Nottingham, Saturday 20 June 2026: Tips and Selections

Nottingham, Saturday 20 June 2026: Tips and Selections

A modest six-race card at Nottingham on good ground, but there are angles worth attacking across the three races highlighted here. The track suits patient, well-bred horses over a mile and beyond, and with good going underfoot, pace and class will tell. Here is where the value sits.

5:55 Dine In Sherwoods Restaurant Novice Stakes (1m2f)

Selection: Seacole (2/1, Boyle Sports / Betfred)

Three runners, so no each-way betting, but there is a genuine upset case to make against the odds-on favourite. Cyrano De Bergerac is a John and Thady Gosden-trained colt who has twice finished second and is heavily expected to go one better here. The Gosden yard is running at 7/23 in the past 14 days, which is solid enough, and their 20% course strike rate at Nottingham is consistent. He looks the likely winner on paper.

The interest, though, is in Seacole at 2/1. Ralph Beckett sends her here with no form figures published, suggesting this is a debut or very lightly raced filly. Beckett runs at 18% at this course with an A/E close to 1.0, meaning his runners run to their market position reliably. Pat Dobbs takes the ride, and when Beckett introduces a filly at a sensible price in a small-field novice, it usually means he thinks she is ready to run well. At 2/1 in a three-runner race, if she has any ability at all, this is worth a small win bet against a short-priced rival who has yet to break his duck in two attempts.

6:35 Racedays For £9 Apprentice Handicap (1m½f)

Selection: Zowal (11/4, Boyle Sports / Betfred / LiveScore Bet)

Five runners with two places on offer. This is a tricky apprentice race, but Zowal catches the eye despite a stop-start form line. The 4-year-old gelding has returned from a break showing a win (6) and a pull-up (P) in his recent form, but the most recent effort is a win and that counts for plenty at this level.

The John and Sean Quinn yard has hit 1/11 in the past fortnight, which is not a yard firing on all cylinders, but Shay Farmer takes the ride without a claim and that is significant in an apprentice race where 3lb and 7lb claimers are all around him. The lack of an allowance is effectively a plus here, giving him an experienced pair of hands.

Ramli catches the eye too, coming off a run of 5-3-1 in recent starts, and is the most consistent horse in the field. At 5/2, he is marginally the best-priced favourite option. Leadenhall for Tim Easterby, who has fired 7/92 in the past 14 days, could also outrun his 3/1 price. With five runners and only two places paid, this is a win-only race to play.

7:10 Wildwest Beer Festival Handicap (1m2f)

Selection: Model Yuko Each-Way (7/1, Boyle Sports / Betfred / LiveScore Bet)

Eight runners, three places, and a race that sets up nicely for a horse with a strong recent form line. Model Yuko for Roger Varian is the pick of the card at 7/1. Her form reads 4-3-1-3-8, with that third place followed by a win (1) just two runs back. The dash at the end of her form string is the most recent run, likely a seasonal return or a step up in grade, and on a comeback you can forgive a rough effort.

Varian is a key stat here. He runs at 20% at Nottingham with an A/E of 0.93, meaning his runners consistently perform close to expectations. Crucially, the yard has gone 6/29 in the last 14 days, which is a hot streak. Sean D Bowen, a quality rider stepping in for this, adds further confidence. Good ground suits horses with a clean, balanced action, and this filly’s form suggests she handles conditions well.

Spoken Truth at 5/2 for David O’Meara is the market leader and has been placed in his last three starts (2-2-3). He is solid but short enough for a horse whose form top figure is a second. Time Loop for William Haggas at 7/2 is interesting given Haggas has gone 11/30 in the past fortnight, a blistering stat. Keep her onside, but her form shows a win-and-absence followed by a fourth and eighth, so she needs to bounce back sharply.

At 7/1 each-way in an eight-runner handicap, Model Yuko represents the best value on the card. Three place positions mean she needs to hit the frame, and a filly trained by a yard in form, ridden by a capable jockey, returning from a likely forgiven run is exactly the sort of angle to press.

Today’s NAP

Model Yuko — Wildwest Beer Festival Handicap (7:10, Nottingham)
Odds: 7/1 — Boyle Sports (others: 7/1 Betfred, 7/1 LiveScore Bet)

Roger Varian has gone 6/29 in the past two weeks and his yard consistently delivers at Nottingham, running at 20% course winners. Model Yuko brings a recent win on her form, a quality jockey booking in Sean D Bowen, and good ground that should suit. At 7/1 in an eight-runner handicap with three place positions, this is genuine each-way value and the standout angle of the card.

Each-Way Recommended 3 places at 1/5 odds