Nottingham top racing tip (1745): Eccentric in good shape to bounce back on turf debut

17:45 Nottingham:  Celebrate at Nottingham Racecourse This Summer Handicap  (1¼ miles)

It would be unwise to discount any horse with Oisin Murphy at the reins, but even his notable presence cannot remove all the question marks hanging over early favourite Penalty Shootout, whose three juvenile outings did little to suggest he will hit the ground running on handicap debut after a seven-month break.

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Nigel Tinkler’s Patronage looks a more worthy market principal after notching up his maiden win on Newcastle’s all-weather track in March, and looking equally at ease on turf, judging by his close-up second at Beverley a fortnight ago, when he got within a couple of lengths of the winner despite being hampered in the final furlong.

Should either of those two falter, then lurking in the wings and poised to make a dramatic entrance is Jamie Osborne’s top-weighted gelding, Eccentric. 

Suggested best bet: Eccentric each-way in the 17:45 at Nottingham

A promising all-weather campaign during the first few months of 2024 suggests this three year-old will be fighting fit for his first attempt on turf, and he certainly deserves another chance after an uncharacteristic blot on his copybook when last seen coming 10th of 11 at Kempton in mid-April.

Prior to that setback, Eccentric had finished runner-up in three of his previous six efforts (all by half a length or less), before eventually breaking his duck at Southwell in his penultimate outing in March.

He finished strongly enough there to suggest that this step up in trip should be tailor-made for his turf debut, and with Saffie Osborne once again at the helm, they could well bounce straight back to form here.

• Tip advised by DWL Tipsters on Tipstrr

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