18:15 Nottingham

Saturday 17 April 2021

All16:4017:1517:4518:1518:4519:15

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Off time: 18:16 | Winning time: 1m 42.86s

(5)

Jean Baptiste⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: Mark Crehan⁽⁵⁾| T: G Boughey| OR: 82

5/1

Winner at Chelmsford City in October who arrives on back of excellent second of 8 in handicap at Leicester (8.2f, good) 8 days ago. Sure to go well again nudged up just 1 lb.

Form: 5771-42

(7)

Russian Virtue²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: J P Spencer| T: D Menuisier| OR: 77

13/8

Lightly-raced 4-y-o who shaped with promise when fifth of 22 on handicap bow at Doncaster (7f) 20 days ago, running on well having been hampered over 1f out. Form has been franked, and a big player.

Form: 474-5

(4)

Hundred Isles¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: Charles Bishop| T: M R Channon| OR: 77| D

9/2

Improved form when opening his account in 1m handicap (10/1) at Chelmsford City 16 days ago, staying on strongly. Merits consideration despite 7 lb rise.

Form: 87-21

(2)

Asdaa^b1¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: B A Curtis| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 77| BF

14/1

Seventeen runs since last win in 2020 but in decent nick and ridden too aggressively when sixth of 8 in handicap at Wolverhampton (9.5f) 12 days ago. No forlorn hope in first-time blinkers.

Form: 2-52536

(8)

Catch My Breath^p¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: Laura Pearson⁽⁵⁾| T: J Ryan| OR: 73| D

6/1

Latest win at Lingfield in January. 13/2, creditable fourth of 11 in handicap at this C&D 10 days ago given not ideally placed. Shortlisted.

Form: 113454

(1)

Bucephalus¹⁷⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: James Doyle| T: C F Wall| OR: 72| BF

9/1

5/1, creditable fifth of 10 in 1m2f handicap at Doncaster in October on final run for Ed Walker. Needs to hit the ground running for his new handler if he's to gain a first success.

Form: 46/5575-

(3)

Copper And Five¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-13| J: P J McDonald| T: Mrs R Carr| OR: 70

11/1

Lightly-raced maiden. Off 7 months before creditable fifth of 14 in handicap (15/2) at Pontefract (8f, good to firm) 11 days ago, though he didn't look the easiest of rides. Not ruled out.

Form: 4/233-5

Non-Runners

(6)

Swiss Knight¹⁹⁴

Weight: 9-7| Age: 6

T: M & D Easterby J: Nathan Evans

Forecasts

Russian Virtue (13/8), Hundred Isles (9/2), Jean Baptiste (5/1), Catch My Breath (6/1), Bucephalus (9/1), Copper And Five (11/1), Asdaa (14/1), Swiss Knight (33/1)

RUSSIAN VIRTUE caught the eye when fifth in a big field at Doncaster last time and with that form working out really well David Menuisier's low-mileage 4-y-o looks the way to go. Hundred Isles is another with better days ahead of him so should ensure the selection doesn't have things all his own way, with in-form Jean Baptiste a solid place prospect.