July 16 / 14.45 Nottingham

14.45

Good

Imtfa Ltd Apprentice Classified Stakes

  • Prize money: £3402.1
  • 1m 2f 50y
  • Class 6
  • 8 runners
RTV
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Imtfa Ltd Apprentice Classified Stakes

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

Abandoned

Form: 0-5000

Last run: 29 days

W: 9st 9lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 45

Form & Verdict
No wins in ten and has been well beaten in classified races the last twice at huge odds; blinkers replace a visor.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

1

(7)

8th Aug 2024

Good To Firm

1m 3f 198y

Class 6

16:30 Brighton

Atwixaday

9st 9lb

J: Tom Queally

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Soundly beaten at classified level the last twice and remains a thoroughly inconsistent maiden; others preferred.

12/1

Form: 04070-

Last run: 307 days

W: 9st 9lb

4 yo Filly

OR: 49

Form & Verdict
Just minor promise in eight Irish defeats from 1m to 1m4f; has been off since September and new trainer fits a tongue-tie; others safer.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

5

(1)

4th Feb 2025

Standard

0m 7f 14y

Class 6

19:30 Newcastle (AW)

Believe Me Now

9st 7lb

J: Andrew Mullen

T: Iain Jardine

Narrowly got the better of Yaahobby in a 0-50 classified event over C&D last month, but never recovered from a slow start when behind three of these back here ten days ago; could go well if breaking on terms.

13/2

9th

5

(1)

4th Feb 2025

Standard

0m 7f 14y

Class 6

19:30 Newcastle (AW)

Believe Me Now

9st 7lb

J: Andrew Mullen

T: Iain Jardine

Narrowly got the better of Yaahobby in a 0-50 classified event over C&D last month, but never recovered from a slow start when behind three of these back here ten days ago; could go well if breaking on terms.

13/2

6th

2

(5)

25th Jan 2025

Standard

0m 7f 14y

Class 6

18:35 Newcastle (AW)

Believe Me Now

9st 9lb

J: Andrew Mullen

T: Iain Jardine

Both her wins were in classifieds after a break, with ten weeks off before she won over C&D 15 days ago; quickly backed up the form when she scored last August, a repeat of which would see her bang there again.

2/1

OUR TIP

Abandoned

Form: 265323

Last run: 13 days

W: 9st 9lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 46

Form & Verdict
Only 1-37 but at least arrives here in good form after making the frame in three handicaps; can handle soft ground should it get wet.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

7

(8)

14th Sep 2024

Good

1m 0f 2y

Class 6

16:10 Musselburgh

Fanzone

9st 0lb

J: Aiden Brookes

T: Liam Bailey

Second or third 16 times but has won just once; arrived in good form but ran poorly when last behind Little Ted over C&D 18 days ago; may well bounce back but he's proving expensive to follow; usual blinkers left off today.

16/1

8th

8

(7)

27th Aug 2024

Good

1m 0f 2y

Class 6

16:10 Musselburgh

Fanzone

9st 1lb

J: Tom Kiely-Marshall

T: Liam Bailey

held up in rear, outpaced over 2f out, always behind

8/1

Abandoned

Form: 060065

Last run: 9 days

W: 9st 9lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 50

Form & Verdict
0-11; didn't go unbacked when fifth in a 1m classified race at Ayr (good) where he left himself with a lot to do; possibilities.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10

(11)

19th Jul 2024

Good To Soft

1m 0f 6y

Class 6

18:45 Pontefract

Lope De Rueda

9st 4lb

J: David Nolan

T: Rebecca Menzies

Market springer when an eyecatching fifth at Ayr (1m, good) 12 days ago but that was in a classified event and this is tougher back in a competitive handicap; has some work to do and he's still a maiden after 11 starts.

10/1

5th

4

(14)

7th Jul 2024

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 6

15:35 Ayr

Lope De Rueda

9st 9lb

J: Callum Rodriguez

T: Rebecca Menzies

slightly awkward start, soon switched left, held up in last

16/1

Form: 47-868 CD

Last run: 76 days

W: 9st 9lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 42

Form & Verdict
Six-time winner but stuck on a losing run and he's not getting any younger at the age of 11; this year's defeats include classified races.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

9

(9)

22nd Jul 2024

Good

1m 1f 207y

Class 6

20:30 Beverley

Quoteline Direct

9st 3lb

J: Aiden Brookes

T: Micky Hammond

Veteran who's won just once in the past six years; can go well fresh but is hard to recommend on this season's efforts.

33/1

8th

10

(12)

1st May 2024

Soft

1m 0f 6y

Class 6

17:35 Pontefract

Quoteline Direct

8st 11lb

J: Aiden Brookes

T: Micky Hammond

It's now 17 outings since his last success but this course winner wasn't disgraced when sixth in 1m2f Newcastle classified event in January; possibilities after a break.

25/1

Abandoned

Form: 780-99

Last run: 31 days

W: 9st 9lb

4 yo Filly

OR: 43

Form & Verdict
16-race maiden who would be receiving weight off most of these in a handicap; not the percentage call.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

11

23rd May 2026

Good To Soft

2m 6f 31y

Class 4

13:35 Cartmel

Raincloud

10st 11lb

J: Miss Ellie Callwood

T: Michael Chapman

0-19 and she was last to finish in a 2m5f handicap at Market Rasen last month; others more persuasive.

66/1

8th

11

5th Apr 2026

Good

2m 4f 139y

Class 5

14:48 Market Rasen

Raincloud

10st 5lb

J: Ben Poste

T: Michael Chapman

Struggled to get competitive in second half of last year and returns from break with overall strike-rate standing at 0-35; 4lb wrong; overlooked.

66/1

11

2nd Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 88y

Class 5

15:17 Southwell

Raincloud

10st 5lb

J: Miss Ellie Holder

T: Michael Chapman

0-18 over hurdles and 0-17 on the Flat; pulled up in C&D maiden in December and makes no significant appeal from 2b out of the weights on handicap return.

100/1

Form: 557222 D BF

Last run: 28 days

W: 9st 9lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 48

Form & Verdict
Coming on two years since last successful but this looks a good opportunity to put that right after finishing runner-up in three consecutive handicaps at about 1m (with cut underfoot); stays this far.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

10

(10)

17th Jan 2025

Standard

1m 0f 13y

Class 6

20:30 Southwell (AW)

Star Of St James

9st 9lb

J: Elle-May Croot

T: Ivan Furtado

took keen hold, led, headed over 2f out, weakened over 1f out

12/1

10th

10

(10)

17th Jan 2025

Standard

1m 0f 13y

Class 6

20:30 Southwell (AW)

Star Of St James

9st 9lb

J: Elle-May Croot

T: Ivan Furtado

took keen hold, led, headed over 2f out, weakened over 1f out

12/1

10th

10

(9)

21st Dec 2024

Standard

1m 1f 104y

Class 6

16:05 Wolverhampton (AW)

Star Of St James

9st 2lb

J: Elle-May Croot

T: Ivan Furtado

A dual 1m/1m2f turf scorer in the summer and not seen to best effect when tenth in 1m2f Chelmsford handicap nine days ago, helping set a strong pace; he can't be discounted off a 3lb lower mark.

20/1

Abandoned

Form: 0/7-70

Last run: 31 days

W: 9st 9lb

4 yo Filly

OR: 50

Form & Verdict
Poor form so far including handicap debut the last time (1m4f); the only ray of hope is that she's still lightly raced; cheekpieces tried.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

7

(2)

15th Jun 2024

Good To Firm

1m 3f 179y

Class 6

18:53 Leicester

Zanagor

9st 8lb

J: Dylan Hogan

T: Julia Feilden

in touch with leaders

16/1

6

(8)

27th Apr 2024

Soft

1m 2f 0y

Class 5

14:37 Leicester

Zanagor

9st 11lb

J: Dylan Hogan

T: Julia Feilden

Did not show a great deal on her 2yo debut (7f) or her sole appearance last year (9.4f); can only be watched after another layoff.

50/1

Non-runners

Long Call, Storm Asset

Verdict

The safest option has to be STAR OF ST JAMES (nap) who has been holding his own in handicaps and he’s one who won’t be bothered by rain. Fanzone has a similar sort of recent profile and he’s second choice ahead of Lope De Rueda.[Alistair Jones]

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Star Of St James

D Express:

Lope De Rueda

The Guardian:

Believe Me Now

The Times:

Fanzone

POSTDATA:

Long Call

The Star:

Lope De Rueda

RP RATINGS:

Star Of St James

Telegraph:

Star Of St James

Daily Mail:

Star Of St James

Daily Mirror:

Star Of St James

The Sun:

Star Of St James

Daily Record:

Star Of St James