Racecards
14:30 Nottingham
Oval Handicap (Class 5)
- 15 Runners
- Distance: 6f 15y
- Going: Soft, Good to Soft in places
- Surface: Turf
- £5,000 added
Countdown
24- Form 005203
- Age 4
- Weight 9-4
- Official Rating 75
- Trainer T D Easterby
- Jockey D Allan
chased leaders far side, driven to lead group over 1f out, was one pace final furlong
- Form 0826-27
- Age 5
- Weight 9-4
- Official Rating 75
- Trainer J A Osborne
- Jockey L Dettori
chased leaders stands side, driven 2f out weakened final furlong
- Form 404094
- Age 7
- Weight 9-3
- Official Rating 74
- Trainer M Dods
- Jockey J P Spencer
held up stands side, headway 2f out, one pace final furlong
- Form 504642
- Age 7
- Weight 9-3
- Official Rating 74
mid-division stands side, effort over 2f out, no impression
- Form 230407
- Age 8
- Weight 9-0
- Official Rating 69
- Trainer P G Murphy
- Jockey R Havlin
held up stands side, headway over 2f out, driven and one pace final furlong
- Form 243709
- Age 3
- Weight 9-0
- Official Rating 72
slow into stride and always behind stands side, virtually pulled up
- Form 0-79508
- Age 4
- Weight 8-13
- Official Rating 70
- Trainer K R Burke
- Jockey P Cosgrave
held up stands side, driven over 2f out, soon beaten
- Form 410859
- Age 4
- Weight 8-13
- Official Rating 70
- Trainer Mrs C A Dunnett
- Jockey T P Queally
led far side group, headed 2f out, weakened over 1f out
- Form 057736
- Age 9
- Weight 8-13
- Official Rating 70
- Trainer M R Channon
- Jockey J F Egan
towards rear stands side, headway 3f out, driven to chase winner final furlong
- Form 111400
- Age 5
- Weight 8-11
- Official Rating 68
prominent stands side, ridden over 2f out, kept on same pace final furlong
- Form 444347
- Age 3
- Weight 8-11
- Official Rating 69
- Trainer T D Barron
- Jockey P Makin
towards rear stands side, ridden halfway, some late headway, never reached challenging position
- Form 215478
- Age 6
- Weight 8-10
- Official Rating 67
- Trainer Mrs C A Dunnett
- Jockey A Kirby
in touch far side, led group 2f out, headed over 1f out, weakened final furlong
- Form 405100
- Age 4
- Weight 8-10
- Official Rating 66
chased leaders to halfway stands side group
- Form 787356
- Age 3
- Weight 8-8
- Official Rating 65
- Trainer W J H Ratcliffe
- Jockey R Kingscote
made all stands side, shaken up 2f out, ran on final furlong
- Form 860-709
- Age 4
- Weight 8-12
- Official Rating 69
- Trainer H J Collingridge
- Jockey S Sanders
Nonrunner
Verdict
A wide open handicap that may fall to Countdown, Vanadium and Lizarazu look to be the main rivals. Tim Easterby's gelding is not the most consistent of performers but put in a solid effort last time when third behind dead-heaters King Harson and Mezuzah. He was rated 87 last season so does look on a very decent mark at present and could be ready to strike. Top weight Vanadium has strong claims on his recent victory at Newcastle, however his last two efforts suggest he may just be in the handicappers grip. Lizarazu looked on the way back to his best last time when chasing home the improved Wanchai Lad and he will be hard to keep out of the money. Norcroft and Sir Orpen are two others in with a squeak, but Countdown looks the pick of the weights today and this one gets the nod.
Formwatch
Vanadium 7-1 (8-9) In touch, ridden over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, 5th of 13, 2 1/2l behind Dhaular Dhar (9-4) at Catterick 6f hcp 0-85 (4) gd.
Countdown 8-1 (9-2) Towards rear, ridden over 2f out, headway over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, 3rd of 13, 2l behind dhtrs Mezuzah (9-1) & King Harson (9-1) at Musselburgh 7f hcp 0-80 (4) sft in Sept.
Morse (IRE) 12-1 (9-1) Chased leader, ridden over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 7th of 13, 2 1/2l behind Landucci (8-7) at Kempton 7f hcp 0-80 (4) pol in Sept.
Balakiref 6-1fav (9-4) Raced far side, held up, headway over 2f out, led that group over 1f out, no chance with stand side group, 4th of 17, 4l behind Wanchai Lad (9-5) at Nottingham 6f hcp 0-75 (5) sft.
Lizarazu (GER) 33-1 (8-8) Raced stand side, held up, every chance over 1f out, kept on same pace, 2nd of 17, 3/4l behind Wanchai Lad (9-5) at Nottingham 6f hcp 0-75 (5) sft.
Greenwood 33-1 (9-0) In touch stand's side, chased leaders under pressure 2f out, no impression over 1f out, 7th of 16, 11l behind Quintrell (9-0) at Newbury 7f hcp 0-75 (5) sft.
Ascot Lady (IRE) 50-1 (8-4) Pulled hard in touch, effort over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 9th of 10, 10l behind Cape (8-8) at Newmarket 6f fll hcp (2) gd in Sept.
Orphan (IRE) 25-1 (9-2) In touch, oupaced halfway, stayed on inside final furlong, 8th of 20, 4 1/2l behind Kay Two (9-4) at York 5f hcap (5) sft.
Norcroft 25-1 (9-1) Chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, soon lost place, 9th of 12, 5l behind Woodnook (9-3) at Lingfield 6f hcap (5) pol.
Digital 12-1 (9-2) In rear, headway over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong, never troubled leaders, 6th of 12, 3 1/2l behind Woodnook (9-3) at Lingfield 6f hcap (5) pol.
Joy And Pain 50-1 (8-8) Raced stand side, chased leaders over 4f, 15th of 17, 14l behind Wanchai Lad (9-5) at Nottingham 6f hcp 0-75 (5) sft.
Sir Orpen (IRE) 8-1 (8-13) Went left start, led stand side group and overall leader, ridden and headed over 1f out, no extra, 7th of 17, 5l behind Wanchai Lad (9-5) at Nottingham 6f hcp 0-75 (5) sft.
Kennington 20-1 (8-12) Raced far side, chased leaders over 4f, 8th of 17, 6l behind Wanchai Lad (9-5) at Nottingham 6f hcp 0-75 (5) sft.
Namir (IRE) 25-1 (8-12) In touch, when hampered on far rail and stumbled over 4f out, not recover, 10th of 14, 11l behind Dancing Mystery (9-1) at Brighton 5f hcp 0-70 (5) gs.
Bel Cantor 9-4fav (8-9) Chased leaders, hampered and lost place over 3f out, rallied over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, 6th of 12, 5l behind City For Conquest (9-2) at W'hampton 5f 3yo hcp (5) pol in Sept.
Sundance (IRE) 20-1 (9-1) Chased leaders, ridden halfway, one pace, 9th of 20, 5l behind Kay Two (9-4) at York 5f hcap (5) sft.
Jilly Why (IRE) 14-1 (9-4) In touch stand side, pushed along halfway, ridden over 1f out, stayed on same pace final furlong, 4th of 13, 1 1/2l behind Never Without Me (9-5) at Ripon 5f hcap (5) gf in Jun.