Barry Nicholls - Nottingham 4.00 5 Berkely Vale - each way @ 14/1 (generally)
The 4.00 at Nottingham is a Handicap over the 1 mile trip there; which is 1 mile + 75 yards.
It is the classic puzzle of some solid and older handicappers versus some potentially progressive
3 year olds, some from big and powerful yards, and a few who have had a break ready for
an Autumn campaign. It is also relevant to point out that many of those from bigger yards
will be run in races now, with an eye on the sales, where medium/smaller yards will seek
to pick up an unexposed "stock horse" who has may be so far failed to deliver on its potential.
The field has some "likely improvers" especially from the Balding and Cox yards but Barry
thinks the best value is with a more experienced Course and Distance winner. Berkeley
Vale looks solid each way value at 14/1 generally on the basis of a Course and Distance win
in the Spring off a mark of 74. It runs here off 71; from a nice draw, having run in better races
during a summer campaign that has not been too over-taxing. Could pop up at a nice price!