It’s a busy Saturday on Sky Sports Racing, with Wolverhampton and Hereford hosting live action.
3.15 Wolverhampton – Cool Hoof Luke fancied for Lady Wulfruna
Cool Hoof Luke is the headline act in an intriguing renewal of the Listed BetMGM Lady Wulfruna Stakes at Wolverhampton.
Andrew Balding’s four-year-old took the Group 2 Gimcrack Stakes as a two-year-old and made an encouraging reappearance when finishing third in the Listed Kachy Stakes here last month. He should come on for that run and looks the class act as he steps up in distance under Oisin Murphy.
Ferrous makes a quick return having finished a fast-finishing second here on Trials Day last Friday. That was another solid effort, and he can make the frame again as he heads up to seven furlongs. Callum Rodriguez replaces Tom Marquand in the plate.
The best of the rest might be established pair Marshman and Witch Hunter, who represent Karl Burke and Richard Hannon respectively.
2.42 Wolverhampton – La Botte and Regal Ulixes contest strong Lincoln Trial handicap
An excellent edition of the BetMGM Lincoln Trial Handicap where La Botte tops a field of twelve.
Harry Eustace’s charge has not been seen since finishing a neck second in the Britannia at Royal Ascot in June and tops the weights under Jamie Spencer. A lightly-raced individual, his trainer has mentioned the Lincoln as a possible target, and this could put him spot on for a big effort on Town Moor at the end of the month.
Regal Ulixes ran out a taking winner of a Lingfield handicap last week and is backed up quickly under P J McDonald. The manner of that victory was striking and he must be feared from his 6lb higher mark.
Two Tempting is a fair each-way proposition, while the progressive First Principle makes appeal for the Haggas team, despite being beaten by the former horse the last day at Kempton.
2.52 Hereford – In-form Western General and Largy Belter clash
Recent winners Western General and Largy Belter look the pair to concentrate on in this Check Out Fairplay’s Cheltenham Offers Handicap Chase at Hereford.
The Joe Tizzard-trained Western General showed the benefit of a second wind operation when landing a fourth win over fences at Chepstow last time and a similar run would see him go close despite a 5lb hike in the weights.
Largy Belter is another who arrives in good spirits having scored in heavy ground at Leicester last month. That was a first success over the larger obstacles, and he is in the right hands to win more races in this sphere.
Uncle Phil and Homme d’Un Soir complete the quartet.
Best of the rest
Back at Wolverhampton, Kullazain and Knebworth contest the 2.05pm Make The Move To Midnite Handicap, with the latter arriving off the back of victory at Chelmsford the last day. The booking of all-weather champion Billy Loughnane is a plus point for him, too.
Sintra is an eyecatching addition to the 3.50pm Win £250,000 With BetMGM’s Golden Goals Maiden Stakes, having finished third on debut. This Juddmonte-owned son of Kingman is bred to be a decent operator and should get off the mark here.
At Hereford, Bective Abbey headlines the fairplaybet.co.uk Bet £20 Get £20 Free Novices’ Handicap Chase at 4.02pm. Nicky Henderson’s charge has finished second the last twice but looks well-placed to carry top-weight to success.
Internationally, the Grade 1 Beholder Mile from Santa Anita (9.30pm) looks a nice race, with Nafisa among six runners.