16:00 Nottingham
There is a nice looking card here at Nottingham today with this the pick of the races. They travel one mile and two furlongs in this fillies Listed stakes and with winners prize money of almost £24k it has attracted a decent field.
The top rated is the Ed walker trained Persona Grata and she has to carry an additional three pounds compared to the rest of the field. She won a Listed race over a mile in France last season and has had a few races in group company, therefore she is one to keep an eye as there is plenty of ability there. Her two races so far this season have seen her outclassed, however the return to much firmer ground here should definitely help and I am expecting a much better showing.
Sound Of Freedom was a very creditable sixth of seventeen in a Group 1 Chantilly last season and was beaten less than three lengths there. She was last of sixth on her next outing but that was over one mile and five furlongs which she was unable to cope with. Back over ten furlongs today should be perfect for her and if she displays the class she did in the Prix De Diane Longines then there is a chance she will have far too much for her rivals here today.
Sir Mark Prescott runs Merritt Island who won a couple of handicaps last summer before being comfortably beaten in a Listed race in France on her final start of 2015, and I think she may have a little bit to find with one or two of these today.
California, trained by John Gosden, ran well for a long way in a Listed race at Goodwood last time out but faded away at the end. The drop back from twelve to ten furlongs is therefore sure to help as that's the distance both of her wins have been over. I think Roger Havlin will keep her right up with the pace and if things go her way there is a good chance she will make the frame.
Ryan Moore is aboard Intimidation for Sir Michael Stoute and her only start so far this season was a mid division finish in a handicap at Newmarket. Quite a lot of improvement will be needed for her to figure here today, however the booking of Moore plus the much firmer ground should show her in a far better light and it would be no surprise to see her involved at the business end of proceedings.
Today's Selection
Nottingham 16:00 - Sound of Freedom - 1 point @ 13/2 (Bet365, William Hill)