4.20pm Wolverhampton Tips & Betting Preview 30/03/2017

This is a tricky handicap over an extended mile, see our betting tips and the full race preview below.

IN SUMMARY: There are some long standing maidens in this and it could pay to take them on with ADIATOR. She doesn’t have the most attractive profile but there are a few reasons to think she may be overpriced in this such as trying a mile and the All-Weather for the first time. She gets a tentative vote ahead of Society Ranger and Appease who both need to be watched closely in the betting.

1 MONOLOGUE – Lightly-raced 4yo for Simon Hodgson who got off the mark on the sixth attempt last time out. He won a Class 7 handicap over a mile at Kempton and that shouldn’t have come as too much of a shock having placed on his final start of last season at Wolverhampton. He’s in good form and he should improve again for that run although he does carry a 6lb penalty here and this is a stronger race. Respected.

2 POOR DUKE – Trainer has only had 5 winners from 176 runners here and his entry still remains 5lb higher than his last winning mark. That came on the turf at Chepstow in August last year and he’s been very quiet of late and returns here off a two-month break. Phil Dennis claims 5lbs again but others make more appeal at the weights.

3 SECRET LIGHTNING – Scored by a neck last time out in Class 7 company at Kempton over a mile. She’s been raised 2lbs for that effort and connections enlist the services of Alistair Rawlinson here and his 3lb claim which effectively leaves her better off at the weights. Stall 7 isn’t perfect but this mark is still workable and she should be thereabouts again in this stronger grade.

4 THE DUKKERER – James Given has sent out a winner from his last four attempts and his runner here looks to score for the first time since September 2015. She was well-beaten at Chelmsford last time out and hasn’t shown any real form of late on the All-Weather and that’s seen her drop to what should be a workable mark off 52. Tom Eaves is an eye-catching booking for this yard and she may be one of interest at a bigger price.

5 CANFORD BELLE – Career record of one win from 28 starts isn’t inspiring but she’s shown better form of late including a placed effort over a mile at Newcastle in January. She was well-held off a pound higher over C&D last time out but this is a weaker race and she’s more reliable than others in the field. She needs to recapture that form she showed earlier this year to get involved here and others are better weighted.

6 ADIATOR – She’s without a victory since 2014 but there are a couple of interesting angles into Neville Bycroft’s runner here. This is her first attempt over a mile having raced over sprint trips most of her life and on pedigree this trip should be fine whilst this is also her first attempt on the All-Weather. She’s on a career low mark of 51 and off a break, she could offer some tempting value. Interesting.

7 RAFAAF – Rapidly dropped down the weights last year and arrives here off a career low mark of 49. He showed that to be workable having placed on his last three starts off this mark and a pound higher so he should continue in that good vein of form with 7lb claimer Kieran Schofield kept on board. You do have to go back to November 2013 for his last win which must be remembered here.

8 APPEASE – Only victory came in September 2013 for Richard Hannon Snr and he’s plummeted down the weights since arriving at this stable in 2015. He’s an interesting runner in this given he’s been raced exclusively in Ireland for his current yard and Patrick O’Donnell is booked to claims 5lbs so there’s every possibility he’s going to be primed to win this today. Market support would be significant.

9 THE GREEDY BOY – 14 races without success although he did run some creditable races for Mick Channon. He ran in a Juvenile Hurdle on his first start for his new yard and finished pulled up but was seen to much better effect when returned to the flat where he was beaten 3 lengths with the cheekpieces applied for the first time. They’re left on today but he races off 2lbs out of the handicap. Avoided.

10 SOCIETY RANGER – Another Irish raider in this who ran with some credit back in February when fourth at Dundalk by 2 3/4 lengths. He’s a maiden after 22 starts so he’s yet another in this field with serious question marks about his mentality and he couldn’t arrive here off a lower mark (rated 45). He is 1lb out of the handicap but the booking of Robert Winston catches the eye and market support would be hugely significant for this runner as well.

11 BOLD GROVE – 17 races without a win and he has placed just once in all of those starts. He was well-beaten off a return to action at Southwell earlier this month and although he should strip fitter here, he’s incredibly difficult to make a case for. He does step up to a mile which he’s unexposed at but he’s been thrashed over C&D twice before and is wrong at the weights here. Avoided.