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16:45 Wolverhampton We open tonights action relatively early as our first pick comes in a race prior to “clocking off time” at 5pm. The second race on the card from the midlands course looks mightily open as thirteen runners line up of which nine are previous course winners. My selection lies within those aforementioned nine runners. Of those nine, seven have won over todays trip as well which has helped me narrow the runners down further. The shortest priced one left is the Keith Dalglish trained Sewn Up who showed a return to form when finishing second last time out at todays venue. The horse ran over seven furlongs that day and a drop in trip looks to be an advantage. Clearly it’s the horse to beat from a yard that’s in form. I couldn’t put you off backing the current market leader but I’m hoping I may have found a bit of value elsewhere. Another horse that looks set to post a threat at a bigger price is the lodest horse in the race Prigsnov Dancer. Despite it’s advancing years it’s been successful over the course and distance previously and although I think it’s current handicap mark looks a bit steep it could still do well at a big price. My selection hasn’t won a race since July 2014 however the five year old Dream Ally comes here on the back of a decent third placed finish. The horse sits four pounds lower than it’s last all-weather winning mark and it’s definitely worth noting that Daniel Tudhope jumps on the back of the horse for the first time. Dream Ally has been ridden by some lesser experienced jockeys recently and I’m pretty certain Tudhope wouldn’t jump aboard without the horse having a noticeable chance. A current price of around 7/1 seems fair and looks a decent each way shout. A mention also base to go to Rise To Glory who now sits on a reasonable mark and is definitely worth noting. Dream Ally (E/W)
17:45 Wolverhampton Sticking with the same venue for my second selection and Wolverhampton seems to have a handful of two year old races on the card today and the 17:45 is the first of them. As the betting currently stands it seems set to be a two horse race between the top two weights Sign Of The Kodiac and Quatrieme Ami. The James Given trained one of the two has a great record here with two seconds and a first from just three starts here. It clearly has a decent chance from a low draw but it has been highly tried for such a young horse and conceding weight all round to its rivals looks a much tougher task today. Quatrieme Ali hasn’t been so heavily tried and finally shook off its maiden tag at the third attempt at Windsor last time out. In it’s first ever outing it ran well enough when finishing fourth on it’s only previous start on an artificial surface and I don’t think it’d be too inconvenienced by todays test. That being said however it’s 15/8 price looks mightily short especially considering it hails from a yard that isn’t bagging winners lately. It certainly has a chance but looks far from a decent betting proposition. Top trainer Richard Fahey enters two runners into todays race, Young John and Jeanie’s Place. My selection resides with one of these and looks more of the second string. It’s worth noting that Paul Hanagan opts to jump aboard Young John but I feel he may have made the wrong choice. Jeanie’s Place is the most lightly raced horse in the field and looks the one with the most potential for improvement. It won its first ever outing at Thirsk convincing enough in which the form has been franked with both the second and third placed horses subsequently winning. The yard clearly thought a lot of the chestnut filly as she was entered into a listed race at Epsom on just it’s second start. A respectable fifth placed finish behind one of the season’s top two year olds Buratino is far from a disgrace and actually looks to be some of the best form on offer. Clearly a lot has to be taken on trust with it not being raced since June and a question mark hangs over its liking for all-weather but what a drop in class this is and with some bookmaker’s quoting 10/1 about her it looks a very tasty bet. Jeanie’s Place (E/W)
18:05 Dundalk We make a trip over to Ireland for our third and final selection of the evening. The opening race on the card from Dundalk looks a competitive sprint affair where arguments could be made for several of these runners. Of the three three year olds that are set to run I think the most likely danger is Andrew Slattery’s Sors. The horse has a 100% strike rate at Dundalk and sits three pounds lower than its previous success. The only down side is that it’s drawn out in stall eight which is less than advantage. It clearly has a fantastic chance but I just feel that draw has put pay to its chances of racking up a course and distance three timer. Kimbay is a horse that’s been tried in much greater company than this and clearly likes it here winning a third of its course starts. Another horse that seems quite overpriced at 8/1 but the outside draw may have scuppered its chances today. The horse I fear the most is Danz Gift. A ready winner last time out and it’s worth mentioning it’s pretty quick to re-appear at the course again. From such a low weight, a decent draw and a likely improver it could push my selection today. The horse I’m going with is another runner that seems to thrive on this surface as it’s never finished outside of the top three in six attempts. I’m a huge fan of trainer Tracey Collin’s when she has horses run at Dundalk and despite a poor turf campaign Chiclet should show more returned back to a more favourable surface. The price seems pretty short but I can’t see past the four year old that sits three pounds lower than it’s highest all-weather winning mark. Chiclet (WIN)