Race Preview: Nottingham 3:30 (Class 6 Handicap)

This is a Class 6 handicap over a mile (1m 75y), the lowest grade of flat racing. It’s attracted a big field of 15 runners, making it quite competitive for the level. The key will be finding horses with recent form, those suited by the likely soft ground conditions, and those potentially well-handicapped. Nottingham is a flat, left-handed course.

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Runner-by-Runner Analysis

• Poet’s Dawn (9-12, OR65): Veteran 10yo who won twice this summer but form has dipped slightly. Handles soft ground, but top weight against younger rivals is tough. Jockey claims 7lb.
• Renesmee (9-12, OR65): Won in August off this mark. Ran okay last time 69 days ago. Consistent but might be weighted about right now. Jockey claims 7lb.
• Shaladar (9-11, OR64): Often placed but struggles to win (last win June 2022). Ran okay two starts back (2nd) but poor last time. Handles soft ground. Place chance at best.
• Fabuleuse (9-10, OR63): Won in France but showed nothing in two runs this year after a long break. Drops significantly in grade but needs a massive turnaround.
• Louie The Legend (9-7, OR63): Course and distance winner here in July off a 1lb higher mark. Form patchy since but ran okay last time (4th). Could bounce back at this track.
• Harswell Duke (9-6, OR59): Another course winner (off OR78!). Way down the weights now but recent form only moderate (4th last time). Handles soft/heavy ground. Dangerously handicapped if finding old form.
• Mapledurham (9-6, OR62): Consistent filly. Good 3rd on AW last time and 2nd on heavy ground at Bath before that off OR60. Handles conditions and should run her race.
• Bizou (9-5, OR61): Form completely tailed off, beaten 52 lengths on heavy ground last time. Hard to recommend.
• Wrydcroft (9-5, OR61): Hugely progressive, winning his last two starts at Leicester (7f, Gd-Sft) off lower marks (48, 51). Up another 10lbs here and steps up in trip, but clearly thriving. Jockey claims 5lb. Interesting.
• Charming Fellow (9-3, OR59): Very consistent in similar races on soft ground. Good 2nd at Beverley (soft) last time off OR56, 3rd before that off OR57. Jockey claims 5lb. Solid claims.
• Jack Daniel (9-2, OR55): Has won off higher marks in the past but recent form (448) isn’t inspiring.
• Lost In Wonder (9-8, OR64): Makes turf and handicap debut after three modest runs on AW. Opening mark looks high. Best watched.
• Joe Masseria (9-9, OR62): Form has collapsed completely (00000). Used to be much better.
• Oilisa (8-10, OR52): bolted up by 3.5 lengths on heavy ground at Ayr just 14 days ago off OR45. Runs here under a 6lb penalty (effectively OR51), but is due to go up another 7lbs in future. Extremely well-in at the weights and clearly loves the mud. Strongest contender. ⭐
• Hot Talent (8-8, OR50): Very little form (885 recently). Wears cheekpieces. Looks outmatched.

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Verdict

This looks like a great opportunity for Oilisa. She won with real authority on heavy ground last time out and escapes with just a 6lb penalty here, meaning she’s technically 7lbs well-in compared to her future handicap mark. She clearly handles deep ground and is improving fast.

Charming Fellow is very consistent under similar conditions and looks the most solid alternative, especially with the 5lb claim. Wrydcroft is another improver who commands respect despite the rise in weights and trip. Mapledurham should be thereabouts again, while course winners Louie The Legend and Harswell Duke can’t be dismissed entirely despite recent inconsistency.

1. Oilisa 2. Charming Fellow 3. Wrydcroft