British Stallion Studs EBF totepool Nottinghamshire Oaks Stakes (Listed Race) – Nottingham 16:20

The feature race today at Ripon slightly changed in complexion after the ground change and this surely helped the winner who was given a good ride. Our 2 that we highlighted ended up going off 3/1 joint favourites (Indy was 13/2 when we selected him) but they could only finish 2nd and 3rd.

Tomorrow’s feature race is at Nottingham and is a Listed race for Fillies and Mares.

Dream Child – stepped up in distance and won at Wolverhampton before transferring this form to the turf when narrowly being denied at Goodwood in a Listed event. The winner that day Miss Majurie has since come out and won again in a Group 3 event at Haydock and despite only winning by a short head she won this more snugly than the winning distance shows. The switch to Nottingham shouldn’t make too much of a difference as she has won at Wolverhampton which is a left handed course. William Buick is booked to ride and he rides this course really with an 8/31 record in recent years. There doesn’t appear to be a lot of pace in the race which would be the only worry as most of her rivals like to be held up. Drawn in 3 might mean she may not get too far behind. The drop in distance shouldn’t affect her too much as long as William gets to work on her early enough into the long straight.

My Spirit – started last season winning her first 3 races before finishing 3rd in a Listed race at Salisbury and 5th at Newmarket over 1m4f. The drop in distance shouldn’t make too much of a difference and the switch to Nottingham should be beneficial. She could continue improving as this is only her 7th run and she might be a Group horse later this season. The lack of a recent run may catch her out on this occasion though. She’s another horse that likes to be played late and drawn in 8 means she might be held up a bit further than Dream Child.

Pleasant Valley – made all on her reappearance at Pontefract when winning really easily and the step up to a Listed event looks reasonable. She has progressed nicely with 3 wins from her last 4 runs and should continue progressing. They have a 14.2% strike at 2, 19.6% strike rate at 3 and 20.6% strike rate at 4. If she can get across from 12 early and get an easy lead then she should run a big race as most of her rivals like to be held up. Adam Kirby has a good record at Nottingham and might be able to get his fractions right.

Mutatis Mutandis – was a good winner last time out in a handicap at Windsor when held up over 1m4f. The drop in distance to 1m2f probably won’t suit as she only just got up late on and statistically Mastercraftsman progeny have a 20% strike rate at 1m4f and only a 10% strike rate at 1m2f. Drawn out wide in 13 means she’ll probably get shuffled back towards the back of the field and may struggle to pick up.

Solar Magic – has only been campaigned up to 1m so far and stepping up to 1m2f shouldn’t be a problem and the way this race is likely to be run, it shouldn’t test her stamina that much. In a race that might be run at a slow pace it might be that Solar Magic has the best turn of foot as she has been running over shorter distances and she should run well. Drawn in 7 and ridden by Dettori she should might go well especially as John Gosden has a good record here.

This looks a tricky race being that there doesn’t look a lot of pace in the race and it may pay to select the front running Pleasant Valley. Dream Child’s good form and is TOP RATED and can’t be dismissed.

Dream Child @ 9/2
Pleasant Valley @ 5/1