14:45 Nottingham

Tuesday 16 July 2024

All14:4515:1515:4516:1516:4517:20

IMTFA Ltd Apprentice Classified Stakes

(5)

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: Anna Gibson⁽⁷⁾| T: G & J Moore| OR: 45

66/1, again showed little back on turf when eleventh of 15 in minor event at Windsor (11.4f, good to firm) 29 days ago. Blinkers on for 1st time.

Form: 70-5000

(9)

Believe Me Now^t1³⁰⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: Mohammed Tabti⁽³⁾| T: I Jardine| OR: 49

Modest maiden who finished well held under a change of tactics at Punchestown (9f) on final outing. Off 10 months. First run for yard after leaving A. Slattery. Tongue strap on for 1st time. Has a good chance if bouncing back to pick of form.

Form: 004070-

(6)

Fanzone^b¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 9-9| J: Tom Kiely-Marshall⁽⁷⁾| T: L Bailey| OR: 46

Has a poor strike rate but is going through a good spell at present, again running well when third of 7 in handicap at Musselburgh (9f, good) 13 days ago. Should remain competitive.

Form: 265323

(1)

Lope De Rueda^h,t⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: Joe Leavy⁽³⁾| T: R Menzies| OR: 50

9/2, shaped better than the distance beaten suggests when fifth of 14 in minor event at Ayr (8f, good to firm) 9 days ago, not ideally placed. Up in trip.

Form: 060065

(10)

Quoteline Direct⁷⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 9-9| J: Aiden Brookes| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 42| CD

C&D winner. Eighteen runs since last win in 2022 and was well held after 3 months off at Pontefract (8f, soft) 76 days ago, not much room 2f out. Back up in trip.

Form: 247-868

(7)

Raincloud¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: Ben Sanderson| T: M C Chapman| OR: 43

Modest maiden at best. 125/1, fourth of 6 in novice hurdle at Cartmel (17.2f, good to soft) 16 days ago. Poor on last Flat outing.

Form: 8780-99

(8)

Star Of St James²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 9-9| J: Elle-May Croot⁽⁵⁾| T: I Furtado| OR: 48| BF| D

On a long losing run but again ran well when second of 10 in handicap at Beverley (8.4f, good to soft, 7/2) 28 days ago, clear of rest. Merits consideration back up in trip.

Form: 557222

(2)

Zanagor^p1³¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: Kaiya Fraser⁽³⁾| T: Miss J Feilden| OR: 50

Just poor form at best so far, finishing tenth of 11 in handicap (33/1) at Leicester (11.8f, good) 31 days ago. Cheekpieces on for 1st time.

Form: 0/7-70

Non-Runners

(3)

Long Call³³

Weight: 9-9| Age: 11

T: A W Carroll J: Jack Doughty

(4)

Storm Asset⁹⁴

Weight: 9-9| Age: 5

T: D Shaw J: Millie Wonnacott

Forecasts

Star Of St James (7/4), Fanzone (5/2), Lope De Rueda (4/1), Long Call (12/1), Storm Asset (12/1), Believe Me Now (14/1), Quoteline Direct (16/1), Zanagor (33/1), Atwixaday (33/1), Raincloud (50/1)

A basement-grade event with a tentative vote going to BELIEVE ME NOW, who surely has a race of this nature within her compass if returning to the pick of her form. Star of St James and Fanzone are feared most.