7.55pm Wolverhampton Tips & Betting Preview 12/09/2016

The feature race on Monday’s Wolverhampton card is a Class 4 handicap over 5f. Read our full race preview for our experts’ betting tips.

IN SUMMARY: This isn’t very competitive for the grade and the one to be on is ETERNITY’S GATE, who seemed to respond fairly well to the fitting of a first-time visor and ran better than the bare form suggests when sixth at Chelmsford three weeks, having raced wide throughout. He has the services of Silvestre De Sousa today and can fare better if reverting to his usual positive tactics. Second choice is Rich Again, who had excuses for his latest defeat, is on a workable mark and has seven course wins to his name. Kestrel Call has some questions to answer after a couple of moderate runs but won on his debut for Michael Appleby in June and may yet have more to offer for his current stable.

1 Eleuthera – Lightly raced for his age but hasn’t been firing on all cylinders on turf this summer; might be happier back on the AW but has to run off a higher mark on this surface and has shown his best form over 6f; others have more pressing claims.

2 Oriental Relation – Scored off today’s mark at Chelmsford (6f, AW) in March and also off his lower turf mark at Nottingham (5f, good to firm) in July but, in general terms, he seems steadily to be regressing; only midfield when last in action and needs a change of headgear to give him a lift.

3 Red Stripes – Won four times on the AW when in the care of Brian Meehan but been unplaced all seven starts for new stable this season; urgently needs to arrest his decline; blinkers missing today.

4 Rich Again – Multiple course winner (albeit mainly over longer trips) who usually finishes well and did just that to score over 6f here in July; never really got involved at Chelmsford last time but didn’t get the best of runs there and remains on a workable mark; one to consider.

5 Kestrel Call – Displayed the benefit of his switch to Michael Appleby’s stable when causing a 20/1 surprise at Doncaster (5.5f, good) in June; not in same form on either start since then but soft ground the obvious excuse last time; effective on Tapeta and today’s mark probably not beyond him.

6 Eternity’s Gate – Gained this year’s win when gamely making all at Pontefract (5f, good to firm) in June; inconsistent since then but wasn’t beaten far when sixth in first-time visor (retained) at Chelmsford (5f, AW) last month, having raced wide and been ridden much more patiently than usual; Silvestre De Sousa booked today and no surprise if a return to more positive tactics pays dividends.

7 Entertaining Ben – Has a very patchy record but produced a good performance to gain his breakthrough win, at Salisbury (5f, good to firm) in June, and was back at a similar level when close second at Bath (5f, firm) last month; effective on AW surfaces but chance probably depends on his mood.

8 Desert Strike – Veteran who has been an excellent servant over the years, winning 25 of his 183 starts; not in great form in recent months but had excuses when last of 12 at Chelmsford on latest outing and, with conditions suitable, can’t be ruled out.

9 Noble Asset – Has raced only twice on the AW, both times at Chelmsford this year and both times comfortably held; might be better suited by the different surface here and didn’t run badly when sixth on turf at Windsor recently but overall profile not convincing.

myracing Forecast Prices: 3/1 Entertaining Ben, 4/1 Rich Again, 6/1 Eleuthera, Eternity’s Gift, 7/1 Kestrel Call, 8/1 Oriental Relation, 12/1 Desert Strike, Noble Asset, 16/1 Red Stripes