Evening Racing Preview – Wolverhampton
18:00 Wolverhampton – Lhebayeb
Lhebayeb looks capable of starting the evening well. Roger Varian’s runner arrives after some respectable efforts and lines up carrying around 9st 7lb, which is very similar to the burden he shouldered last time out. That suggests the handicapper has left him a fair chance.
Jack Mitchell is expected to ride and he tends to judge Wolverhampton’s turns particularly well. If Lhebayeb settles behind the early pace and begins to move forward approaching the straight, he may well find himself with plenty left when others begin to feel the strain.
The sort of runner who often travels comfortably before deciding the real work begins late on — which is exactly when connections will want him to get serious.
Bet
1 pt win
19:00 Wolverhampton – Corniche Girl
Corniche Girl may represent the value angle in the 19:00 contest. Tony Carroll’s mare runs here carrying roughly 9st 2lb, a couple of pounds less than she was racing from earlier in the winter, which brings her a little closer to several rivals on the ratings.
Jack Doughty takes the ride and his claim helps lighten the load further. If the early pace is strong she should be able to sit just behind the leaders before creeping into contention down the straight.
She may not be obvious for much of the race, but Wolverhampton handicaps often reward the runner who quietly sneaks into the picture late.
Bet
1 pt each way
19:30 Wolverhampton – Water Of Leith
Water Of Leith looks one of the more reliable contenders on the card. Kevin Frost trains the gelding and William Carson knows the horse well.
He competes carrying around 9st 5lb again, almost identical to his latest outing, which suggested he remains competitive from this sort of mark. Wolverhampton tends to favour runners who are close enough to the pace turning for home and Water Of Leith usually races prominently enough to benefit from that.
If Carson gets him into a comfortable rhythm early on, he may well have first run on the field — which can be rather useful in races like this.
Bet
1 pt win
20:00 Wolverhampton – Kipp Kelly
Kipp Kelly could be an interesting runner in the final race. Alice Haynes trains the gelding and Kieran O’Neill is likely to take the ride.
He lines up carrying about 9st 4lb, virtually unchanged from his most recent start, and that run hinted he may be edging closer to another success. Haynes has been sending out runners in solid form and O’Neill is well accustomed to navigating Wolverhampton’s tight bends.
If Kipp Kelly gets a clear passage around the final turn he should have every chance to produce a late challenge. As ever, a bit of racing luck may also be required — but that tends to apply to most things in this sport.
Bet
1 pt win
