4:55 Nottingham Tips

Bang On The Bell looks the one to beat, dropping into much easier company here. Two starts ago at Nottingham Racecourse over this course and distance he finished 3rd, beaten just ½L in a Class 5 Handicap off 56 behind the 70-rated Glory Fighter, with the 67-rated Albegone in second. That form reads very well for a race of this nature. Last season he also showed useful sprint handicap form when finishing 2nd at Chester Racecourse in a Class 4 Handicap over 5f off 70, beaten only ½L. Earlier in the year he had won a Class 5 Handicap at Windsor Racecourse off 68, proving he can be competitive from much higher marks than this. Ground conditions are a slight concern with rain forecast, but his profile suggests he is versatile enough to cope. He has previously won on soft ground and has also run respectably on good to soft. Now dropping into a Class 6 Handicap in a 0-55 and eased 1 lb to a mark of 55, this represents a much weaker race than the one he contested here previously. If reproducing that Nottingham effort, Bang On The Bell rates the one to beat.

Tony Carroll has a great record when he books a top jockey to ride one of his runners, and Rossa Ryan is booked. Sonic Si's rating has slipped by 10 lb since his first run for Tony, so I think with a good draw he will win.