Wolverhampton Racecourse: preview and tips for Saturday’s eight-race all-weather card

Racing kicks off at 4.40pm with a one-mile and one furlong handicap in class three before the card comes to a close when 11 runners tackle the seven furlong class six handicap. 

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

The opening contest of the afternoon sees a field of ten head to the stalls for the class three handicap (4.40). King’s Code remains on a fair mark following back-to-back course and distance wins and is taken to complete the hat-trick for trainer Philip Evans. The five-year-old may have most to fear from Felix, who was just over a length behind him here on Boxing Day and could get close now 2lb better off in the weights.

A step up in trip could be the catalyst for further improvement from Forest Spirit in race two on the Wolverhampton card (5.10) who duly left her low-key novice form well behind when going close upped to one and a half miles on her handicap debut here in September. She earns the vote ahead of Balgowan, who also found just one too good on his latest start at Lingfield. Black Smoke would be in with a shout, too, if able to bounce back.

The third race of the day sees nine runners tackle division one of the class six handicap (5.40). Manton Road doesn't appear to be entirely straightforward, but there's clearly an engine there and he should benefit from this step back up in trip after opening his account off a 2lb lower mark over seven furlongs here recently. Jonny Garlic, trained by Michael Keady, found just one too good on his handicap and stable debut at Lingfield and he is the clear main danger.

Freak Encounter did too much too soon last time and can show he's still on a favourable mark in race four (6.10), while Paradoxical only went down only narrowly to a next-time-out winner at Lingfield last time and might prove the answer in the fifth race on the Wolverhampton card (6.40) for trainer Jennie Candlish.

A field of will take on the six furlong maiden stakes at 7.10 and those with experience don't set the bar too high so this could rest between newcomers Mayday Mayday and Sudden Flight with marginal preference for the former of Karl Burke's daughter of Soldier's Call.

Monsieur Patat, trained by Adrian Wintle, rates the pick of the weights in the penultimate race on Saturday’s card (7.40) so is worth forgiving his latest seventh here when going too freely and taken to resume winning ways.

Finally, 11 runners will head to the start for the seven furlong handicap in class six to bring the meeting to a close at 8.10. Preference in the finale heads the way of South Dakota Sioux, if in the same form as when readily seeing off eight rivals here a fortnight ago he might be able to cope with a  6lb rise in the weights. Bint Havana Gold is a model of consistency on all-weather and will be a threat off a short break for the Richard Hughes yard. 

Wolverhampton selections - Saturday

4.40 - King’s Code

5.10 - Forest Spirit

5.40 - Manton Road

6.10 - Freak Encounter

6.40 - Paradoxical

7.10 - Mayday Mayday

7.40 - Monsieu Patat

8.10 - South Dakota Sioux