4:00 Nottingham - interesting jockey booking of Nathan Evans on Tim Easterby trained AFANDEM (5/2), Evans has ridden just 1 winner in past week, but it was on the only 1 he rode for this trainer and has an overall record of 4 from 26 (+15 LSP) for him, selection has been ridden by an apprentice on last 4 starts and not been beaten far in any of those runs. Although he is 1 lb higher than when 2 lengths 3rd over c&d in June, that race has worked out very well with 1st, 2nd & 4th winning 4 races from 7 between them since then. His main rival here according to betting is Gamesome, pair have met 3 times before with Afandem leading the score 2-1 and he was comfortably ahead on their last meeting 3 weeks ago on same terms.
4:30 Nottingham - Ugo Gregory was the horse that Evans/T. Easterby combination won with last week, he has a chance under a penalty but 13/8 is too short a price in my opinion. Paul Midgley has a strong hand with his two runners, it’s the 2nd string of his that I have backed - PRESTBURY PARK (10/1) looks well handicapped having been rated 13 lbs higher around this time last year, disappointing last couple of runs but 4 lbs lower than even when 2nd in a class 4 handicap at Doncaster in May, drops to class 6 for first time today. Needs to bounce back to form but too well handicapped to dismiss, hopefully today is the day.
Thanks everyone. Afandem won at 3/1 in a close finish. Prestbury Park also ran well for a long way (trading 2.7 in running) but dropped to 7th in the end.