Chelmsford and Nottingham previews: Dollar ready to Reward backers

Under Siege was also far from disgraced next time up at Kempton when fifth having been forced to race wide before being beaten just 1 1/2 lengths and shaped nicely at the same venue last time out when fourth having raced too freely in the first time cheekpieces.

The four-year-old been dropped 1lb to 76 and that makes him look nicely treated on the his form.

Connections have also now discarded the cheekpieces and fitted Under Siege with the tongue-tie for the first time, and the son of Invincible Spirit should get the strong gallop he needs to be seen to best effect with the trailblazing Monumental Man in the line-up.

Chelmsford selections

17.50: Andalusite
18.20: Maakaasib
18.50: Dollar Reward (NAP)
19.20: Under Siege (NB)
19.50: Clovelly Bay
20.20: Eskandari
20.50: Thomas Blossom

We’ll Shake Hands weighted to strike at Nottingham

We’ll Shake Hands can capitalise on a drop in the weights and class to get back to winning ways in the 1m 2f apprentice handicap that gets proceedings underway on this evening’s card at Nottingham (17.40).

The Karl Burke trained gelding landed class 5 handicaps at Haydock and Newcastle last year, with the last of those successes coming off a mark of 70.

We’ll Shake Hands was then far from disgraced on his final start of the campaign when fourth in a class 4 contest at Nottingham off 75 but has failed to sparkle in four runs this season.

However, the form of the race the five-year-old ran in at Haydock last time out when sixth is working out well and he has since been dropped another 3lb in the weights.

We’ll Shake Hands is now able to race off a career-low rating of 62, 8lb lower than when last victorious, and also drops into class 6 company for the first time.

It gives the son of Excellent Art outstanding claims from a handicapping perspective on the pick of his form and the return to quicker ground will definitely be in We’ll Shake Hands favour.

Sirdaal appeals on handicap debut

In the 1m handicap (20.10), Sirdaal can take exploit what looks a lenient mark to open his account.

The Owen Burrows trained colt has been well-beaten in three maiden runs but was not knocked about in the last of those at Newbury.

Sirdaal looks to have been brought along steadily with handicaps in mind and now makes his debut in that sphere off a lowly rating of just 58.

The three-year-old is certainly bred to be much better than that as he has Champion Stakes winner Mawatheeq and 1000 Guineas winner Ghanaati among his relatives.

Sirdaal, who is owned by Hamdan Al Maktoum, also now gets the services in the saddle of his retained rider Paul Hanagan for the first time and that suggests that much better is expected.

Nottingham selections

17.40: We’ll Shake Hands (NAP)
18.10: Lightning North
18.40: Master Bond
19.10: Magical Effect
19.40: Shamaheart
20.10: Sirdaal (NB)
20.40: Magnolia Ridge

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