Tony Elves brought home the bacon last week with a two-point bet on Native River.
Even the best-laid plans of mice and men go awry and the unseasonably dry weather at Doncaster in November knocked hopes of WRANGLER providing William Haggas with what looked a possible coup in the November Handicap, when his High Chapparal gelding was withdrawn on the day of the race as a result of the ground being too quick.
The final big handicap of the turf season is usually run on hock deep ground and Wrangler has shown he was coming nicely to hand over the mile and a half on that course in October when finishing third, beaten four and three quarter lengths, to To Be Wild.
In the old days it would meant a five month wait for turf season to start again but, in these innovative days, trainers have the alternative of all-weather racing and Wrangler looks to have been found a winning opportunity in the Betway Handicap over 1m 6f at Wolverhampton (7.45) this evening.
Owned by Highclere Thoroughbred Racing, the selection had his first experience of racing on an AW surface when finishing fourth, beaten six and three quarter lengths, to the heavily-supported Higher Power over two miles at Kempton last month and the striking impression of that performance was that just didn’t see out that elongated trip.
After being held up he was switched inside to make eye-catching progress in the final two furlongs and that effort looked likely to carry him to the front but his run petered out in the final furlong typical of a non-stayer.
Wrangler has a two and a quarter length deficit to make up on the third Winning Story but he is much better drawn in stall three this time and has that first experience of the AW to draw upon. He can be ridden more prominently this time and over this two furlongs shorter trip he is fancied to come into his own. Patsy Cosgrave rides this course as well as anyone and Wrangler looks worth a 2pt investment.
At Aintree, ALVARADO is fancied to put his experience of the National fences to good use in the Grade 3 Betfred Becher Handicap Chase (1.35).
The Fergal O’Brien-trained gelding has finished fourth in two Grand Nationals – being beaten 11½ lengths by Many Clouds in 2015 and 16½ lengths by Pineau De Re a year earlier. Alvarado was confined to two outings last season but, again, showed his liking for a marathon test when runner-up, beaten two and three quarter lengths to Vicente in the Scottish Grand National at Ayr in April.
There was plenty to like about his reappearance effort over three miles and three and a half furlongs at Cheltenham last month when he kept on well to be beaten only seven and three quarter lengths into sixth place by Viconte Du Noyer and has an 8lb pull with the winner.
Alvarado looks as good as ever and has the added bonus of being ridden by Paul Moloney, who has a cracking record over the National fences. With lots in his favour he looks worth a 1pt investment.
