3:29 Nottingham
This Class 4 handicap over 1m75y at Nottingham on good ground brings together nine runners, most of them rated in the mid- to high-70s or low-80s. The KTB Fit scores are tightly bunched, headed by Dark Whisper on 56, with Treasure Time, Quisana and Duke's Command all within four points of him, suggesting a competitive race where small margins and the right run will matter. Several horses are dropping in class, and with no obvious front-runner in the field the pace is expected to be tactical.
How the race shapes up
The pace shape indicates this race lacks a natural leader, pointing to a steadily-run, tactical affair in which being handy to the pace should pay dividends. Most of the field are held-up types who produce their effort late, though Tamzan is the notable prominent runner from a low draw who could take up a forward position. The key question is whether the leaders can dictate enough to give the closers something to aim at, or whether those racing handily will be able to control the race to their advantage.
The KTB Fit ranking
-
1Dark Whisper KTB Selection56/100
Dark Whisper arrives with a KTB Fit Score of 56 and is the selection. A fair performer, he has shown consistent form this year with a win and two placed efforts from four starts. Dropping back to a trip he has won over is a plus and he acts on good ground, having won once and placed once from three runs on it. The David Menuisier yard holds a 14% strike rate at Nottingham with an A/E of 1.04 from 74 runs, while Saffie Osborne is 16% from 56 rides here with an A/E of 1.12. He has already placed on this course from a single visit, and although his trainer-jockey combination shows a modest 1/17 record the individual course stats are more positive. Usually held up, he produces his effort late and should be suited by the steadily-run nature of the race.
-
2Treasure Time55/100
Treasure Time is rated a fair performer who has won over today's trip but comes into this race on the back of a poor 0-5 record this year and was well beaten on his most recent start. He has placed once from six runs on good ground and is drawn in stall one which could help him secure a good early position. The John & Sean Quinn yard has a modest 4% strike rate at Nottingham from 24 runs with an A/E of 0.43, though Jason Hart brings a solid 15% record from 179 rides here with an A/E of 1.2. Dropping in class, he is usually held up and produces his effort late with high confidence in that run-style. His KTB Fit Score of 55 keeps him firmly in the mix.
-
3Quisana53/100
Quisana is a fair 3-year-old with a solid recent record of 252132 and has already won on this track from a single visit. She drops back to 1m today having scored at the trip before, though the move comes after her latest run over 1m2f. The Eve Johnson Houghton yard holds a 13% strike rate at Nottingham from 134 runs with an A/E of 1.1, and Charles Bishop is also 13% from 119 rides here with an A/E of 0.98. She is usually held up and produces her effort late with high confidence. Rated OR 76, she carries a KTB Fit Score of 53 and her course win adds obvious appeal.
-
4Duke's Command52/100
Duke's Command is a fair performer on his best days but has been largely out of form this year with a string of modest efforts reflected in his recent form of 765083. He has run just once at Nottingham and showed little, finishing seventh, while the David O'Meara yard's 10% strike rate here from 170 runs with an A/E of 0.63 adds no encouragement. He has won on good ground and at this trip, so the conditions should be suitable. Usually held up with high confidence in that run-style, he carries a KTB Fit Score of 52 and an official rating of 87. Tom Marquand's 12% strike rate at the track from 217 rides with an A/E of 0.84 is respectable but the overall profile remains modest.
-
5Tamzan51/100
Tamzan is a fair 3-year-old with a solid recent record of 413132 and two wins at today's trip from ten attempts. He handles good ground, having won once and placed twice from four starts on it, while the Marcus Tregoning yard has a 12% strike rate at Nottingham from 75 runs with an A/E of 0.8. The 3lb claimer Ashley Lewis is operating at a 31% strike rate here from a small sample of 13 rides with an A/E of 0.99. Usually prominent, he could be handy in a race lacking an obvious leader.
-
6Darkness50/100
Darkness is a fair performer who has been out of the winner's circle for a long time and whose recent form of 006634 offers little encouragement. He has placed on good ground and won over today's trip in the past, but his record at Nottingham is modest with just a fourth from one run. The David O'Meara yard has a 10% strike rate here from 170 runs with an A/E of 0.63, while Daniel Tudhope is 15% from 255 rides with an A/E of 0.91. Dropping in class and usually held up, his KTB Fit Score is 50.
-
7Dhahabi47/100
Dhahabi is a fair performer on his day but has been out of form for some time and arrives on the back of five straight defeats. He drops back to a trip he has placed at in the past though he has never won over it, while he handles good ground well enough with two wins and three places from nine runs. The Ian Williams yard and Edward Greatrex both have solid rather than sparkling records at Nottingham. Usually held up, his KTB Fit Score stands at 47.
-
8Carron42/100
Carron is a fair performer who has won twice at this trip from 11 attempts and showed some spark when placed on good ground. Recent form of 108200 is mixed at best and the Ruth Carr yard's modest 7% strike rate at Nottingham from 182 runs with an A/E of 0.59 offers little encouragement. James Sullivan is similarly quiet here with a 5% record from 192 rides and an A/E of 0.54. Usually held up, his KTB Fit Score is 42.
-
9King of Thunder42/100
King of Thunder is a fair 3-year-old with a solid recent record that includes a win and two placed efforts from his last five starts. He steps up to 1m for the first time today which asks a fresh question while his two runs on good ground have produced no win or place. The Hugo Palmer yard has an 11% strike rate at Nottingham from 130 runs with an A/E of 0.68 and David Probert is 9% from 275 rides here with an A/E of 0.85. Usually held up, his KTB Fit Score is 42.
KTB verdict
Dark Whisper is the KTB Selection. A fair performer with consistent form this year including a win and two places from four starts, he drops back to a trip he has won over, acts on good ground and has already placed at Nottingham. The yard and jockey both have solid records at the track, and in a steadily-run race his late effort should be well suited. His main dangers are Treasure Time, who is well drawn and has won over the trip, Quisana, who won here on her only visit and drops back to her winning distance, and Duke's Command, who is capable on his best days and should appreciate the conditions even if his recent form is modest.
KTB Selection Dark Whisper
This is the narrative read of the 3:29 Nottingham. For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the Nottingham racecard. Every result we hold for the track is on the Nottingham results & records page. New here? How KTB works explains the Fit Score and why we publish both.
Questions about this race
Which horse has course-winning form at Nottingham?
Quisana has won here from a single visit.
How many of the field are dropping in class?
Four horses are dropping in class: Dark Whisper, Treasure Time, Darkness and Dhahabi.
Which runner is most likely to race prominently?
Tamzan is the only prominent runner, usually racing handily on or close to the lead.
Which jockey has the strongest strike rate at Nottingham in this field?
Ashley Lewis has a 31% strike rate at Nottingham from 13 rides.
What is the recent form of the KTB Selection?
Dark Whisper's recent form figures are 2310.
18+. Analysis and entertainment only — no guarantee of profit. KTB race previews are published for interest and are not betting advice. Only ever stake what you can comfortably afford to lose, and set your own limits. Free, confidential help: the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 (GamCare.org.uk); in Ireland, the GamblingCare.ie helpline on 1800 936 725. Self-exclude at any time via GAMSTOP.
More from Kickthebookies