JOHN QUINN, successful at Wetherby on Saturday with useful handicap hurdler Forced Family Fun, turns his attentions back to Flat racing at Wolverhampton this afternoon.
The North Yorkshire trainer has good prospects of completing a double with Youonlyliveonce, the mount of Tom Eaves in the opening race, and the Chris Catlin-ridden Fantasy Gladiator, a winner on the course 12 months ago.
The surface at Wolverhampton has since changed from Polytrack to Tapeta so Fantasy Gladiator has to prove his versatility on this different type of synthetic.
That said, the course itself clearly suits him and he looks to be in reasonable form after respectable efforts at Kempton on his last two starts. The second division of the Ladbrokes Handicap could have his name written on it.
Three hours earlier, Youonlyliveonce runs in the 32Red On The App Store Nursery Handicap.
This gelded son of Lawman has yet to encounter all-weather racing, but his recent efforts, a second-placed performance at Nottingham and finishing fourth at Pontefract augur well for his chances, provided he can adapt to the surface.
Graham Lee, this year’s Cock O’ The North on the Flat with more than 100 winners during the turf season, looks set for a good day at Wolverhampton.
He can kick-off a possible treble aboard Mister Bob in the 32Red.com Handicap. Trained at Middleham by James Bethell, the five-year-old looked in rude health when winning by three lengths over this course and distance last month.
The handicapper has raised him 7lb for that success, but he is a horse still on the rise and is fancied to clinch this contest to make it five wins from ten all-weather starts.
Lee can also land the 32Red Maiden Fillies’ Stakes on Nightlight, trained at Newmarket by Jeremy Noseda.
The juvenile has finished in the frame in all her three races and has finished runner-up here in two of them, most recently when going down in a photo-finish. She has every chance of going one better.
First Experience also provides Lee with a winning opportunity in the first leg of the Ladbrokes Handicap.
The Rae Guest-trained filly is nothing if not consistent and she showed herself to be still in good heart when finishing fourth at Kempton on her latest start last month.
In the Download the Ladbrokes App Selling Stakes, Al Muheer should be good enough to prevail, despite being in the twilight of his career.
A fine money-spinner for Ruth Carr, the nine-year-old is now with Michael Herrington who placed him to finish second to Personal Touch at Newmarket recently. A reproduction of that form would be good enough to see him home in front.
Over the sticks at Leicester, Alan King is fancied to complete a first and last race double with Nyanza and Miles To Memphis.
A dual all-weather Flat winner, Nyanza took to jumping like the proverbial duck to water on her debut at Huntingdon a fortnight ago when winning easily. She may be capable of defying a penalty in the Ashby Magna Juvenile Fillies’ Hurdle. Brian Ellison’s Announcement may prove the main danger.
Miles To Memphis lines up under the nap vote in the Burton Overy Novices’ Hurdle.
Miles To Memphis looks a high-class horse in the making and he can extend his unbeaten sequence in this two-miler.
Brian Hughes journeys to Leicester from his home near Thirsk to take the mount on Three Kingdoms in the John O’Gaunt Beginners’ Chase, which is the most interesting race on the card.
Selections
Wolverhampton today
2.10 Youonlyliveonce, 2.40 Chilworth Bells, 3.10 Mister Bob, 3.40 Nightlight, 4.10 Al Muheer, 4.40 First Experience, 5.10 Fantasy Gladiator, 5.40 Sioux Chieftain.
Leicester today
12.45 Nyanza, 1.15 Double U Dot Ede’s, 1.45 Buddy Love, 2.20 Zafranagar, 2.50 Three Kingdoms, 3.20 Khazium, 3.50 Miles To Memphis (NAP).
Today’s other meeting
Plumpton.
Tomorrow’s meetings
Doncaster, Fakenham and Southwell.
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