'We expect him to run a big race' - analysis and quotes for series final

Wednesday: 3.55 Nottingham
Fairfax Saddles Grassroots Series Stayers' Final Handicap | 1m6f | 3yo+ | RTV

It generally pays to be positioned prominently on the round course at Nottingham. Last year’s winner of this race, Idilico, came from the rear and benefited from the pace collapsing after receiving a canny ground-saving ride around the inside from David Egan.

Idilico bids to land back-to-back runnings from just 3lb higher this time having moved to Dianne Sayer after last year’s success and the yard arrives in flying form, having had four winners over jumps in the last fortnight.

Egan rides Arabescato this time and the jockey clearly likes this venue, with his record in the last 12 months standing at 8-34 with an SP profit of £25.27 to £1 stakes.

The draw (16) will be his main concern over this course and distance where being positioned low is an advantage but his mount is at least versatile with regards to tactics. The son of Outstrip has been posting solid Racing Post Ratings in the low-to-mid 80s in five Flat outings since his return at Chelmsford in April.

Grand Scheme has looked progressive this season, winning over course and distance earlier in the campaign before following up at Newbury.

His sire Territories – untried over further than a mile himself – has somewhat surprisingly passed on plenty of stamina to a good chunk of his progeny (sire is 5-25 over 1m4f+ in Britain) and this one in particular could have more to give over staying trips.

It is worth noting Grand Scheme did well to finish fourth at Goodwood last time having uncharacteristically missed the break by many lengths, and jockey Sean Levey has hit the ground running with three winners since his return on Friday.

Amazing Red was below form again last time but he is becoming dangerously well handicapped having won from a 15lb higher mark last year, and he showed he retains a decent chunk of ability earlier in the season when beaten only a length at Newmarket.

Finally, Saint Riquier ran with credit at Chester on his penultimate start on the Flat and it is probably worth upgrading his two-length defeat at Newmarket next time as he made his challenge on the wrong part of the July course (there was a rail bias on the stands’ side).
Analysis by Phill Anderson

What they say

Richard Hannon, trainer of Grand Scheme
He won a qualifier for this at the track in May and it’s always been the plan to come back. He lost ground at the start at Goodwood last time but if he gets away on terms he should have a decent shout.

Gay Kelleway: hoping rain stays away for Mukha MagicCredit: Edward Whitaker

Gay Kelleway, trainer of Mukha Magic
He’s had a great run but at some point the handicapper catches up with them. He’s won at the track and is a better turf horse than the all-weather. Hopefully the rain stays away as he doesn’t like soft ground.

Chris Kellett, trainer of Blistering Barney
He was a bit unlucky at Pontefract last time and the key to him is quick ground so hopefully they don’t get any rain. He’s on his highest-ever mark but we expect him to run a big race.

David Egan, rider of Arabescato
I’ve never ridden him before but he looks a consistent type. He could be better drawn but we’ll give it a go as it’s good prize-money.

Seamus Durack, trainer of Phoenix Aquilus
I wanted to run him in this last year but we ran out of time. He’s had a better run into it this time and is a better horse on grass than the all-weather.

Ed Dunlop, trainer of Amazing Red
He ran well back off a break at Chelmsford last time when he was slowly away. If he gets away on terms and they go a good gallop he’s not without a chance.

Ian Williams, trainer of Saint Riquier and Ernesto
Saint Riquier is back from a break and he may improve for the run but I just hope he isn’t too keen. Hopefully they will get some overnight rain. Ernesto has a decent draw but it depends on which Ernesto turns up as he’s a character to say the least.

Robert Stephens, trainer of Melakaz
We brought him back to run in a qualifier for this at Haydock the other day in which he ran well to be second and he goes there with a massive chance. The only drawback is an outside draw but hopefully he can overcome that and the ground stays quick.

Alex French, trainer of Lawmans Blis
He ran well over course and distance back in May and has performed creditably since.

Brian Ellison, trainer of Nietzsche
He’s had a new lease of life on the Flat just lately and won well at Catterick the other day. We’re taking 5lb off him and we expect him to run a nice race at a track where he’s won before.
Reporting by David Milnes

Nottingham bolstered by healthy field sizes

Increased prize-money across Nottingham's grassroots finals card means the course is to buck the trend of concerning field sizes in British racing with 90 runners declared across the seven-race card.

An additional £5,000 has been added to the pot for the four series finals while an additional mile race also worth £30,000 takes the day's total offering up to a commendable £166,000.

This will be the eighth year of the grassroots final organised by the Jockey Club with this the first year to have a prize-money boost.

Clerk of the course Tom Ryall, who expects the ground to be between good and good to firm, said: "It looks a really good day, there's over £165,000 in prize-money. We couldn't be happier really.

"The grassroots final is a good initiative by the Jockey Club, it's been going a number of years now and trainers know where it is in the calendar. The qualifiers have run from the start of May to end of August, so the races are there. It's becoming more established."

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