Could there be another Raasel lurking in the pack for this five-furlong contest?

racingtv.com Handicap | 5f | 2yo+ | RTV

One of the best-handicapped sprinters in training won this five-furlong sprint in smooth fashion last year and it would be a surprise if another Raasel was lurking in the pack.

Raasel, who bagged this Class 3 race on good ground off a mark of 81 in 2021, is now rated 106 after winning a Group 3 and running in three straight Group 1 cavalry charges.

Race conditions at Nottingham will be significantly more testing for the sprinters locking horns here and heavy ground is alien to almost half of the field.

Heavy-ground winners in the line-up include outsiders Blue De Vega and Ventura Flame, along with better-fancied pair Fast Response and Good Luck Fox.

Fast Response and Good Luck Fox are one from one on this surface and met recently over this course and distance. There was two and three-quarter lengths between them that day and Fast Response arrives seeking a hat-trick after obliging at Doncaster four days ago.

Clearly in rude health, Fast Response may be improving quickly enough to continue her winning streak, but Good Luck Fox is worth considering off 10lb better terms with that reopposing rival.

It is interesting that Richard Hughes is happy to run two-year-old The Thames Boatman on ground this testing, against his elders, off the back of a juvenile novice victory at Wolverhampton recently.

The Thames Boatman, who receives 16lb in weight-for-age allowances and has progressed on Racing Post Ratings with each start, should have plenty more to offer and there are hints in his pedigree that testing ground might not hinder him.
Analysis by Robbie Wilders

What they say

Karl Burke, trainer of Fast Response
She’s backing up quickly, especially for a filly, but she was impressive at Doncaster and she seems well in herself. Nick [Bradley, syndicate manager] is keen to give it a go. She’s got a fair bit of weight, but she’s only giving just over a stone to the bottom weight so it’s not too bad. She’s a good filly, I’d like to think she’d run well again.

Adam Ryan, assistant trainer of Peggy Sioux
She's run a couple of big races this year, including when third at Royal Ascot and if she reverts to that form she should have a big chance. She's fairly straightforward in terms of the ground and just didn't seem to be suited by York on her two most recent runs.

Ralph Beckett, trainer of Helvetique
She enjoyed the ground at Redcar and the drop back to five furlongs. There's a question of whether the visor will work for the second time.

Tony Coyle, trainer of Ey Up It's Maggie
This will be her final run of the year and we think she's well handicapped. It's her first run at Nottingham and she'll love the ground. We'd be delighted if she's in the first four.

George Boughey, trainer of California Gem
She seems to have taken her race at Deauville well. She's a course-and-distance winner and likes the ground so she has a good chance.
Reporting by Jonathan Harding

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