Nomenklatura Looks Open to Plenty More Improvement

3.00 Musselburgh – Nomenklatura

Mark Johnston excels with 3 year old runners in all age handicaps over staying trips, and his runner Nomenklatura has been installed as the favourite for the 12 furlong Class 6 handicap at Musselburgh. Previously disappointing, she popped up as a relative outsider at Pontefract and looks open to plenty more improvement.

After being prominent in the betting for her first 3 career starts, Nomenkatura was allotted a mark of 67. Stepped up in trip to 12 furlongs on handicap debut, she was noticeably weak in the market and was a moderate 6^th, beaten a long way. Next time out at Lingfield, something was clearly amiss, and she was beaten 115 lengths, finishing second last. There was clearly something wrong with the daughter of Archipenko and she was off from May until October. Punters can be forgiven for deserting Mark Johnston’s 3 year old filly after her previous lacklustre efforts, but her issues had clearly been sorted as she won with authority at Pontefract. Tracked the leaders that day and won comfortably when pushed out. Was racing off 62 and with a 6lb penalty, she is just 1lb higher than when starting in handicap company – a mark that seems very workable given her decent pedigree.

Musselburgh is a sharper track, so she is likely to be ridden handily again and against a mostly exposed field, Nomenkatura has a very good chance of making it a double. At odds of 3.75Bet €100 to win €37511/4Bet £100 to win £375+275Bet $100 to win $3752.75Bet HK$100 to win HK$3752.75Bet Rp100 to win Rp375-0.3636Bet RM100 to win RM375, she appeals.

6.10 Wolverhampton – Kristjano

If there is a trainer we like at SBO Racing, it is Chris Wall. The Newmarket handler is a real thinker, is able to get his horses well handicapped and places them extremely well. His runner Kristjano looks an intriguing prospect in the 14 furlong handicap at Wolverhampton, and there is a good chance the son of Nayef can go two places better than last time out.

After 3 fairly quiet runs to obtain a handicap mark, Kristjano was sent off a well-backed market leader on handicap debut at Wolverhampton over 12 furlongs. Raced off a mark of 64 that day and was beaten into third place, just half a length behind the winner. Seemed to get momentarily outpaced that day, before staying on stoutly to the line. The step up in trip is sure to be in his favour and the Wall yard rarely leave their money behind twice – when the trainer’s runners were beaten favourites last time out, their record is very profitable.

There are a few horses that need respecting, namely the Sir Mark Prescott trained All For The Best, a son of Rip Van Winkle. Prescott does well with his 3 year old stayers and the suspicion is that he hasn’t got the bottom of this one.

Tips Summary (13th October)

3.00 Musselburgh – Nomenklatura – 3.75Bet €100 to win €37511/4Bet £100 to win £375+275Bet $100 to win $3752.75Bet HK$100 to win HK$3752.75Bet Rp100 to win Rp375-0.3636Bet RM100 to win RM375 Ladbrokes

6.10 Wolverhampton – Kristjano – 3.50Bet €100 to win €3505/2Bet £100 to win £350+250Bet $100 to win $3502.50Bet HK$100 to win HK$3502.50Bet Rp100 to win Rp350-0.4000Bet RM100 to win RM350 Bet365, Ladbrokes, PaddyPower, BetVictor