Recommended bets: Wolverhampton
0.5pt e.w. Secret Lightning in 5.45 at 14/1
1pt win Argus in 6.15 at 3/1
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5.45 preview
A very tricky a tight looking handicap is in stall for punters to kick-start this evening’s card at Dunstall Park and the one that they eye is immediately drawn to is last week’s easy Kempton scorer Diamond Reflection.
He was a two-and-a-half-length winner over half a furlong further and has every chance of following up over this slightly shorter trip despite carrying a 6lb penalty.
Sunshineandbubbles won over this course and distance on his penultimate start and that landed a double having previously won on the fibresand at Southwell. He wasn’t so good back there a fortnight ago but a repeat of his penultimate effort should see him go close off only a 1lb higher mark
However, one that I think could go well at much bigger odds is Michael Appleby’s SECRET LIGHTNING.
She’s a dual course winner with the most recent coming a couple of runs back at odds of 40/1 over a similar sort of trip and you can put a line through her latest two efforts off this higher mark. She was made to travel wide at Chelmsford when not beaten far in fourth before, not for the first time, not handling the Fibresand at Southwell.
Now back on the Tapeta this six-year old mare, who has won off higher marks on the turf before, could well put that last run behind her with Kevin Lundie (13% strike-rate here) negating 3lb.
6.15 preview
The feature race on Friday comes over the extended two-mile trip and bottom-weight Mambo Dancer seems to have found his niche over this sort of distance.
Since making the step up he’s scored at Newcastle before posting a solid second placed effort next time. He’s up in grade for this but is sure to have his supporters as he still remains unexposed at the trip.
Seaport is one to take note of having been outclassed in much higher grades (most notably the Cesarewitch) since moving to the UK from France and may play a hand here but has stamina doubts and Good Time Ahead looks a shade high in the weights at present.
The one who looks worth a bet is the double-seeking ARGUS for trainer Alex Dunn, who saddled a winner last week at Kempton and looks to have found a nice opportunity to add to that here with this six-year-old who scored on his last outing.
He was slightly keen in the early stages that day but showed he stays this trip well by making all and doing so a shade cosily in the end. He makes his Tapeta debut here and has Adam Kirby in the saddle which is very significant as he’s yet to ride for this trainer and you’d have to say he’s the best in the business on the all-weather.
A repeat performance of that latest run should see this son of Rip Van Winkle go very close to adding to his four career victories off a 4lb higher mark and with Kirby doing the steering, a big run looks assured.
Posted at 2140 GMT on 01/02/18.
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