The racing boffins at Timeform are keen on Joe Masseria in the last.
Wednesday’s Nottingham racing tips
13:17 Woolisle
13:47 Westgate Warrior
14:17 Masked Warrior
14:47 Ice Max
15:17 Sea Poetry
15:47 Lightning Tiger
16:22 Joe Masseria
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change
WOOLISLE showed her best form faced with ground softer than good for the first time when runner-up over six furlongs at this course last week, just coming unstuck against a stronger stayer having helped ensure a strong gallop. She easily fared best of those up with the pace, so emerged with plenty of credit, and the return to the minimum trip should allow her to open her account in this field. Catterick runner-up Master Harry is second choice ahead of Henrythenate.
There could be more to come from recent course and distance winner WESTGATE WARRIOR, who built on a couple of good placed efforts to open his account a fortnight ago, and he’s remains unexposed at this trip. He is selected to make light of a 6 lb rise. Fuji Mountain took a step back in the right direction last time and is feared most ahead of Hi Lord, who won his maiden in the mud last autumn and might find life a bit easier now down in a 0-70 for the first time.
MASKED WARRIOR is bred for more stamina than speed, just the sort to make up into a smart middle-distance handicapper next season, but he shaped with plenty of promise on his debut over seven furlongs at Newbury last month. He knew his job, but he still looked the best prospect in the race, and that form is starting to work out. The step up to a mile is sure to suit and he’s a big player with improvement forthcoming. Hell Yeah He Did remains open to progress despite his short-priced reversal at Pontefract and is second choice ahead of African Gib.
ICE MAX had largely struggled in pattern company this season, but he looked right back to his best when recording his first win of the year back in handicap company at York recently, producing a decidedly smart effort off top weight. That performance makes him stand out at the weights returned to listed company, and he’ll be hard to beat if in similar form with the return to soft ground another big plus. Treble Tee is taken to bounce back to form returned to 1m and provide the main threat ahead of Prague, who could step up on this year’s efforts now back on a softer surface.
None of the quintet can be ruled out but SEA POETRY took another step forward when hitting the frame over an extended mile at this course last time, not ridden as positively as usual, but a tardy start more or less forced her rider’s hand with the tactics. The stamina on the dam’s side of her pedigree gives hope of her staying this even longer trip and she probably hasn’t shown what she’s fully capable of just yet. Love Beach heads the list of dangers.
Charlie Fellowes’ LIGHTNING TIGER took his form up another notch when an emphatic scorer on his handicap debut at Catterick earlier this month, still learning on the job but readily moving clear inside the final furlong, and can make light of a 6 lb weights rise now his stamina is being stretched even more. Personal Best rates a big threat though on the back of a good second over course and distance last timee, while Maxident, Dancingwithmyself and Rock N Roll Pinkie can all have a say too in this highly competitive handicap.
JOE MASSERIA scuppered his chance at the start when gambled on for his yard debut here last week and now tried in different headgear is worth another chance to capitalise on what connections clearly feel is a lenient mark. Richard Fahey’s Mystical Maria showed a good attitude when going in at Leicester last time and rates a big danger though, while Alpine Stroll is also well in the mix if in the same form as when scoring at Newbury four days ago.
Wednesday’s Nottingham racing tips
13:17 Woolisle
13:47 Westgate Warrior
14:17 Masked Warrior
14:47 Ice Max
15:17 Sea Poetry
15:47 Lightning Tiger
16:22 Joe Masseria
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change
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