17:30 Wolverhampton

Leg 1 Selections: Secret Contact, Fox Flame 

Margaret Beaufort won for the second time over track and trip last time but she was only half-a-length ahead of SECRET CONTACT and the latter is six-pounds better off at the weights this time. Hayley Turner takes over in the saddle today and, from the same mark as last time, she is fancied to reverse the form in the opener. 

FOX FLAME was behind David Simcock’s Secret Contact when the pair met at Lingfield but is better off at the weights here and Jack Mitchell is reunited with her, who rode her to finish fourth at this course on handicap debut two starts ago. She could find the necessary improvement to run a big race with improvement on the cards. 

18:00 Wolverhampton

Leg 2 Selections: Captain Potter, Postergal

CAPTAIN POTTER was the only horse making his debut at Newcastle last-time-out and caught the eye with a staying-on second. He was briefly outpaced and looked green but picked up well once he hit top gear and should improve both physically and mentally heading into this race. I think he has excellent claims and is the choice of Joe Fanning as well. 

Oisin Murphy’s record here is phenomenal and therefore POSTERGAL has to merit some consideration after displaying promise in her two previous starts. She ran very well when fourth in a much stronger race than this last time and will appreciate the ease in grade with her trainer Andrew Balding very much amongst the winners of late. She’s a leading player. 

18:30 Wolverhampton

Leg 3 Selections: Wonder Legend, Mr Buster 

James Ferguson is absolutely flying at the moment, who has had five winners from his last nine runners (56%) at the time of writing this and holds an impressive 25% strike-rate at the West Midlands venue too. WONDER LEGEND is his only runner on the card and has improved in each of his two starts, so he has to be shortlisted. 

Meanwhile, Ralph Beckett’s only runner on the card is MR BUSTER, who placed in both starts last year and has the potential to rank higher based on the evidence of each of those efforts. Rossa Ryan rides this course well and takes the ride on this son of Sea The Stars for the first time. His connections will be optimistic about his chances, as he remains open to improvement. 

19:00 Wolverhampton

Leg 4 Selections: Give A Little Back, Harbour Vision

Trainer Sean Curran has an excellent 24% strike-rate at this course and that could be extended with GIVE A LITTLE BACK, who justified strong market support over course-and-distance last month. Adam Kirby has been appointed to ride and I expect another big performance from this improving four-year-old. 

I’ll also include the likely outsider HARBOUR VISION, who is familiar to this course with three wins to his name at the West Midlands venue and is only three pounds higher than when winning here in December. He isn’t the most consistent of horses, as his last two showings have been poor but he has the capabilities to make an impact. 

19:30 Wolverhampton

Leg 5 Selections: Soaring Eagle, She’s Centimental 

Simon and Ed Crisford do well here and it’s about time SOARING EAGLE found the winner’s enclosure after placing in each of her last four starts, including twice here over five furlongs. I am aware she is starting to become expensive to follow but Harry Burns takes off three pounds as she goes back up in distance and won’t find many better opportunities to open her account. 

SHE’S CENTIMENTAL has to concede fitness and weight to these but Alice Haynes filly won her last two starts last year and she should have more to come. She bolted up in a decent time over course-and-distance in September and, with most of her rivals beginning to look exposed, there’s every chance she will complete the hat-trick. 

20:00 Wolverhampton

Leg 6 Selections: Freedom Flyer, Reigning Profits

James Sullivan has his only ride on the card in the shape of FREEDOM FLYER, who travelled smoothly en route to winning comfortably on the turf seven days ago and connections have decided to turn him out quickly off the same mark back on the all-weather here. Ruth Carr’s team are in excellent form of late and it is hard to see her six-year-old out of the frame. 

Ruth Carr’s other runner, REIGNING PROFITS, will be partnered by Oisin Murphy, who does well at this venue and isn’t out of things on these terms. He remains six pounds above his last winning mark but has the course form in the book and fitness shouldn’t be a concern either. If his stablemate fails to fire, he is the likely one to pick up the pieces at decent odds.