Three fancies to start the week from our resident tipster.
6.30 Ballinrobe
Having set very strong fractions in a maiden hurdle at Galway last time out (good overall speed figure), WHENTHEWINDBLOWS (best price 7-1) was entitled to get a little bit tired in the closing stages and tonight’s contest looks to be a more realistic target given the level of competition he faced nine days ago. Up against the likes of the smart pair Aydoun and Big Ben from powerful yards, it was always likely the son of Stowaway was going to struggle, but to be fair to him, he certainly made a bold fist of things from the front and it was only the final climb to the line up the hill that found him out. Prior to that above-average effort, Steve Mahon’s charge had chased home another progressive sort in the shape of Silent Sun at Limerick and a repeat of that sort of form alone should see him there or thereabouts for local connections here this evening.
7.20 Wolverhampton
BIG TOUR (NAP) (best price 9-4) had the misfortune to bump into a progressive type who relished the soft underfoot conditions and simply outstayed him at Newbury last time out, but he did precious little wrong in defeat and he’s worth another chance to regain the winning thread on a surface that should suit. Prior to that excellent effort on the figures last time out, the son of Dubawi had shown a clean pair of heels to his six rivals over a mile at Windsor and a return to that trip seems to be a wise move by connections given his overall profile.
7.50 Wolverhampton
DUSKY MAID (best price 5-2) coped really well with the drop back to 6f when bolting up here last week and with her wellbeing and previous success over tonight’s C&D also assured, a mandatory 6lb rise shouldn’t be enough to prevent James Given’s filly from going in again. The feature of that performance at the Dunstall Park track four days ago was how she really quickened up in the later stages off the back of sound fractions (23.5 from 2f out) and having exhibited decent battling qualities when landing a fillies’ handicap over 7f on her previous visit here, the daughter of Dark Angel has plenty of bases covered.
