Wolverhampton set for another busy Monday evening card

Racing gets underway at 5.30pm with an eight-runner apprentice handicap before it comes to a close three hours later at 8.30pm with another handicap contest, this time in class six. 

Read below to discover the latest tips and a full preview of Wolverhampton’s meeting on Monday courtesy of Sporting Life. 

The opening contest on the card is a class six handicap for apprentice jockeys, with eight runners heading to the stalls for the start (5.30). This race is a bit more open than it could have been with Carlton, who has been in flying form, declared a non-runner in his chase for a five-timer, so preference instead heads the way of Mr Zippi, who has a bigger performance in him on the level so he's the choice ahead of Daaris, a course and distance winner here in December. 

Race two of the evening (6.00) is a six runner handicap, again in class six. Maharajas Express shaped as though still in form over six furlongs here on Saturday for trainer Ian Williams and with the return to the five furlongs in his favour, he can get it right this time. Buraback caught the eye over C&D a week ago so is feared most.

A small field of five will tackle the class five novice stakes to mark race three on the card (6.30). The Robert Cowell-trained Rebel Star receives 5lb from her rivals and in the hope she can cast aside a lesser run at Southwell a month ago, this looks a good opportunity for her to get off the mark. Rosenpur and Francisco are the viable threats, the latter making a yard debut for trainer Patrick Chamings having left the powerful Andrew Balding team. 

A few are in with chances in race four (7.00) but Rebel Path scored with something in hand at Chelmsford City last time out for the Stuart Williams team so looks the way to go once again. The handily-weighted Kitaab is feared most after a break with Many A Star and Bulldog Drummond also worthy of consideration.

Eight runners will contest the six furlong handicap in class five (7.30), race five of the evening. Course-winner Lihou should be all the better for a recent run at Lingfield after a break and is fancied to capitalise on a lenient mark. In-form C&D winner Nelson Gay rates a big threat though, with Prince Of Bel Lir and Professor Tickle not discounted either in an open sprint.

A tight-knit sprint contest is race six on the Wolverhampton card (8.00) and the penultimate contest of the evening in which C&D scorer A Pint Of Bear is weighted to go well for the Scott Dixon team, seventh last time out but is one for improvement off the back of that, while the finale (8.30) can go the way of Forever Proud, who is thriving under the expert tutelage of James Owen and fancied to quickly resume winning ways on the back of her excellent recent Lingfield second. Strategic Fortune didn't enjoy the rub of the green when fourth over C&D last time and can have a say. 

Wolverhampton selections - Monday

5.30 - Mr Zippi

6.00 - Maharajas Express

6.30 - Rebel Star

7.00 - Rebel Path

7.30 - Lihou

8.00 - A Pint Of Bear

8.30 - Forever Proud