he’s by Dubawi but his dam has plenty of stamina and it’ll be interesting to see how he runs. Market should provide the best guide to his chances and he’d be of interest with significant market support.

4 IMMORTALISED – 100,000GNS purchase as a 2yo and he was well-beaten on debut at Doncaster earlier this month. He was ridden out the back that day and he will have learnt plenty from the experience and should be seen to much better effect here for a yard that do well at Nottingham (19% strike rate). Has the benefit of racecourse experience and race fitness and much better is expected.

5 KATMANDOO – Full-brother to three decent horses in America and he’s one of his dam’s first runners in the UK. He debuted at Haydock in a tough maiden last September and he will have learnt plenty from that and this could be his year with connections choosing not to geld him over the winter. Yard have a poor record here with just 2 winners from 74 runners and others make more appeal.

6 KING KEVIN – 32,000GNS purchase as a yearling and he’s a half-brother to some nice enough sorts in and around this trip. His pedigree is packed full of stamina and he’s one that’s likely to want slightly further in time for a yard that aren’t renowned for sending out first time out winners. Jockey bookings don’t suggest he’s anything out of the ordinary and he’s still owned by the trainer which doesn’t inspire confidence.

7 NATHAN – Nicely-bred colt by Nathaniel whose out of a mare that has produced some nice staying types. Simon Crisford has been in excellent form of late with 3 winners from his last 7 runners and he’s very capable of sending out a racecourse debutante winner. He wears a hood on racecourse debut and he’s probably best watched here with a couple of nicer looking types against him.

8 OKOOL – Expensive purchase as a yearling costing a cool 320,000 Euros. He ran with credit in two competitive maidens last September and he finished 5 1/4 lengths behind the subsequent Group Three Craven winner Eminent. He’s stepped up in trip here which is interesting given he looked suited to a mile but the ground should be spot on for him and with normal progression, he should really be getting involved here.

9 PETERPORT – Interesting sort for John Gosden, racing a half-brother to Gallipot and Trade Commissioner here. He’s a son of Nathaniel and could be a classy sort in time for a stable that should know all about him having trained his close relatives and this looks a good starting point. Yard are in fine form with 11 winners from 31 runners in the past fortnight and he deserves a market check. Respected.

10 THEGLASGOWWARRIOR – Well-beaten on debut at Doncaster finishing 3/4 of a length behind Immortalised. He was sent off 50/1 that day and he doesn’t have as much scope about him as others that have run in this and he’s likely to find life easier in handicap company slightly further down the line. The yard have a 6% strike rate here (4 winners from 66 runners) and others are preferred.

11 NAVAJO GREY – Looked absolutely clueless about her job on debut when falling out of the stalls and running around in-behind some average types. It’s very unlikely that she’ll improve enough to get involved here even with a 5lb fillies allowance and she will fare better in handicap company and is best watched here.