Nottingham, Friday 17 July 2026: Tips & Selections

Nottingham, Friday 17 July 2026: Tips & Selections

Six races at Nottingham today, with a card that covers everything from two-year-old maidens to a genuine stamina test over two miles and two furlongs. The going is unconfirmed at time of writing, so keep an eye on the course inspection update before committing. Trainer and jockey angles are particularly strong today, with Ed Walker and James Doyle both carrying solid Nottingham records into their respective rides. Glorious Goodwood is now less than a fortnight away, and some of these runners will have half an eye on entries there, which can sharpen connections’ approach at this stage of July.

2:22 — British Stallion Studs EBF Fillies’ Restricted Novice Stakes (1m2f)

Selection: Hauteluce (4/5 BoyleSports, 5/6 Betfred)

Ed Walker has a 16% strike rate at Nottingham with a positive A/E of 1.19, which tells you his runners here run to their price or better. The yard has also been in decent nick lately, hitting the board six times from 33 runners in the last fortnight. Hauteluce posted a win last time out after a debut fifth, so the form line reads 5-1 with clear progression. At a mile and two furlongs, she gets the step up in trip that should suit this profile, and Ashley Lewis claims a useful five pounds. The price is short, admittedly, but this is a five-runner fillies’ novice and the quality of opposition is limited. Guesstimate represents the main danger off her 2-0335 form string, but William Haggas’ runner has had every chance to win and keeps finding one too good. Hauteluce is the play.

2:52 — EBF Maiden Stakes (6f)

Selection: Tawakal (4/9 BoyleSports, 2/5 Betfred)

James Doyle rides, and that alone sharpens the interest. Doyle wins at 20% at Nottingham from 329 rides with an A/E of 1.02, meaning he runs true to his price here. The Crisford yard has been firing recently, hitting six winners from 21 runners in the last 14 days. That is a strike rate of over 28%, which is very much a yard in form. Tawakal is a debutant, so there is an element of the unknown, but when a juvenile with this level of support comes in off the back of a hot yard and with a jockey of Doyle’s calibre, you take it at face value. Gold Reef City at 3/1 is the value alternative if you want to oppose, coming off a seventh on debut with Ralph Beckett, who posts an 18% course record. But the layers’ framing makes Tawakal the one to beat.

3:27 — When You Wish Upon A Star Race Handicap Stakes (2m2f)

Selection: Merrijig (11/8 BoyleSports, 11/8 Betfred, 5/4 LiveScore Bet)

The figures say Merrijig tops this field and the form backs it up. Runner-up last time out, a winner four starts ago, and he has already proven he gets the two miles and two furlongs. Jason Watson rides, and he is 16% at Nottingham with a 1.07 A/E, meaning the jockey suits the track. John Berry has had one from three runners in the last 14 days, a small sample but a productive one. The 17-day turnaround is brisk enough to suggest the horse is in good order. Al Sayah is interesting at 9/4 on BoyleSports given she was third last time and has already run the trip, but Merrijig’s head-to-head profile is stronger and the ratings edge goes to him. At 11/8, this is not a huge price but it is fair for a horse that arrives in form and leads on figures.

Regally Blonde Each-Way at 4/1 is worth a small each-way interest if you want cover. Third last time, race-fit after 13 days, and Ben Case actually posts a remarkable A/E of 1.76 at Nottingham across a small sample. The place terms on a five-runner race are only two places at a quarter odds, so the each-way case is marginal, but at the price there is something there.

Today’s NAP

Merrijig — When You Wish Upon A Star Race Handicap Stakes (3:27, Nottingham)
Odds: 5/4 — LiveScore Bet (others: 11/8 BoyleSports, 11/8 Betfred)

Merrijig tops the figures in this field, arrives off the back of a runner-up finish, and has already proven he gets this demanding two miles and two furlongs. Jason Watson’s strong Nottingham record adds further confidence, and a yard that has been active and productive in the last fortnight suggests this horse is in good nick. Grab the 5/4 on LiveScore Bet while it lasts, as the 11/8 available elsewhere represents fair market value for what looks the most straightforward win on the card.