SIR Michael Stoute is looking forward to a big weekend with two live chances in the Investec Derby – but INTIMATION can ensure the yard heads to Epsom in high spirits by landing a Listed success at Nottingham today.

The four-year-old nap selection lines up in the EBF Stallions toteexacta Nottinghamshire Oaks Stakes under Ryan Moore for what will be just the fifth start of her career and she looks a filly of potential at this stage.

A daughter of Coronation and Falmouth Stakes second Infallible, it is easy to see why owners Cheveley Park have persisted with this Dubawi filly despite the stop-start nature of her racing career so far.

Well down the field on her sole juvenile start in a race that produced a few classy winners, Intimation sprang a 20-1 shock when winning on her return at Newmarket last May before following up with a convincing success on her handicap bow at Leicester last July.

Yet something was clearly amiss after that run as Intimation did not reappear until turning out at Newmarket again at the end of April, when she made little impact in a handicap event.

Beaten three lengths, Intimation will likely have come on plenty for the outing as she could only stay on at the one pace when the race really heated up, suggesting that she was perhaps a bit ring rusty too.

FORT BASTION may still be a little short of the form that saw him receive a rating of 106 but he should still be good enough in the totetrifecta Pick The 1,2,3 Handicap.

Now with David O'Meara after spells with Richard Hannon snr, Ed Dunlop, Richard Fahey and Ruth Carr, you would think Fort Bastion probably has little left to give.

Yet O'Meara is a master at eking out the best of such seasoned animals and his current mark of 96 appears to be a very workable perch, judged on his recent fast-finishing fourth at York.

He was actually racing off a 1lb higher rating that day and, while only a minor ease, it puts Fort Bastion back within striking distance of his last winning mark.

Fort Bastion appears to take a couple of runs to really hit his best form now, so it could be dangerous to dismiss him. Phillip Makin has the ride.

VIBRANT CHORDS is entered in a Listed heat later this week but the decision to take in the Bet totequadpot At betfred.com Handicap at Chelmsford first can pay dividends.

Henry Candy's charge has certainly shown ability, coming home in the first three in each of his five starts to date and counting one win among those results.

The three-year-old started this term on a mark of 87 following his admirably consistent run in 2015 and showed he is still capable of making his mark when beaten just under two lengths on his return at Newmarket.

Aclaim, the winner of that race, has since been placed in Group Three company, so the form has a sturdy look about it, and Vibrant Chords is one who could go on to rank even higher in due course.

PERSUASIVE can extend her unbeaten run to three in the Bet toteexacta At betfred.com Fillies' Handicap at the Essex venue.

While her Coronation Stakes entry may be flying a little high, the Dark Angel filly impressed when winning on her debut towards the end of last term and again on her reappearance this year.

She did not win by far at Goodwood but could well make up into a Pattern race performer for John Gosden in due course.

FLOWING CLARETS might not be the most straightforward individual but she should be good enough in the Ripon Farm Services Handicap at the Yorkshire venue.

She had to be walked to the start on her return at this track last month but she showed neither that nor her high-head carriage impinged her performance as she claimed a fine second.

At Cartmel, MAN OF STEEL is the pick in the Christopher Leigh Farming Open Hunters' Chase, while ABIDJAN should be on the mark in the Shoreham Port Novices' Chase at Fontwell.