16:20 Wolverhampton

Leg 1 Selections: Man Made Of Smoke, Mother India

Just seven runners line up for the opener, which is a difficult class 6 1m1f handicap. However, the David Evans-trained MAN MADE OF SMOKE might be the answer, who I know was only a distant (six-lengths) 2nd of 8 at this course just under two weeks ago but is eligible to compete in this off a 1Ib lower mark. Kevin Stott, who rides this course better than most, is booked to ride, and this 3-year-old should be competitive. 

The Alice Haynes-trained MOTHER OF INDIA is applied with a tongue strap for the first time and wasn’t beaten far when 3rd of 4 in a class 4 event last-time-out plus she is 2Ib lower returned to a class 6 here. This filly by Profitable wouldn’t need to improve much more on what she has displayed to date to make an impact. She is the second option in what is a tricky opener on this evening’s pool. 

16:55 Wolverhampton

Leg 2 Selections: Tipperary Moon, Follow Your Heart

TIPPERARY MOON completed a double on the turf back in July, where he defied a mark of 70 in a class 4 at Newmarket. He didn’t show much on his next four starts but returned to form with an excellent 4th of 14 at Southwell last time in this grade (class 5) and is drawn well here in stall 3 plus he is will compete off the same mark as well. He will need a good pace to be seen at his best but he has the capabilities to win this off this mark in leg 3 if able to reproduce his latest performance. Sound claims. 

We can’t dispute the consistency of FOLLOW YOUR HEARTS lately, who has finished 2nd in all of his last three starts and is 2Ib lower than when beating a 77-rated horse in a class 4. He hasn’t been able to add to that victory since but this 5-year-old has been rattling the door of late and from an ideal slot in stall 5, he rates one of the leading contenders. This could be the time he finally returns to the winners enclosure. I will be disappointed if he can’t figure prominently here. 

17:30 Wolverhampton

Leg 3 Selections: Free Solo, The Perfect Crown

Only four runners for leg 3 but FREE SOLO has been in terrific form since December, in which he landed back-to-back handicaps at Lingfield and has performed very well in both defeats since at the course when runner-up. He has been dealt with a 5Ib higher mark but this isn’t the strongest of events and he might have been found a good opportunity to defy top-weight and get back to winning ways here if the favourite underperforms. 

THE PERFECT CROWN, however, comes out best on these terms, given he is the clear highest-rated runner in the field at 89 but gets 7Ib from Free Solo, so it’s unsurprising to see him a warm favourite. Hollie Doyle has been booked to ride and Archie Watson’s charge takes a major ease in grade. Rated as high as 104 last year, with his latest 6th here working out well, he is the one to beat and could win this given main his market rivals weight concession here. 

18:00 Wolverhampton

Leg 4 Selections: Imperium, Withhold 

Barenboim scored in describe fashion at Lingfield 9 days ago and it’s interesting to see him tackle this longer trip but he isn’t guaranteed to stay the trip. With the distance in mind, I will oppose him here in favour of Roger Charlton’s two participants. IMPERIUM has a good strike-rate in this sphere, with six wins from 18 starts and is back on his last winning mark now. James Doyle retains the ride and he should get a nice lead into proceedings, so he is one I am most interested in here. 

His stablemate, WITHHOLD, isn’t getting any younger now that he is a 9-year-old but the visor goes on this time and he ran well three times last year to suggest he isn’t quite done with his racing as of yet. He is very well-treated on the pick of his form plus he is 9Ib lower than when winning the Northumberland Plate a number of seasons ago as well. He is still capable of smart form when on-song, so he is handed a tentative vote in the hope he can roll back the years and eliminate some of the larger units here.

18:30 Wolverhampton

Leg 5 Selections: Danger Alert 

I am not sure how many more chances DANGER ALERT needs to get his head in front but he has acquitted himself very well in defeat in both his two starts at this course of late. He stayed on strongly to take fourth in a class 2 last-time-out and the return to the minimum trip with first-time blinkers attached should be a huge positive as besides the second-favourite, the rest don’t seem good enough to beat the best horse in the race. 

Moreover, he will find the drop into a class 5 a lot easier and Kevin Stott is in the saddle. He is the clear pick of these given he brings the best form and is rated the highest. From a really handy draw in stall 5, George Boughey’s charge can beat these at the expense of Erosion Risk, who ran well to finish runner-up four days ago at Chelmsford and is off the same mark here.

19:00 Wolverhampton

Leg 6 Selections: Hit Mac, Glamorous Force

He might not win but HIT MAC has to be considered as a good choice for the place purposes. He has made the frame in all six starts in handicaps and was only beaten a short head when 2nd at Southwell last time. He has been granted a lovely draw in stall 3 and the first-time blinkers might be able to bring about some improvement, so he is fancied to go very well in leg 6 on tonight’s pool. 

Another runner to note is GLAMOROUS FORCE, who has won over course-and-distance and is only 1Ib higher than when successful here back in October. I could easily make a case for a number of other runners but this 6-year-old isn’t drawn wide, which is ideal, and could easily make the frame at double-figure odds here.