Candy A Nottingham Treat

Best bet at Nottingham is John Spearing's mudlark Rock On Candy (14:30), who has an excellent strike rate when getting her conditions. The daughter of Excellent Art is clearly hard to train, and seems reliant on genuinely soft ground, with a poor run over C&D in August attributed by the trainer to the ground not being easy enough for her. Rock On Candy has won testing-ground handicaps on all 3 starts either side of that aberration, and had shaped much better than the bare result when sixth of twelve here just over a year ago. She's up in the weights again for that Ffos Las win, but remains unexposed given her conditions, and can shrug aside the rise after a break.

In the second division of that contest at 15:05, a chance is taken on the regressive Foxy Music, who has been given a real chance by the assessor, and has been more competitive in handicaps on his last couple of starts. His sole previous try over C&D came on easy ground, when beaten just a short head by the useful Jonny Mudball, with Tax Free back in third. Tried in pattern company later last year, it's no surprise he struggled, but he's now back at a level where he can be competitive, and he looks the best of those drawn low today. It's possible that the high draws will dominate, with Beau Mistral having a perfect set-up in stall fourteen, next door to the speedy Alpha Delta Whisky, but if the draw doesn't scupper his chances, then Foxy Music could surprise at a juicy price.

The final selection on a trappy Nottingham card is Opera Buff in the 15:40. Sean Curran's charge has improved on easy ground of late, winning by a wide margin at Salisbury, and pulling nine lengths clear of the third when runner-up to Harry Hunt in the jump jockeys' challenge at Goodwood last time. A further rise in the weights for that effort is fully justified, and he looks too strong for a mixed bag of opponents here, with Desert Recluse perhaps his most interesting rival. That one is having just his second start for Brendan Powell having hinted at a revival last time, and the Powell/Fallon combination were in winning form at Yarmouth yesterday with Uncle Dermot.

Recommendations:

All at Nottingham

Back Rock On Candy @ [9.2] in the 14:30 (NAP)

Back Foxy Music @ [18.0] in the 15:05

Back Opera Buff @ [3.9] in the 15:40