Sky Sports Racing serves up a busy Saturday with live action from Wolverhampton and Hereford.
3.15 Wolverhampton — Cool Hoof Luke preferred for Lady Wulfruna
Cool Hoof Luke is the headline entry for the Listed BetMGM Lady Wulfruna Stakes at Wolverhampton. Andrew Balding’s four-year-old, a Group 2 Gimcrack Stakes winner at two, made a promising comeback when third in the Listed Kachy Stakes here last month. He is expected to improve for that run and looks the class act stepping up in trip under Oisin Murphy.
Ferrous reappears quickly after finishing a fast-finishing second on Trials Day last Friday. That was another solid effort and he should again be competitive up at seven furlongs, with Callum Rodriguez taking the mount from Tom Marquand. Marshman and Witch Hunter, trained by Karl Burke and Richard Hannon respectively, look the best of the remainder.
2.42 Wolverhampton — La Botte and Regal Ulixes shape the Lincoln Trial
The BetMGM Lincoln Trial Handicap throws up a strong field of twelve, headed by La Botte. Harry Eustace’s charge hasn’t raced since finishing a neck second in the Britannia at Royal Ascot in June and tops the weights under Jamie Spencer. Lightly raced and mentioned as a possible Lincoln contender, this race could sharpen him for Town Moor later in the month.
Regal Ulixes returned to winning form at Lingfield last week and is quickly back with PJ McDonald booked. The manner of that success was eye-catching and he must be respected off a 6lb rise. Two Tempting offers fair each-way value, while the progressive First Principle is interesting for the Haggas yard despite having been beaten by Regal Ulixes at Kempton.
2.52 Hereford — Western General and Largy Belter set to clash
In the Check Out Fairplay’s Cheltenham Offers Handicap Chase, recent winners Western General and Largy Belter are the pair to watch. Joe Tizzard’s Western General benefited from a second-wind operation to score a fourth chase victory at Chepstow last time; a similar display would make him dangerous despite a 5lb hike in the weights.
Largy Belter arrives in form after a heavy-ground success at Leicester last month — his first over larger obstacles — and looks primed to add to his tally in this sphere. Uncle Phil and Homme d’Un Soir complete the main quartet of likely protagonists.
Best of the rest
Back at Wolverhampton, Kullazain and Knebworth meet in the 2.05pm Make The Move To Midnite Handicap. Knebworth comes here off a Chelmsford win and is strengthened by the booking of all-weather champion Billy Loughnane.
Sintra is an eye-catching contender in the 3.50pm Win £250,000 With BetMGM’s Golden Goals Maiden Stakes after finishing third on debut. The Juddmonte-owned son of Kingman is bred to be above average and should be well placed to break his maiden.
At Hereford, Bective Abbey tops the market for the fairplaybet.co.uk Bet £20 Get £20 Free Novices’ Handicap Chase at 4.02pm. Nicky Henderson’s charge has been runner-up on his last two starts and looks nicely positioned to carry top weight to victory.
International highlight
The Grade 1 Beholder Mile from Santa Anita (9.30pm) is another feature on the card, with Nafisa among a six-strong line-up to follow.