Our all-weather expert Jamie Maynard fancies a couple of horses at Wolverhampton this evening including Karl Burke's Kelly's Dino.
Recommended bets:
This, on paper, is a very tight looking handicap and there’s not many that you can rule out with much confidence. The vastly progressive Dellaguista could still be ahead of the handicapper after landing a hat-trick with the most recent win at Newcastle at the start of the year. This filly has rightly gone up 16lb in the ratings since the first of three victories but the form of the last couple has some substance to it and it’d be no surprise to see her go in again despite both Corked and Chestnut Fire re-opposing on better terms.
Favourite Royal has a squeak from 2lb higher than when successful at Lingfield on her penultimate start and she has since finished a good fifth in a higher grade but the selection is Karl Burke’s KELLY’S DINO who returned from an absence of over two years to win at Southwell on New Years Day with the third and sixth-placed having come out since and gone very close in a higher grade so the form looks good.
Whilst on the sidelines, this five-year old underwent a gelding operation and as long as he doesn’t acquire the dreaded ‘bounce factor’ I think he’s overpriced as he’s still very unexposed and open to much more improvement.
1845 Betway Live Casino Handicap:
A very low-key staying handicap over the extended two-mile trip here. Indian Red got in the placings for the first time in eight starts just over a week ago over this trip and is edging closer to that first success. New Abbey Angel’s only victory came from a 3lb higher mark and has gone mightily close the last twice but they were over shorter trips and supporters will have to take this step up to two-miles on trust as he’s not bred to stay this far.
The one I’m happy to take a punt on however is last-year’s winner of the race MISS DUSKY DIVA at larger odds. This six-year old mare won with a bit in hand that day off a mark of 55 and after some pretty lacklustre efforts since she has now dropped back down to the same mark which could be significant here.
She unseated at this track the last day three-furlongs out when still in contention and it’s an unknown how that race would’ve panned out for her but I think it’s worth taking the gamble here with this race most probably having been in the thoughts of small trainer David Drinkwater’s mind for a while. William Carson is in the saddle again having won on her last year and if she’s fully tuned up for this connections will be hoping for at least a placed effort.
Recommended bets
0.5pt ew Kelly's Dino in 615 Wolverhampton at 8/1
0.5pt ew Miss Dusky Diva in 645 Wolverhampton at 11/1