Matthew Sutcliffe has three tips for the action at Nottingham and Thirsk on Sunday 31 May. The latest edition of the Sunday Series sees some competitive racing taking place and you can check his best bets here…
Nottingham Racing Tips (Sunday 31 May)
Seven races take place at Nottingham, with a 2.20pm start. The action goes right through until 5.25pm, with Matthew’s best bet running in the 3.55pm contest.
15:55 Nottingham – Wildwest Beer Festival 4th July Fillies’ Handicap (Class 4) (3yo+ 0-85) – Sugar Hill Babe 12/1 1pt EW 2 places
I’ve doubts over the market protagonists here. Time To Take off has had little excuses when beaten the last twice at short odds, as the winner of her penultimate race has only won a class six seller since, and she found very little when beaten three lengths last time out at Doncaster.
The Crisford’s doesn’t look particularly well handicapped off 86 for this seasonal debut, and I suspect connections wont be ruining this mark of 87 for Ruby’s Profit for £7,328 given the company she kept last season.
As a result, the older mare Sugar Hill Babe is given the nod back over a winning course and distance. She made her debut here in 2022 when a 250/1 third to a subsequently 100 rated filly, and she went once place better here last season on her turf reappearance when a neck second to a subsequent winner. Two starts later, she made all to win by two lengths in a 0-80 fillies contest here, and the second won twice since to be rated 13lbs higher and was beaten only a length in listed company.
She made an excellent reappearance at Musselburgh when beaten half a length under an unusually patient ride, giving 13lbs to the winner, who was only beaten a length next time out in a higher class and given she’s only a pound above that last winning mark that came here, I suspect she’ll be primed for this.
Thirsk Racing Tips (Sunday 31 May)
It’s a 3.45pm start for the racing at Thirsk on Sunday, with Matthew having a brace of selections at the Yorkshire track.
16:15 Thirsk – Flutter Proud To Support Young Lives Vs Cancer Handicap (Class 4) (3yo 0-85) – Kinnalargy 12/1 1pt EW 5 places
A chance is taken on Kinnalargy after his below par reappearance, as a mark of 83 could look lenient on the balance of his two year old form. His dam, and half brother, both failed to make an impression as a two year old before winning at three, so I’m happy to take the belief that he can improve as opposed to having not trained on after his effort at York.
The Havana Grey gelding was well beaten at York on debut, before improving drastically to beat the 6/5 Karl Burke/Tony Bloom favourite at Redcar. He backed that effort up when a length third here over six furlongs to Lifeplan (gave 3lbs), who subsequently won the Gimcrack now rated 113, and in second was Flying Comet, now rated 100.
Having failed to fire in listed company next time out, he posted a good fourth on Nursery debut behind a subsequent Godolphin winner rated 16lbs higher, with the third also franking the form this season winning twice. The yard are among the winners, and if coming on from his reappearance I suspect he could spring a surprise at the odds at a track his career best RPR came at last season.
16:45 Thirsk – Sky Bet Club Handicap (Class 4) (4yo+ 0-85) – Al Hussar 10/1 1pt EW 5 places
Al Hussar caught the eye staying on late in the day at York last week, and a similar effort down in trip could see him return to the winners enclosure.
He was one of just two to get in to finish close from his position in rear, with the race favouring those to the fore. Prior to that, he was beaten just a neck over courser and distance, and he has a pound swing in the weights with the favourite Kinetic Force, who he was a head behind at Musselburgh in April.
He’s a consistent performer off this mark, and with course form figures of 322 it would be a surprise to see him out of the frame particularly given how well he’s ran in defeat this season.
Matty Sutcliffe’s Tips for Sunday 31 May
15:55 Nottingham – Wildwest Beer Festival 4th July Fillies’ Handicap (Class 4) (3yo+ 0-85) – Sugar Hill Babe 12/1 1pt EW 2 places
16:15 Thirsk – Flutter Proud To Support Young Lives Vs Cancer Handicap (Class 4) (3yo 0-85) – Kinnalargy 12/1 1pt EW 5 places
16:45 Thirsk – Sky Bet Club Handicap (Class 4) (4yo+ 0-85) – Al Hussar 10/1 1pt EW 5 places
Matthew Sutcliffe’s Best Bets – Sunday 31 May
FAQs
What are today’s racing tips?
Matthew Sutcliffe provides his best bets at Thirsk on Sunday 31 May.
When were Matthew Sutcliffe’s tips published?
Matty Sutcliffe’s racing tips were published at 7.15am on Saturday 30 May.
Who is Matthew Sutcliffe?
Matthew Sutcliffe is GGs newest contributor, often providing a value angle for his tips. He writes weekly columns for the weekend’s racing, as well as taking aim at ante-post markets at the Cheltenham Festival. Follow him on X: @MattySutcliffe
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