Today's Tote Placepot Tips for Wolverhampton

Leg 1 Selections: Melody Cher, Woodlands Charm, Kensington Agent 

Quite a few with leading claims in leg 1, the Fillies' Handicap, so it could pay to side with a trio of picks to hopefully get through to the next stage. First of all, I can envisage John Butler’s MELODY CHER having a say in the outcome, who’s trainer is in good form plus she has displayed promise in each of her four starts and makes her stable debut in a winnable race. 

The drop in trip and grade is an interesting move and while she will strip fitter from this run, she could go very well. Nigel Tinkler is another trainer in good form, so WOODLANDS CHARM has to enter the reckoning on her return. She is only three pounds above her last successful mark and has a squeak, as does KENSINGTON AGENT, a winner of three of her last four starts. 

Leg 2 Selections: Ellie Piper, Hard Solution, Battle Point 

Leg 2 is a difficult Classified Stakes but ELLIE PIPER knows her way around this venue having won over course-and-distance off a pound lower mark back in September and her mark has majorly slipped after going winless since. Ideally drawn in stall three, in a pretty poor race, the five-year-old mare could easily make the frame with plenty in her favour and reunited with Kevin Stott. 

Ruth Carr has had four winners this month, including two in the last fortnight, so HARD SOLUTION makes the shortlist. He hasn’t won for nearly two years but has run numerous good races in defeat since off higher marks and is handicapped to go close provided he breaks well, which wasn’t the case last time. Conversely, BATTLE POINT arrives in decent form though after placing the last twice and is expected to feature.

Leg 3 Selections: Smoky Mountain 

Charlie Fellowes could have a welcome winner at the course on leg 3 in the shape of SMOKY MOUNTAIN, who shaped with considerable promise when an eye-catching fourth at Southwell on debut. This promising three-year-old wasn’t given a hard time of things when tentatively ridden, staying on well to take fourth. 

He performed in the manner of a horse who was just given an education test to learn her craft and should be a lot more street-wise to the task ahead with the experience under his belt. Jamie Spencer maintains the ride and his mount looks more reliable than chief market rival Flame Spirit, who could suffer the “bounce-factor.”

Leg 4 Selections: River Pride, Jilly Cooper, Coco Jamboo

RIVER PRIDE has tasted success twice over this distance and his efforts this year have been really solid, which have coincidentally all been off this exact mark. He ran very well behind a couple of horses rated 92 and 103 when third two starts ago and his fourth at Chelmsford last time was another good effort. She was also second in this grade on the turf last year from a two pounds higher mark, so she is of definite interest. 

JILLY COOPER has two wins from four starts at this course and has a good record here with two wins and a third from three starts, which have all been over course-and-distance. Her latest third here off a mark of 85, beaten only a length, is good form and with her riders claim taken into account, she is four pounds lower for this. She is nicely drawn in three and is greatly respected. 

Andrea Atzeni has a brilliant 24% strike-rate at this venue and he rides COCO JAMBOO, who returned a good second over track and trip last time and might step up on that display given it was her seasonal debut. She won a very competitive Fillies' Nursery at Newmarket on her final start last season and remains unexposed with improvement on the cards. 

Leg 5 Selections: Letmelivemylife, Plumette

Sean Curran is 15-69 at this course (22% strike-rate) and must have an excellent chance of enhancing those statistics with LETMELIVEMYLIFE in leg 5, who won his only previous start at this course. He won at Chelmsford last-time-out off a mark of 74 and has essentially only been raised two pounds which seems generous. He is a big player. 

PLUMETTE has more wins at this course than any of her rivals and rider Laura Pearson has her only ride on the card. This five-time course winner should get a stronger gallop than she did last time in this smaller-field scenario and has two wins to her name at this course already this year. She is the other one to consider. 

Leg 6 Selections: Daheer, Lucky San Jore

As ever, another wide-open looking race, which is leg 6. DAHEER loves this place though, who has recorded five wins over course-and-distance and went close just over three weeks ago at Lingfield when second. His trainer has been in superb form for a while and his excellent apprentice is eligible to claim five pounds. He is the one to beat. 

LUCKY SAN JORE has flown out of the blocks for this stable, winning back-to-back raced over track and trip before an excellent fourth back here when last seen in this grade. Although he’s been absent since, this progressive four-year-old has to be thereabouts given his liking for the West Midlands venue with loads more to come.