Wednesday 3rd June 2026
We head to Nottingham on Wednesday for our four selections, starting with the opener at 2.48, which is a Class 4 novice event that’s contested over six furlongs. I think that this can go to MENHAAL, for Owen Burrows and Saffie Osbourne. He was disappointing on his racecourse debut at Newbury last month when finishing seventh; however, he’s clearly held in some regard given that he was sent off the 10/11 favourite for that particular assignment. He should take a sizeable step forward with that run behind him, and it would be very disappointing should he not get considerably closer on this occasion. I suspect that we’ll see a different proposition this time around. True Charm is the main danger of those with experience, and he’s another who should take a step forward following a promise second-placed effort on debut at Windsor.
The second race on the card at Nottingham is the 3.18, and this is where I head for my second pick, and it’s a Class 4 fillies’ maiden on this occasion, ridden over five furlongs. I’m with a Karl Burke runner again here, and this time it’s QUEEN OF CHRISTMAS, who’s the mount of Clifford Lee. This is another race in which the Burke outfit are no strangers to success, having won it for the last three years on the bounce with useful types in Beautiful Diamond, Leovanni, and most recently Zelaina. That could well be a tip in itself in the regard they hold this two-year-old, and she looks potentially smart on paper. She cost 305,000 euros as a yearling and is a filly by Mehmas. The betting will be fascinating, but given the yard’s record in this race, she has to be the one for me. Senorita Bonita cost an eye-catching 900,000 guineas at the breeze-ups, and could be anything for the Crisfords. Archie Watson’s Terminology is bred to be speedy, and is another one to note in the Wathnan silks.
We move into handicap company at 3.48, with a Class 5 fillies’ handicap which is set to be ridden over a mile and half of a furlong. This is a competitive low-grade affair; however, it could pay to side with the Marco Botti-trained SAFE HARBOR, who’s the mount of David Egan. She’s a maiden after five outings; however, that doesn’t paint the full picture, as she’s shown ability in each of those starts. She put a slightly lacklustre seasonal reappearance behind her on her most recent outing at Newmarket, where she finished second of thirteen, keeping on well in the closing stages to finish just a length and a half behind the eventual winner. She’s just a pound higher on this occasion, and the extra half of a furlong could well see her bridge the gap. Lillie Margot would prove to be a danger if she follows up her second-placed effort over course and distance last time out, in what was her handicap debut, and the unexposed Vitality could show significant progression on handicap debut for Charlie Johnston.
My fourth and final selection of the afternoon at Nottingham comes within the 4.18, and this is another Class 5 handicap, this time contested over a mile and two furlongs. I like the chances of KASGANI here for Declan Carroll and Zak Wheatley, who takes off three pounds. He’s an Irish recruit, who made a very pleasing debut for this yard when finishing third of fourteen over course and distance in April, behind the reopposing Caph Star. You could make that run up further, given the fact that he was briefly denied a clear run, yet still kept to this task and was only eventually beaten by a length and a half. He’s been raised three pounds for that effort, but there should be more to come from him. A Major Payne is an obvious threat under champion jockey Oisin Murphy; he’s been knocking on the door for a while now, and is likely to be on the premises once again. Star Time is another to note for Alan King and Tom Marquand, who’s likely to build on his fifth-placed effort on seasonal reappearance.
Wednesday Selections
03/06/2026 (Nottingham)
2.48 Nottingham
MENHAAL – (6/4) (Win) (NAP)
3.18 Nottingham
QUEEN OF CHRISTMAS – (7/2)
3.48 Nottingham
SAFE HARBOR – (7/2) (Win) (NB)
4.18 Nottingham
KASGANI – (7/2) (Win)
