Monday 18 July 2016

4.45 Nottingham, Tuesday, July 19


In the 4.45 at Nottingham on Tuesday, Always Resolute has been in cracking form since returning to action on the Flat in May, winning three of his four starts and looks far from impossibly handicapped, despite a 5lb rise in the weights for winning at Chester last month. He’s reunited with 7lb claimer Ben Robinson, who won on him at Ripon three starts ago and, while he’s yet to win on going faster than good, he’s been placed on the prevailing good to firm going a couple of times.

The son of Refuse To Bend has been tried just twice over 2 miles, finishing a never-nearer sixth of 14, beaten 7 lengths, behind Magic Circle at Haydock last September (when with Timothy Jarvis) off a mark of 65 and beating Diamond Joel by 1½ lengths at Chester off a mark of 73 on his most recent start for his new yard. That latter piece of form represented a career-best effort and, while Musselburgh isn’t as sharp as Chester, the sharp, flat track should play to his strengths once again and he looks a decent bet to continue his winning sequence.

Selection: Nottingham 4.45 Always Resolute to win