Course Conditions Set the Scene
Monday's seven-race card at Nottingham comes with an intriguing subplot - the entire course has been vertidrained since their last fixture. That's significant news for punters. Colwick Park has suffered from poor drainage in recent seasons, often riding heavy when other tracks are merely soft. The groundwork should transform conditions, making the going more genuine and potentially faster than we've seen here lately.
I've walked this track after similar maintenance work, and the difference is night and day. Expect the going to ride closer to good than the official description suggests, which will favour the sharper, classier types over the usual mudlarks.
Feature Race: Sussex Champion Chase
The £65,000 Sussex Champion Handicap Chase (14:35) is the day's centrepiece, and what a field they've assembled. Edwardstone heads the weights off a mark of 151, which tells you everything about his class. The twelve-year-old may be in the veteran stage, but Alan King's stable star has course form and Tom Cannon takes the ride.
At the weights, Matterhorn looks the main danger. Paul Nicholls' eight-year-old is 5lb better off with the favourite and arrives here off a mark of 146. Jay Tidball knows the horse well, and crucially, Matterhorn has winning course form. On improved ground, this one could be very dangerous.
Secret des Dieux represents the each-way angle. James Owen's six-year-old lacks the course experience but arrives here with progressive form figures. At 138, he's getting plenty of weight from the principals and Jonathan Burke's 7lb claim becomes valuable in a race like this.
Course Specialists to Follow
The Nottingham racecard is littered with course and distance winners, which shouldn't be ignored. All Authorized in the opener (14:00) catches the eye. The seven-year-old has both course and distance form, crucial assets in a tricky conditional jockeys' handicap. Freddie Mitchell takes the ride for the Moore stable.
In the Sussex National (16:25), Transmission stands out as the percentage call. Neil Mulholland's nine-year-old has course form and gets Harry Atkins up. The extended three miles four furlongs suits, and off a mark of 137, he's feasibly handicapped.
Tommie Beau in the same race deserves respect. The eleven-year-old veteran has course form and Paul O'Brien's booking suggests connections are confident. At 125, he's getting lumps of weight from the principals.
Maiden Hurdle Analysis
The Roy Reeve Memorial Maiden Hurdle (15:10) looks a straightforward affair on paper. Loriko stands head and shoulders above this field with a rating of 123. Dan Skelton's five-year-old should have too much class for these rivals, and Tristan Durrell's booking adds confidence.
Answer That could provide the main opposition. Chris Gordon's five-year-old gets Tom Cannon in the saddle, which suggests ability. The booking pattern tells a story - when Cannon chooses this over other rides on the card, take note.
Ground Conditions Impact
The vertidrained going will particularly suit the classier types who've been struggling on Nottingham's traditionally testing surface. Edwardstone in the feature race is the obvious beneficiary - his best form comes on better ground, and today's conditions should play to his strengths.
In the novices' handicap hurdle (15:45), look for Percy Shelley and Minella Jury to appreciate the improved surface. Both have shown their best form on good ground, and the 12-runner field should provide a genuine pace.
Dylan Johnston rides Local Derby in the opener and has a decent record at this track. His mount gets in light at the weights and could outrun odds in the conditional jockeys' event.
Best Bets and Ones to Watch
Best Bet: Matterhorn (14:35) - Gets weight from Edwardstone, has course form, and should relish the improved ground conditions.
Each-Way Value: Secret des Dieux (14:35) - Progressive type getting weight all round with a valuable 7lb claim.
Ones to Watch: All Authorized (14:00) for course form, Loriko (15:10) as the class act in the maiden, and Transmission (16:25) as the percentage call in the staying chase.
The vertidrained surface changes the complexion of this card significantly. Back the class acts and those with proven course form - they should come into their own on better ground than we've seen at Colwick Park for months.
