17:30 Nottingham

Tuesday 24 July 2018

All17:3018:0018:3019:0019:3020:0020:30

Smarkets Training Series Apprentice Handicap

Off time: 17:30 | Winning time: 2m 12.10s

(6)

Pike Corner Cross²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-0| J: Milly Naseb| T: E De Giles| OR: 65

3/1

All four wins came on AW during 2016, then absent for more than a year. Hasn't shown much this term and was a long last of 12 here on only turf start this year. Returns 13lb below his last winning handicap mark.

Form: 0/00058

(2)

Indigo Princess¹³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-11| J: Keelan Baker⁽⁵⁾| T: M Appleby| OR: 62| C

20/1

1-21 but that win came at Nottingham over 1m in May 2017. generally disappointing since then mainly on AW and returns now from 130 day break.

Form: 6-82668

(8)

Freud^p¹⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 9-9| J: Luke Catton⁽⁵⁾| T: Ian Williams| OR: 60| D

7/2

16lb lower than last win which came on AW at Kempton two years ago. Not disgraced last two starts and certainly has a squeak on the pick of his old form.

Form: 089-454

(5)

Castle Talbot^p²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 9-8| J: Ben Sanderson| T: Tom Clover| OR: 59

11/2

Failed to stay 1m4f last time. Has claims on bets efforts last season and has since dropped 6lb so any market interest would be worth noting.

Form: 2266-74

(4)

Channel Packet²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: Theodore Ladd| T: M Appleby| OR: 59

5/1

11-race maiden who has reached the frame only once to date. Led until headed and faded 2 out over C&D last time. 2lb lower now but more needed to get his head in front.

Form: 4-82055

(7)

Executor¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: Ervis Tola⁽⁷⁾| T: H & R Charlton| OR: 53

25/1

Won Bath mile maiden nearly three years ago and shown nothing in two runs back from long absence, but they came over 6f and this trip looks more suitable. Improvement wouldn't surprise.

Form: 8587/90

(1)

Optima Petamus^p⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 8-10| J: Faye McManoman| T: L A Mullaney| OR: 47

3/1

Just 1-32 to date. Well backed on debut for this yard over C&D in June when fair third but hasn't shown same level in two starts since. Return here may help so should be there or thereabouts.

Form: 334357

Non-Runners

(3)

Bogardus³³

Weight: 9-9| Age: 7

T: L A Mullaney J: Paula Muir

Forecasts

Optima Petamus (3/1), Pike Corner Cross (3/1), Freud (7/2), Channel Packet (5/1), Castle Talbot (11/2), Bogardus (8/1), Indigo Princess (20/1), Executor (25/1)

A low key start to this card and a chance is taken on bottom weight OPTIMA PETAMUS who ran his best race for some time here last month. Both Freud and Castle Talbot have some sort of a chance if putting their best foot forward, and Executor is open to improvement stepping up to this trip aftrer struggling at sprint distances. Indigo Princess is another not totally out of the reckoning.