3.50pm Wolverhampton Tips & Betting Preview 13/02/2017

Class 2 action is the feature race of the day at Wolverhampton on Monday, see our betting tips and the full race preview below.

IN SUMMARY: Sennockian Star ended his losing run at Kempton  three starts ago and went in again at Lingfield last month so has to be considered a danger, but this looks like a chance for PERFECT CRACKER to gain another well deserved win. Finishing placed the last twice here, he’s a four time C&D winner and has the assistance of Adam Kirby once again. There should be a decent pace on show today which will help his hold up style and looks the likely winner for Clive Cox and Mildmay Racing.

1 WINTERLUDE – Back to winning ways when battling on well to win at Lingfield in January (1m 2f, Std), Jennie Candlish’s seven year old holds Coillte Cailin on that form and has only been raised 2lb. Not the most consistent of performers so it’s hard to know if he’ll be in the same form again but if he is, he’d have to be considered a main danger, though he’s never won off a mark this high. Respected but doesn’t strike as a likely type to follow up.

2 VETTORI RULES – Triple winner in Italy and makes his British/Stable debut today. Very hard to know how good he really is though there has to be a suspicion he’ll need more in this company. Luke Morris takes the ride but the market is likely to be the best guide and he’s best left alone today.

3 JOHN REEL – Has never been the most consistent and his last all weather win came back in February 2015. He did however finish a close third over C&D on Boxing Day when only beaten a length and a neck away from Perfect Cracker on that occasion. He did however flop at Lingfield on his latest start (1m 4f, Std) which tempers enthusiasm. Hard to give him anymore than each way claims with how inconsistent he is, but a likely player nonetheless.

4 PEARL NATION – Has very patchy form to put it mildly and his latest second at Southwell shouldn’t be taken at face value, as it was in a small field claimer. He needs more today if he’s to feature, though he’s now 4lb below his last winning mark. Possible each way player if back to his best but shouldn’t be one to rely on heavily, and its interesting to note Andrew Mullen has drawn thirty-three blanks in recent times.

5 COILLTE CAILIN – Won three starts ago over C&D in December and despite a 5lb rise she went in again at Lingfield in January (1m 2f, Std). She couldn’t however cope with a further 4lb rise when held behind Winterlude over the same C&D a few weeks later. On that evidence she needs more if she’s to take this today, which certainly cannot be discounted for David O’Meara. Will need everything to fall right due to her hold up style but should get a strong pace to aim at and has to be respected for place claims at a minimum.

6 PACTOLUS – Made all comfortably at Chelmsford in November (1m, Std) but has been held the last twice, unable to cope with the 6lb rise given after that win. Going up in trip is likely to suit but the handicapper hasn’t relented and he likely needs them to if he’s to resume on the winning trail. Has been given Stall 3 so if good enough he’ll be able to get to the lead, but seems an unlikely winner off a mark of 92 (a career high) and is likely best watched.

7 PERFECT CRACKER – His last four wins have come over C&D, the latest of which when running on strongly to comfortably dispatch his rivals in March. He hasn’t been disgraced the last twice, placing on both occasions and was only beaten a length over the mile here in January. Going back up in trip is likely to help and has the assistance of Adam Kirby once again which is another huge plus. A mark of 90 is only a pound above his last winning mark and he should be more than capable of taking victory today with a likely strong pace to aim at.

8 SENNOCKIAN STAR – Ended a long losing run when winning comfortably at Kempton in January in an amateur riders event and went in again at Lingfield on his latest start off a 3lb higher mark (1m 2f, Std). That made it two wins from three in January, though he’ll now need to shoulder a further 3lb rise if he’s to win again for Mark Johnston today. Clearly in good heart and can’t be discounted with Joe Fanning taking the ride, though has been given the burden of stall eight which doesn’t. All the same he’s likely to run a big race and has to be respected as such.