Nottingham Preview: Remote can make class tell

Remote makes his eagerly awaited return to action in the 1m handicap at Nottingham today (3.50), and looks a solid favourite to make it a winning one.

The John Gosden trained colt was a highly progressive sort last season, winning three times after finishing third on debut.

The last of those successes came in the Group 3 Tercentenary Stakes at Royal Ascot, where Remote showed a good turn of foot and only had to be ridden out to beat Shikapour by 3/4 of a length.

It was a highly impressive display, and one which suggested that the son of Dansili had the potential to make up into a Group 1 performer.

Although Remote has been off the track for 343 days and is yet to run on soft ground, he now drops back into handicap company and may not have to be at his best to come out on top.

This is certainly far easier than his intended reappearance last week in Group 3 Brigadier Gerard Stakes at Sandown, which he was pulled out of on account of the heavy ground, and it will be disappointing if Remote fails to land the spoils before going on to better things.

In the 6f handicap (3.20), Penny Garcia could be a bit of each-way value now dropped in class from what looks a handy mark.

The Tim Easterby trained filly showed a good attitude to beat Elle Woods by a head at Carlisle in a class 4 contest 12 months ago off a mark of 75, and went on to be placed in a class 3 handicap at York off 80.

The daughter Indestachel now runs off just 74, drops back to 6f over which she has notched two of her career successes, and also takes a drop in grade into class 5 company.

The other bet that really appeals is Etaab who runss in the 1m fillies’ handicap (4.20).

The daughter of Street Cry shaped with bags of promise when sixth on debut at Newmarket, and looked one to keep on the right side of when readily winning a maiden at Lingfield next time up.

Etaab made all and only had to be pushed out to score by 2 1/4 lengths, and had her main market rival for this, Bragging, a further neck behind in third.