17:25 Nottingham 31 May 2026
9 Racedays At Nottingham Racecourse Handicap
Class 5 | 4YO plus
Winner £6,542 - 7 declared to run
Good-good to firm in places
Draw Advantage: High
Forecast: Light rain
Temperature: 11.0° - 20.1°
Rainfall: 0.38mm
Wind: 9.9 mph W
Last Update: 30/05/2026 17:00
Bookies best price percentage = 113.89%
AT THE RACES is not liable for any services or information offered or provided by its bookmaker partners. Please note: Whilst every effort is made to ensure odds and information are up to date and correct, differences between these and actual odds/information available from bookmakers at time of placing a bet may occur.
Below form beaten 6 1/4l in a handicap at Yarmouth last time; top course jockey; returning from long layoff; tongue-tie first time; effective 6/7f; might need this.
Placed in three of five starts. Beaten 6l behind Noble Guest at 9-4 when seventh of 8 on his latest outing at Yarmouth over 7f (good) in July last year. He is wearing a tongue-tie for the first time.
Below form beaten 6 1/4l in a handicap at Yarmouth last time; top course jockey; returning from long layoff; tongue-tie first time; effective 6/7f; might need this.
| Race Record | Runs | Wins | Places | Win Rate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All Flat Races | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0% | |
| Flat (Turf) | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0% | |
| Conditions | |||||
| Course and Distance | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | |
| Course | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | |
| Distance | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | |
| G | Similar Going | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0% |
| Headgear | |||||
| Today (T only) | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | |
| Class & Handicap Rating | |||||
| Cl | Class 5 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0% |
| Hcp | This Handicap (OR) or Higher | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0% |
| Connections | |||||
| J | Rob Hornby | 0 | 0 | 0 | - |
| T | C G Cox | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0% |
-
Grey = Horse has placed form
-
Blue = Horse has winning form
-
Gold = Horse has a 50% or better win record
Could have done with better pace to aim at beaten 4l off a 2lb higher mark at Southwell last time; off a short-break; effective 7-9f, acts on good to soft, good to firm and AW; mark eased, needs more.
She has won four times from 7f to 1m 1f on the all-weather. Third of 5 behind Dream Illusion beaten 4l at 3-1 on her latest outing at Southwell over 1m in March.
Could have done with better pace to aim at beaten 4l off a 2lb higher mark at Southwell last time; off a short-break; effective 7-9f, acts on good to soft, good to firm and AW; mark eased, needs more.
| Race Record | Runs | Wins | Places | Win Rate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All Flat Races | 25 | 4 | 4 | 16% | |
| Flat (Turf) | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0% | |
| Conditions | |||||
| Course and Distance | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | |
| Course | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | |
| Distance | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0% | |
| Similar Going | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0% | |
| Headgear | |||||
| HG | Today (V only) | 9 | 3 | 0 | 33.3% |
| Class & Handicap Rating | |||||
| Cl | Class 5 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 12.5% |
| This Handicap (OR) or Higher | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | |
| Connections | |||||
| J | Cieren Fallon | 0 | 0 | 0 | - |
| T | James Owen | 11 | 3 | 2 | 27.3% |
-
Grey = Horse has placed form
-
Blue = Horse has winning form
-
Gold = Horse has a 50% or better win record
Lacked pace beaten 3l off a 2lb higher mark at Thirsk last time; effective 1m, acts on any; needs more than of late.
He has won three times at 1m on ground varying from good to firm to good to soft. Beaten 3l behind Empire Of Light at 18-1 when seventh of 13 on his latest outing at Thirsk over 1m (good) earlier this month.
Lacked pace beaten 3l off a 2lb higher mark at Thirsk last time; effective 1m, acts on any; needs more than of late.
| Race Record | Runs | Wins | Places | Win Rate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All Flat Races | 30 | 3 | 7 | 10% | |
| Flat (Turf) | 27 | 3 | 6 | 11.1% | |
| Conditions | |||||
| Course and Distance | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | |
| Course | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | |
| D | Distance | 19 | 3 | 4 | 15.8% |
| G | Similar Going | 23 | 3 | 6 | 13% |
| Headgear | |||||
| Today (No Headgear) | 26 | 3 | 6 | 11.5% | |
| Class & Handicap Rating | |||||
| Cl | Class 5 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 20% |
| Hcp | This Handicap (OR) or Higher | 25 | 3 | 5 | 12% |
| Connections | |||||
| J | J P Sullivan | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0% |
| T | T D Easterby | 22 | 2 | 4 | 9.1% |
-
Grey = Horse has placed form
-
Blue = Horse has winning form
-
Gold = Horse has a 50% or better win record
Again ran to a modest level when fourth beaten 7l in a handicap at Windsor latest; suited by 8/9f, seems to act on any except very testing ground; bounce back needed.
Has won nine races from 7f to 1m 1f on good and yielding ground and on the all-weather. Finished 7l behind Zarathos when fourth of 11 at 17-2 on his latest outing at Windsor over 1m (good to firm) earlier this month.
Again ran to a modest level when fourth beaten 7l in a handicap at Windsor latest; suited by 8/9f, seems to act on any except very testing ground; bounce back needed.
| Race Record | Runs | Wins | Places | Win Rate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All Flat Races | 38 | 9 | 6 | 23.7% | |
| Flat (Turf) | 23 | 7 | 1 | 30.4% | |
| Conditions | |||||
| CD | Course and Distance | 2 | 1 | 1 | 50% |
| C | Course | 2 | 1 | 1 | 50% |
| D | Distance | 28 | 7 | 3 | 25% |
| G | Similar Going | 19 | 7 | 1 | 36.8% |
| Headgear | |||||
| HG | Today (B only) | 24 | 6 | 2 | 25% |
| Class & Handicap Rating | |||||
| Cl | Class 5 | 11 | 3 | 5 | 27.3% |
| Hcp | This Handicap (OR) or Higher | 16 | 5 | 1 | 31.3% |
| Connections | |||||
| J | Jack Doughty | 0 | 0 | 0 | - |
| T | Dr R Newland & J Insole | 31 | 7 | 6 | 22.6% |
-
Grey = Horse has placed form
-
Blue = Horse has winning form
-
Gold = Horse has a 50% or better win record
Bit keen, ran to form up in trip third beaten 1 1/4l off 68 last time, same mark here; effective at 7-10f, acts on good, good to firm and AW; drop to 1m might suit here.
A winner at 1m on firm ground. Third of 4 behind Party Island beaten 1 1/4l at 5-2 on his latest outing at Bath over 1m 2f (firm) earlier this month.
Bit keen, ran to form up in trip third beaten 1 1/4l off 68 last time, same mark here; effective at 7-10f, acts on good, good to firm and AW; drop to 1m might suit here.
| Race Record | Runs | Wins | Places | Win Rate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All Flat Races | 9 | 1 | 0 | 11.1% | |
| Flat (Turf) | 5 | 1 | 0 | 20% | |
| Conditions | |||||
| Course and Distance | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | |
| Course | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | |
| D | Distance | 1 | 1 | 0 | 100% |
| Similar Going | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0% | |
| Headgear | |||||
| HG | Today (B only) | 2 | 1 | 0 | 50% |
| Class & Handicap Rating | |||||
| Cl | Class 5 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 14.3% |
| This Handicap (OR) or Higher | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0% | |
| Connections | |||||
| J | Mason Paetel | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0% |
| T | H Main | 9 | 1 | 0 | 11.1% |
-
Grey = Horse has placed form
-
Blue = Horse has winning form
-
Gold = Horse has a 50% or better win record
Ran to form fourth beaten 4 1/4l off 63 last time, 1lb lower here; effective 7-9f, acts on heavy, fast ground and AW; still on workable mark.
A winner at 1m on good ground. Finished 4 1/2l behind Kiss Me My Love when fourth of 12 at 5-1 on his latest outing at Redcar over 1m (good) earlier this month.
Ran to form fourth beaten 4 1/4l off 63 last time, 1lb lower here; effective 7-9f, acts on heavy, fast ground and AW; still on workable mark.
| Race Record | Runs | Wins | Places | Win Rate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All Flat Races | 16 | 1 | 2 | 6.3% | |
| Flat (Turf) | 9 | 1 | 1 | 11.1% | |
| Conditions | |||||
| CD | Course and Distance | 1 | 1 | 0 | 100% |
| C | Course | 1 | 1 | 0 | 100% |
| D | Distance | 6 | 1 | 2 | 16.7% |
| G | Similar Going | 8 | 1 | 1 | 12.5% |
| Headgear | |||||
| HG | Today (T only) | 6 | 1 | 1 | 16.7% |
| Class & Handicap Rating | |||||
| Cl | Class 5 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 0% |
| Hcp | This Handicap (OR) or Higher | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0% |
| Connections | |||||
| J | Saffie Osborne | 0 | 0 | 0 | - |
| T | D Loughnane | 16 | 1 | 2 | 6.3% |
-
Grey = Horse has placed form
-
Blue = Horse has winning form
-
Gold = Horse has a 50% or better win record
Again below form down the field in a handicap at Ripon most recent; effective at 7/8f, acts well on AW; bounce back needed.
He has won three times from 7f to 1m 1f on good to firm ground and on the all-weather. Well beaten at 33-1 behind Star Cast when 11th of 12 on his latest outing at Ripon over 1m 2f (good) earlier this month.
Again below form down the field in a handicap at Ripon most recent; effective at 7/8f, acts well on AW; bounce back needed.
| Race Record | Runs | Wins | Places | Win Rate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All Flat Races | 37 | 3 | 6 | 8.1% | |
| Flat (Turf) | 21 | 1 | 2 | 4.8% | |
| Conditions | |||||
| Course and Distance | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | |
| Course | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | |
| D | Distance | 10 | 0 | 2 | 0% |
| G | Similar Going | 21 | 1 | 2 | 4.8% |
| Headgear | |||||
| Today (T only) | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0% | |
| Class & Handicap Rating | |||||
| Cl | Class 5 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 22.2% |
| Hcp | This Handicap (OR) or Higher | 18 | 0 | 2 | 0% |
| Connections | |||||
| J | William Pyle | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0% |
| T | K Frost | 25 | 2 | 5 | 8% |
-
Grey = Horse has placed form
-
Blue = Horse has winning form
-
Gold = Horse has a 50% or better win record
Verdict
Stardancer is an interesting contender in the finale returning from an absence sporting a first-time tongue-tie. The betting market should tell us more about his chances, but the safe play is THE SWEET ESCAPE as he won over C&D last month and has held his form well in three subsequent starts. It's also worth considering track-and-trip winner Great Blasket and Penelope Valentine.
Expert View Verdict
THE SWEET ESCAPE is a consistent sort with C&D winning form and he appeals as the most likely to score here. He has a likeable attitude and is preferred to Penelope Valentine, although that one is more dependent on getting a decent pace to run at. Prodigal Son has found some form of late since having blinkers fitted and he could easily be good enough to get his head back in front.
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Previous Winners
| Year | Going | Ran | Winner | Draw | Age | Weight | OR | Form | Last run | Trainer (Distance) | Jockey | SP | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Good | 13 | Havana Prince | 2 | 4 | 9 8 | 71 | 41-5013 | 3 days | T Coyle & K Wood (59 miles) | David Nolan | 9/ 2 | 1:44.09 |
| 2024 (Div 1) | Good | 9 | Soames Forsyte | 3 | 5 | 9 4 | 67 | 252490 | 19 days | M Herrington (44 miles) | David Allan | 9/ 1 | 1:46.11 |
| 2024 (Div 2) | Good | 9 | War Chant | 1 | 4 | 9 9 | 72 | /52511170-3 | 19 days | Rae Guest (96 miles) | Callum Shepherd | 7/ 2 | 1:45.14 |
Race Favourite Stats
| Year | Favourite Finish Position | Winner Market Position |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 7 | 2 |
| 2024 | 2 | 6 |
Race Record
| Distance | Record Time |
|---|---|
| 1m 75y | 1:15.10 |