6.45pm Wolverhampton Tips & Betting Preview 19/04/2017

This is a maiden over 7 furlongs at Wolverhampton, see our betting tips and the full race preview below.

IN SUMMARY: Some useful sorts in this and EL CAP can make a winning start to his 3yo career. He has some decent form to his name with two seconds last season and he should progress for a yard that really get the best out of their horses at 3 and 4. Ejaaby is an expensive purchase and another likely improver whilst Zillion would be of interest if it wasn’t for his awful draw.

1 SOCKS AND SHARES – Cheap purchase as a yearling (£5,000) and he’s a gelded son of Elnadim who was a very decent sort over 6 furlongs. His dam was a 5-race maiden but had shown plenty of speed over 6 and 7 furlongs at 2 and 3. Has to give plenty of weight away as a 4yo and others make more appeal on today’s terms for a yard with a 6% strike rate here.

2 UNDER THE COVERS – Once-raced filly who ran with some promise on debut when beaten 5 3/4 lengths over 6 furlongs as a 2yo. She’s been off the track since July 2015 and she’s clearly had issues which is a big negative now returning off that lay-off. She has to give away weight here as a 4yo and she’s best watched. Yard have an 8% strike rate at Wolverhampton.

3 EJAABY – 200,000GNS purchase who showed plenty of promise on two starts last year. He was sent off favourite on both starts (11/4, 11/10) and he should have progressed plenty with another winter under his belt and there should certainly be more to come. Yard have a 40% strike rate in the last 14 days and whilst his draw in stall 8 isn’t ideal, he should be thereabouts.

4 EL CAP – Sir Michael Stoute has a 57% strike rate in the past 14 days and he runs this Speighstown colt here. He’s another that is likely to have progressed over the winter and he showed plenty of improvement on his second start to finish a length-second to Mamdood at Chelmsford. He’s kept over 7 furlongs which looks fine given there is some stamina on his dam’s side and he has a leading chance in this. Interesting.

5 FALBON – 47,000GNS purchase as a 2yo and he improved on his second start to finish third of nine, beaten 7 1/4 lengths. He should come on again with a 125-day break for a yard that can send out a maiden winner but he’ll get a rating after today and may be better waited with for handicap company. Yard are doing well of late with two winners from their last nine runners and he has definite claims.

6 GUNMAKER – Has shown some ability in two starts to date over a mile and 7 furlongs and he’s looked rather green on both occasions. The yard are without a winner in the last fortnight and he’s probably one for handicaps further down the line on the turf. Should come on for another run and a step up in trip might be on the cards (by Canford Cliffs). Best watched.

7 KATHEEFA – Stall 10 makes life very difficult on debut for this son of Street Cry. Trip and track should be fine and this looks a good starting point although he’s already been gelded and his profile doesn’t suggest he’s likely to win first time up. The yard can get one ready first time out and had a maiden winner last week and they are in good heart of late 5 winners from 17 runners (29% strike rate). One to watch in the betting.

8 TAWFEER – £800 purchase as a 3yo and his price tag suggests he’s got some sizeable issues. The yard are not known for first time out winners and he’s likely to need plenty of time and handicap company. Stall 5 is fine but his profile suggests he won’t be winning today and others are preferred. Yard have a 7% strike strike rate here from 147 runners.

9 ZILLION – 34,000GNS as a 2yo and he steps down in trip on just his second start. John Gosden’s runners have needed a run this season so far and it’s a positive that he arrives here with race fitness and experience on his side. Cheekpieces are applied for the first time which is a positive but he’s vulnerable to a couple with better form in the books. Respected but others look more likely given stall 11 makes life very difficult.

10 CAREYANNE – Dam was a speedy sort, racing over 5 and 6 furlongs as a 2yo. She has some stamina on her sire’s side and it’ll be interesting to see how she shapes over 7 furlongs. Yard have an excellent 23% strike rate here but this Mount Nelson filly is probably best watched on racecourse debut although she would be of interest with significant market support.

11 EXCELLENT SUNSET – 70,000GNS purchase as a yearling and she was well-beaten on debut in July last year. She finished 14 lengths behind the winner that day and she ran green and looked slightly lost. She’ll do better here with the benefit of a run and this tighter track for a yard that has a 23% strike rate at Wolverhampton to date. David Lanigan has been very quiet of late and this is their first runner in the past fortnight.

12 ROYAL PEACE – Two runs to date and she returned off a seasonal break a few weeks ago to finish second of five behind a runaway winner. She steps back in trip here to 7 furlongs which should suit given she’s by Royal Applause. Yard have a 23% strike in the past fortnight and do well here so she’s not without a chance but others make more appeal.