Nottingham free racing tip: Step up in trip bodes well for four-time runner-up

14:45 Nottingham: Book Your Christmas Party at Nottingham Handicap (1 mile 6 furlongs)

While Divine Presence and Seek And Destroy look likely to be vying for the favourite tag, our eye is drawn to the slightly more attractively priced Pique, who has been remarkably consistent all summer.

Since landing a cosy one-length win over a mile and a half at Leicester in June, the James Fanshawe-trained filly has found just one horse too good for her on each of her four subsequent outings.

Three of those four runner-up spots saw her beaten by less than a length (twice by just a neck), and she was particularly unlucky when last seen at Yarmouth three weeks ago, when she only just failed to reel in the winner, despite being denied a clear run approaching the final furlong.

Once in the clear, the three-year-old stayed on very strongly, pulling nicely clear of the rest inside the final furlong, suggesting she had plenty more in the tank.

This step up in trip looks the perfect move by her connections as this daughter of Nathaniel tends to save her best work for the closing stages, so the extra two furlongs should work in her favour.

Her rising mark of 80 seems reasonable and is reduced by the presence of claiming jockey Jack Doughty, who brings his handy five-pound claim to the saddle, as well as his confidence boosted by a tidy win on his last ride at Brighton on Tuesday. 

Suggested Bet: Pique in the 14:45 at Nottingham

• Tip and preview provided by David Xristo on Tipstrr