Today's Racing Tips: Six bets for Nottingham

Yesterday’s NAP (Getaround) was very well backed but could only finish third having weakened late on. Harry Skelton’s mount jumped really well on his chase debut / seasonal reappearance and is definitely one to follow next time out. My other selection, Legal Reform, won at 4/1 to make it seven winners in the past eleven days.

Today marks my final visit of the year to Nottingham, where I have picked out six bets on an intriguing eight-race card.

Nottingham Tips

13:40 – 1m½f Join Racing TV Now Handicap (Class 4)

The recent course and distance winner Rogue Bear is an improving type and should go well again. However, his price is a little short so preference is for another progressive three-year-old, GAINSBOURG (1 point win bet at 7/1). A blip at Beverley in August came between wins at Hamilton and Pontefract with his most recent victory coming in good style on soft ground. The front two pulled well clear of the rest in that race and the runner up went on to frank the from by winning at Redcar next time out. PJ McDonald knows the horse well and partnered him to finish third on his only previous visit to Nottingham. Ed Bethell’s gelding should still be competitive off a 6lb higher mark.

14:15 – 5f racingtv.com Handicap (Class 3)

RAASEL (NAP – 1 point win bet at 2/1) comes here in fine form and holds strong claims of landing the four-timer. This lightly raced sprinter has now won four of his eight career starts and is unbeaten in his three races on turf this year. His last two victories have been over today’s course and distance and he handles some ease underfoot. Mick Appleby has an excellent record with his runners at Nottingham and James Doyle gets back on board. Faustus, the mount of William Buick, and Josies Kid, receiving plenty of weight as the only two-year-old runner in the line up, complete the shortlist.

14:50 – 5f Racing TV Extra Handicap (Div I) (Class 5)

George Boughey has enjoyed a really good start to his training career and can land another winner courtesy of COLOMBE (1 point win bet at 4/1). Sent off as the 7/4 favourite at Brighton last time out, she skipped clear and looked the likely winner before weakening to finish a close third. She has been dropped 2lbs since that run and that should be enough for her to record a second career success, especially with Jamie Spencer booked for the first time. This will be just her seventh start on turf and she should be well suited by the return to softer ground. Mehmo can outrun his odds and chase home the selection under the 7lb claimer Frederick Larson.

15:23 – 5f Racing TV Extra Handicap (Div II) (Class 5)

MISTER BLUEBIRD (1 point win bet at 9/4) looks a worthy favourite for division II of the sprint handicap given the manner of his win at Ffos Las last time out. The booking of Silvestre De Sousa for the first time is a positive as the jockey is 3-7 when riding for Heather Main. He has a 5lb higher mark to defy but is an improving type and will be making just his ninth start on turf.

At a huge price, I am also taking a chance that the return to turf can rejuvenate FINE WINE (0.5 point win bet at 50/1). A dual winner on good to soft / soft ground in France, he has been well beaten in all three starts since joining Scott Dixon. However, they all came on Southwell’s fibresand surface, which he clearly didn’t take to. As a half brother to a Listed winner, he should be capable of going well off a mark of 68 with conditions to suit.

15:55 – 1m6f Bet At racingtv.com Handicap (Class 3)

This competitive stayers handicap can go to MIDRARR (1 point win bet at 4/1) for in form trainer William Haggas, who has a 29% strike rate with his runners at Nottingham. Tom Marquand has been aboard for all three career wins and also rode her to a third-place finish over two miles at York last time out. That came following a two-month break so she is entitled to have sharpened up for the run. The drop back to 1m6f will suit this well-bred daughter of Dubawi and cheekpieces have been fitted for the first time. East Asia and Dreams Unwind are feared most.