Nottingham - Saturday 9th May 2026
There was plenty of encouragement to be taken from Angel Sense's second at Kempton and that experience will stand her in good stead. The daughter of Harry Angel shouldn't have any issues debuting on turf, but penalised winner BAYSIDE edges the verdict. Rod Millman's filly came good at the second of time of asking at Beverley and this extra furlong is expected to suit. 120,000gns purchase Crazy Cubana is the pick of several intriguing newcomers.
Having posted two fine efforts in defeat to date, LIGHTING THUNDER could be poised to strike. The Gosdens' colt lost little in defeat on his return at Newbury last month and a similar performance may prove good enough to repel chief threat Romanticizing. The son of Sea The Stars debuted with a solid third at Kempton and he's open to improvement. Qarreeb is the pick of the remainder.
Quick Turn looks interesting from the bottom of the handicap after justifying favouritism at Wolverhampton. He has been raised 6lb and is yet to place on turf so arrives with something to prove. VALKYRIE STORM won over C&D by a length last month and has been upped 3lb by the handicapper. Harry Vigors claims 7lb, though, and she looks well weighted under those terms. Inferno and Sailor Batt have place claims.
Ed Bethell won this last year and is back for more with ORANGESANDLEMONS, third at Wolverhampton last month and expected to improve for that first start since October. She was the winner of a much better race over C&D off 4lb lower the same month. Winston's Warrior won nicely enough at Southwell on his first start since being gelded and he can go well on his return to turf. Barry's Boy likes a battle and may attempt to make all.
The two previous runnings of this have gone to the Paul Midgley stable and he has chances of the treble with Herakles, whose last win on grass was in 2024 off 3lb higher. Beaten less than a length last time out at Newcastle, he can have a big say but DONALD is preferred. Still a maiden after three starts but only beaten a neck by Komorkis at Musselburgh in September, he makes his handicap bow off a mark of 70, which may prove generous. Komorkis is slightly worse off at the weights, but can't be ruled out.
Go Lockers Go and Tickettothestars are both recent winners to note, while Mademoiselle Belle was a close second to the latter over 6f here last time and is another to consider. That said, marginal preference is for DATA FATA SECUTUS, who met trouble when runner-up at Musselburgh 10 days ago and she can make amends off just 1lb higher here.
GENTLE WARRIOR failed to fire on his seasonal return at Musselburgh, but that contest was much stronger than this. If bouncing back to his 2025 form, Karl Burke's gelding could take some stopping. Russian Rumour bolted up at Ffos Las on her final start last year and should not be discounted, despite her lack of a recent run. Dino Bellagio is next best.
ANGEL SENSE made a highly encouraging debut when narrowly denied at Kempton and, with improvement likely, the Harry Angel filly can get off the mark on her second attempt. Cracksman filly Bayside showed a good attitude to get off the mark on her second outing at Beverley and looks capable of progressing further now stepping up to 6f for the first time. Of the newcomers in the field, Havana Grey Star appeals on pedigree and would enter calculations if ready to roll first time out.
LIGHTING THUNDER sets a solid standard the form of his first two starts and, with with John and Thady Gosden continuing in good nick, the Night Of Thunder colt looks capable of taking another step forward. Romanticizing made a very pleasing start at Kempton and rates an obvious danger with improvement likely from the Sea The Stars colt. The well-bred Qarreeb also shaped with promise on his second start at this track over 10f last time and should continue progressing with experience.
VALKYRIE STORM has been progressing steadily and looked good value for her success over course and distance last time, so another bold showing looks likely despite the rise in the weights. Sailor Batt continues to run to a fair level with successive thirds and should be competitive again if things drop right for him. Bosom Pals returns from an absence but remains lightly raced and could outrun his odds if tapping back into the earlier promise he displayed when winning at Thirsk on his penultimate start.
ASTEVERDI returned to form with a solid effort at Musselburgh and, from the same mark, the former course and distance winner looks capable of going close if handling conditions on the good side. Orangesandlemons has been running consistently well, including winning over course and distance here back in October, and another competitive effort at this track would come as no surprise after a solid run at Wolverhampton last time out. Winston’s Warrior arrives on the back of a convincing success at Southwell and, despite a wider draw and higher mark, remains open to further progress.
PAPA DON’T PREACH has been shaping encouragingly of late and, after another solid effort over course and distance off this mark last time, looks capable of making another bold bid. Herakles is threatening to strike again after being beaten by less than a length at Newcastle on his latest outing, and the yard’s strong recent record in this race adds to his appeal. Donald arrives in good form and, if building on his latest runner-up effort, missing out by a neck at Musselburgh, should not be far away once again.
GO LOCKERS GO is thriving at present and, having followed up on a Chelmsford victory at Yarmouth last time out, may still have enough in hand to defy another rise in the weights. Tickettothestars impressed when scoring over 6f here last time and is respected dropped to the minimal trip despite moving up the handicap. Dragon Spin continues to run consistently well, finishing just over a length behind in third at Bath latest, and should once again be thereabouts off a 1lb lower mark.
A small field Apprentice contest in which RUSSIAN RUMOUR arrives in excellent form after a wide-margin success at Ffos Las and, although conditions may not be quite as testing as she likes it here, the mare still looks the one to beat against this competition. Dino Bellagio is better judged on his previous Chester success on his penultimate start and could bounce back if getting into a good rhythm. Gentle Warrior has something to prove after recent efforts but may appreciate this drop in class.
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