rebelfm

If you haven't been to an evening meeting at Wolverhampton, do yourself a favour and at least give it a try. I would recommend spending a little over £40 and have a meal in The Horizon restaurant. This is a very well set up track with the money well spent. I remember coming here many times in the 1970s and 1980s. Then it was an ok course but was never one of my favourites. Now the layout being similar to a greyhound track in that racegoers have a good view throughout. The use of Polytrack make this by far the best surface for all weather racing due to the faster going than other dirttracks and the lack of kickback meaning that hold up horses are not so disadvantaged. There are still some of the old features retained as well as a good sized betting hall and an integrated hotel. The restaurant was manned by well trained staff, the food was more than decent and at least there was plenty of choice on the menu rather than a set meal.

Firzt race on the card was a good two year old maiden over five furlongs the Punchestown Live On ATR Virgin 534 Maiden Stakes. The winner was the well bred Monnoyer(late April foal) who was backed down to strong odds on, close up untill produced from 2 out to win easily despite being a bit green. This was not a bad maiden and I would be amazed if he did not carry a penalty to success. The fourth home Wolfgang  caught the eye. Scrubbed along and going nowhere from early on began to get the hang of and stayed on without being a real threat. Will learn from this run and if tried over six furlongs should win. Is entered up in some very good juvenille races in the autumn so clearly has shown Richard Hannon something at home. Courtyard King put his experience to good effect and although had some traffic problems en route. Again I would like to see him over a bit further but has had a series of quick runs over the minimum trip and mabe now that he has secured a handicap mark will be kept for nurseries. Lord Ali McJones finished third and is a sprinter in the making just being outpaced close home by a very useful winner and a stronger pedigree runner up. In this race very few raced without any merit and of its type I think this will throw up plenty of winners with time.

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Battery ran out after this ebird's eye shot of the paddock

Second race Class 4 over five furlongs Great Offers At wolverhampton-racecourse.co.uk Handicap. It was won by hold up horse Island Passion a hold up horse who often is hampered or misses the kick at the start. He did so today but came through with good effect. Campaigned almost exclusively on the all weather, is in good form at the moment but has never really run well when has a mark above 70, a level I think he is likely to return to. Island Legend was caught close home but probably because he is now on a make of 80 was just beaten by the weight. A consistant sort who is much better suited to the all weather and if below the 80 may be in a winning position agains. Kylladdie finished third and has a good record on the all weather particularly when on a mark below 70. He did not seem to have had the hardest of races and keep an eye out when the mark suits and as a four year old can win again soon. Garstang is another interesting runner. Although an eight year old has not stopped winning. Has already won eleven times. He has not won on his present mark of 77 and I would like to wait until on about 71. He was not disgraceed tonight, having traffic problems around a furlong out and not overly pushed once chance had gone.

Third race six furlong three year old seller the Name A Race To Enhance Your Brand Selling Stakes. Only four went to post. It was not a very successful race. The second home and 4/6 favourite Coothill Lass completely missed the kick, was chased up to be competitive, scrubbed along from two out but never got to the winner. It stunk a bit but to be fair she has previous s.i.s comments. Is on a very useful 60 mark and if we get good ground I think she can win in handicap company. Eternal Youth is rated around 67 and this looks a touch high for handicapping. Had every chance but not pushed too hard. Sprint handicap pedigree and has not had many runs over the minimum trip and perhaps a drop in distance may well be interesting. Pick A Little won the race almost by default and attracted no bid. A lucky winner.

Fourth race was the John Allen 60th Birthday Celebration Handicap over one miles six. Storm Hawk just held on by a head and this trip is about as far as he stays. Second home Blackstone Vegas stayed on well but just failed. A moderate handicapper over the hurdles who looks like a two mile event will be a probably advantage as he stays the trip.

Fifth race was the Punchestown Live On ATR Sky 415 Fillies' Class 5 Handicap over just under 1m1. It was was won in good style bu hold up horse Nahab well ridden by Ted Durkin by a comfortable length and a half. Very nicely bred, suited by 1 mile to 1 mile 2 and can follow up. This was first run on all weather as a three year old and certainly a mark of 74 is within the scope based on this run. Sweet Possession almost nicked this race being chased into a clear lead and was only overhauled inside the final furlong to be an encouraging runner up. Her OR for the all weather of 44 if true is very lenient and if is under the 50 level must be able to win at last. Suffered from a useful two year old third at Ascot but has not really returned to that level since. Although there was plenty to provide optimism the fact that she has not won in 21 efforts tempers the belief that a sound bet at this low mark is worthwhile.

Sixth race over 1m1 was the class 6 for three year olds  Stay At The Wolverhampton Holiday Inn Handicap. A seller in all bar name. Won by Little Jazz just who is on the right mark of 60 with any uplift unlikely to lead to further success. The second Ishikawa should really have won having been dropped out, came very wide and ran on well to just fail. On a very low mark of 49 and looks the sort to do ok over hurdles as has some scope I would have thought. Countrywide Falme winning mark of 55 and run over a mile would see him back in the winners' enclosure I think. Ran well today and gave best despite leading at the mile post. Didn't quite stay tonight trip.

The final event was a five furlong three year old maiden race the Sponsor A Race By Calling Maiden Stakes. Gottcher soon took command and pulled clear for a very easy win. Clearly trained on but pedigree is moderate and he may well not follow up. Given this analysis it may well be that this is a very moderate maiden and tere is little to encourage interest in the rest of the field. This includes the well backed favourite Arrow Storm who lacked pace although plodded on for fifth. May be better over six but I think is pretty well useless. Why try Ginzan over the minimum trip. On the face of it a fair third but was outpaced by the winner. His pedigree points to middle distances and surely she can pick up a fillies maiden over a mile.

How did they do next three runs to a £10 stake (EW if 16/1 or greater)

Monnoyer down £40
4 2 0 0
Proved disapointing and shelved

Wolfgang up£40
1 (9/2) 0 1 (5/2) 2 2
Proved a useful 2yo this year and won two of next three races. Was then handicapped a bit tight running well when twice on one occasion at 14/1 and has now been shelved


Kylladdie up £10
2 1(2/1)
Ran well next two in the required class 5 but after winning went up 7lbs and raced in class 4 so was shelved.


Blackstone Vegas down £30
2 2 (28/1) 0
Had a couple of nice seconds including a good each way effort when I saw him at York. However mark then went to a stone higher than last winning mark and that was too much to ask and I stopped backing him

Nahab up £16
1 (13/8)
Won carrying 75 (pound more than my assessment but near enouh) then went up inclass to class 4 and was carrying a stone more than he was carrying at Wolvo so backed out of him sharpish

Ginzan level
3 4 2 4 4 3 2 1 3/1
After three attempts I then decided to wait until tried over than the minimum trip. When he did he win it was first time up over 6f and at a very stiff one like Bath. Went up 5lbs as a consequence so have shelved. I should have held back from the first three races as they were all over the inadequate 5f that I had highlighted in the original commentary.