Fresh Ground and Fine Racing at Colwick Park
Right then, lads and lasses, Sunday's card at Nottingham promises to be a cracker, and not just because they've given the whole course a proper seeing-to with the vertidrainer since last time. Seven races of National Hunt action await us at Colwick Park, headlined by a belting Class 2 Sussex Champion Hurdle that's worth a cool £65,000. The ground work should have freshened things up nicely - and by Jaysus, some of these horses will need every bit of help they can get!
The Nottingham racecard reads like a who's who of jumps racing, with trainers like Nicky Henderson, Dan Skelton, and Paul Nicholls all represented. When you see that calibre of handler bothering with an April Sunday at Nottingham, you know there's serious prize money on offer.
The Feature: Sussex Champion Hurdle Showdown
The 4:05 Sussex Champion Hurdle is where the real money talks, and with 14 runners rated between 108 and 135, it's going to be hotter than a blacksmith's forge. Serious Challenge heads the weights on 135, and the six-year-old has both course and distance form in his favour - always a telling combination at a track like Nottingham where local knowledge counts for plenty.
But don't be thinking this is a one-horse race, because Mondo Man (133) is breathing down his neck and also sports that crucial C,D next to his name. The Gary and Josh Moore-trained five-year-old has been knocking on the door in better company than this, and Caoilin Quinn knows this track like the back of his hand.
Helnwein brings Alan King's shrewd training to the party, and at 132 with distance form, he's not here to make up the numbers. The eight-year-old has been campaigned intelligently this season, and Tom Bellamy's booking suggests they fancy their chances on the freshened ground.
Course Specialists and Going Gainers
Those vertidrains will have opened up the ground beautifully, which should suit the course and distance winners to a tee. In the opener at 1:45, keep a close eye on Eremenko - when Nico de Boinville rocks up for Nicky Henderson in a mares' maiden, you sit up and take notice. The 107 rating suggests she's been schooling well at home.
Over the larger obstacles, Sea Thrift in the 3:30 Harry & Betty Savill Memorial Chase brings both course and distance form to the table. Daisy Hitchins doesn't send many runners this far north without good reason, and the seven-year-old's 97 rating looks workable in this company.
The ground conditions will particularly favour the stamina types in the longer races. That 3m 1f novice chase at 2:20 could see Ballyfinn finally get his head in front - the eight-year-old has been crying out for better ground, and Anthony Honeyball's string are flying at the moment.
Trainers in Form and Jockey Bookings
Dan Skelton's got runners scattered throughout the card, and when Tristan Durrell is doing the steering, you know they're not there for the exercise. Risk de Cerisy in the opener and Dream's Ka in the 2:55 novice hurdle both warrant serious consideration.
The Nicholls battalion arrives mob-handed too, with Fasol looking particularly interesting in the feature race. The seven-year-old is down to 120 after some disappointing runs, but Tabitha Worsley taking the ride suggests there's been a gear change at Ditcheat.
Brendan Powell has a couple of live chances, particularly Hamlet's Night in the big one. The five-year-old has distance form and James Owen's horses have been running with plenty of heart lately.
The Outsiders and Value Plays
Don't be overlooking some of the bigger prices either. General Briar in the Sussex Champion brings course and distance form at a tasty 118 rating, and Chris Gordon knows how to place one for a touch. At likely odds, he could easily outrun his rating on ground that should suit.
In the finale at 5:10, Rukaana looks harshly treated on 100. Jonjo O'Neill Jr. doesn't travel this far for nothing, and the five-year-old has been running better than his bare form suggests.
Ben Jones aboard Pigeon Forge in the opener is another booking that catches the eye - Emma Lavelle's mare could easily be better than her maiden tag suggests.
Best Bets and Ones to Watch
Win Bet: Serious Challenge (4:05) - The class horse with course and distance form on his side. The freshened ground should bring out the best in this progressive six-year-old.
Each-Way Special: General Briar (4:05) - Course and distance winner who could easily outrun his 118 rating at likely generous odds. Chris Gordon doesn't miss many tricks.
Ones to Watch: Eremenko (1:45) - Henderson and De Boinville don't team up for fun; Sea Thrift (3:30) - Course specialist who should relish the conditions; Rukaana (5:10) - The O'Neill team travel with purpose.
The freshened ground should produce some cracking sport, and with prize money like this on offer, expect the big guns to be firing on all cylinders. It's going to be a grand day's racing at Colwick Park - just the tonic for a Sunday afternoon!
