Racing tips: Step up in trips could suit this pair at Nottingham

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Some quality racing on Sunday, with the 1000 Guineas taking place at the Curragh, and Grade 1 action coming over the jumps in France. Good luck with whatever you decide to bet on.

Nottingham 2:55

It's not something I do too often, but I'm taking a gamble on MOORLAND QUEEN to handle the soft ground. It goes without saying, that you should try and back horses who you know will handle the conditions, but I think that this horse is too big odds currently, and her form stacks up well, that I'm willing to take a chance that she will handle the soft going.

This lightly raced 3yo daughter of Kodiac ran a big race last time at Beverley, at big odds of 100/1. The form of that race has worked out well, with the 2nd since running a big race to finish 2nd again, but the horse who beat him has won again yesterday at Goodwood (Rhoscolyn). Also, Typical Man who was back in 5th has won by 4 lengths in a Class 4 handicap at Doncaster.

Though Moorland Queen hasn't run on soft ground, her pedigree suggests that she could be fine. Being by Kodiac, you'd imagine that she would handle the soft ground, like a lot of his progeny have done in the past. As for the step up in trip, I don't think that will pose any problems, as she was staying on strongly over an extended 7f, and she seemed to look like a plodder, which would suit a step up.

My other concern is the wide stall, which could mean that she will have to settle for a rear position if breaking slowly.

Advised: Each Way (5 places with nearly every bookmaker)

Nottingham 5:10

I'd imagine that Hughie Morrison's filly will be popular in the market, as she is still quite lightly raced, has the champion jockey Oisin Murphy riding, and has a recent win to her name, but I don't think the conditions will be favourable for her. In my opinion, IDILICO is a strong contender, and one you'd be disappointed if he wasn't going close.

To my eye, Sulochana doesn't seem to have an action of a soft ground horse. Like I've said many times in the past, I'm no horse expert, but she seems to glide across the ground, and that was seen best to effect lto where she won on Good-to-firm ground, winning convincingly. Though she has a pedigree which would suggest that soft ground will be okay, being by Lope De Vega, whose progeny do well on soft ground, I'm not so sure. On the other hand, Idilico has previously won on soft ground, and ran well on it lto at Doncaster. In his last race, he looked desperate to be upped in trip, as he was staying on all the time, but lacked the speed for 12f. He is a horse who stays further than 14f, shown in his hurdling days, where he finished runner-up on a few occasions over 2m.

William Buick is a noticeable jockey booking, as he seems to be riding extremely well, and is aiming for the jockey championship. He also rode a winner for Ian Williams earlier this week.

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