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14:50 Wolverhampton Virile was unlucky not to win at Bath on Wednesday on what was only his second run for Sylvester Kirk and could prove tough to beat today. He hasn’t got the best of records on turf so the fact he’s run two very good races on turf since joining this stable are encouraging and it might just be that the switch to this stable has squeezed out a bit more improvement in him. He’s back on a more favoured surface today where his sole success has come and in four starts at this venue he’s notched up a win and three seconds which says a lot when you consider out of all of his 25 starts he’s won just once and placed five times so he clearly loves it at Wolverhampton. He’s one pound below his winning mark and he also went close off 5lb higher than todays mark over this C&D last November and with Mitch Godwin claiming 7lb he looks the one to be with with the step up to six furlongs looking sure to suit giving the way he’s finished off his last two runs over five. The quick turnout after his last run would be the only worry but his sole success came just four days after his previous run so it shouldn’t be a problem. He has the widest draw in 9 to contend with but I don’t as a problem and id be a little disappointed if he didn’t get the job done in this contest. Dream Ally is another who loves it here with three course wins and placing 11 times in 18 starts at this venue. He’s been running well lately but doesn’t seem to be that well handicapped off today’s mark. The main danger may come from top weight Orlando Rogue who takes a drop in trip and is 3lb below his last winning mark with Josephine Gordon taking off a further 3lb with her claim and if first time blinkers have a positive effect on this Bushranger gelding he could give the selection most to think about. Virile (WIN)
15:00 Musselburgh The first selection of the day was having just his third start for his new stable and our second selection of the day is having just his second start for a new stable. Opt Out is the horse and he runs today for just the second time in the care of David O’Meara who has a habit of revitalising horses he gets from rival stables. This fellow was a real eye catcher on his debut for this stable when finishing fifth in a big field amateurs riders event at Redcar last week. That doesn’t tell the whole story however as he was ridden by a jockey who was having her first ride in public and gave the horse an awful lot to do, help up right out the back of the field the horse was never in contention but made some late headway under hands and heels and looked one to keep onside. He didn’t go unbacked that day either and he looks to have a more realistic chance today. He won this race last year off a pound lower and is four times a course winner. He’s 2lb below his last winning mark and with Danny Tudhope taking over in the saddle he looks sure to go close in a bid to win this race for the second year in a row. Top Offer finished second at Wolverhampton off 9lb higher last time out last month and if reverting that form to turf would have a massive chance. Charles De Mille has done well since joining Jedd O’Keefe in May and will run his race again but may find one or two too good. Celtic Artisan has bottom weight and has been running well of late finishing ahead of Opt Out last time and finishing ahead of Charles De Mille the time before that, a repeat of those two runs would see him right in the mix again today. Opt Out (WIN)
17:20 Wolverhampton I was a little disappointed when I looked back over this race last night before I wrote this and seen that Encore Moi (would have gone off favourite) was a non runner as it means the selection Chatterton is much shorter than he would have been and may even go off favourite now. He’s 1lb below his last winning mark and when running off this sort of mark in the past has usually found himself fighting out the finish and he should be difficult to keep out of the frame today. He ran his best race this year last time out when finishing fifth of twelve in a claiming race at Dundalk, that race looked a bit more competitive than today’s contest and the fact he’s been dropped 3lb for that gives him a real chance in this. I’m sure he’s not been sent over for a day out and his connections will be hoping the decision to run him here pays off. Grey Destiny doesn’t win much but has been knocking on the door of late and will surely give his running again but might find one or two too good. King Oswald seems to be running into form and isn’t without a chance based on his last run. Check Em Tuesday and Zamastar are dropping in the weights and becoming well handicapped and could go well at bigger prices. There’s also three in here making their handicap debut which is always tricky and Gold Return looks the most interesting of them for David Lanigan who does well with horses in handicaps and any money for his Gold Away filly should be noted and she’s the one I fear the most. Chatterton (WIN)
