Horse Racing Tips for Today – Wolverhampton

The Racing Horse offers their Wolverhampton Racecourse Template for Friday 16 August 2024.

There is a 6-race card including 5 Handicaps and a Novice Stakes Race. 

The Tapeta going is expected to be standard.

Wolverhampton FAVOURITES (5 years)
Non-handicaps Handicaps

2yo 103-243 42% -36.67 38-111 34% +15.80
3yo 162-330 49% -10.41 248-720 34% -44.66
4yo+ 78-170 46% +15.50 405-1303 31% -130.15
TOTAL 343-743 46% -31.58 691-2134 32% -159.01

TOP 5 TRAINERS past 5 years +/- E
Tony Carroll (9%) 82-920 9% -179.72 +0% 1
Michael Appleby (11%) 67-575 12% +2.42 +1% 0
Mark Loughnane (9%) 66-641 10% -105.97 +1% 1
David Evans (11%) 57-531 11% -129.67 +0% 0
George Boughey (17%) 54-344 16% -43.22 -1% 0

TOP 5 JOCKEYS past 5 years +/- R
Rossa Ryan (16%) 119-573 21% +96.75 +5% 0
Luke Morris (9%) 109-964 11% -214.91 +2% 0
Hollie Doyle (15%) 89-583 15% -162.99 +0% 6
David Probert (12%) 78-664 12% -100.96 +0% 0
Jack Mitchell (17%) 74-431 17% -143.35 +0% 0

TOP 5 OWNERS past 5 years +/- E
Godolphin (25%) 57-184 31% -19.31 +6% 0
Saeed Manana (15%) 24-108 22% +14.43 +7% 0
Ahmed A Maktoum (24%) 20-52 38% +3.48 +14% 0
Power Geneva (15%) 19-119 16% -11.22 +1% 0
Antony Brittain (8%) 15-200 8% -82.83 +0% 0

UPCOMING FIXTURES:
Friday 16 August 2024
Tuesday 20 August 2024
Thursday 5 September 2024
Saturday 7 September 2024

CONFIGURATION: The all-weather course at Wolverhampton forms a flat, left-handed oval circuit of just under a mile in length.

The bends are fairly sharp and with a straight of under 2f in length it favours horses with the ability to hold a good position as opposed to those who need time to find full stride.

WINNING FAVOURITES: Given the amount of the poor quality of racing at Wolverhampton, we are continually surprised as to the high strike rates of winning favourites generally – but especially in non-handicap bargain-basement type races!

So why is that?

Our only conclusion is the wisdom of the crowd is in regular play with horses they know! Worth pointing out the 5f, 7f and extended 1m starts can be tricky for the jockeys, and even the 1m4f start can cause a problem – though the high strike rate is continually produced despite those negative draw concerns.

The big sample size at this course means the figures have authority and unlikely to suffer fatigue in the future, so trusted – at least to a relative extent.

Over the past 5-years, winning favourites at the course show 1034-2877 for 35.94% so nearly 3% above the national average, though a level stake loss to SP of -£190.59 to a £1 win stake.

Winning favourites in non-handicaps score at 46% whilst those in handicaps score 32% for a significant 14% differential. The differential between best and worst category is a huge 19%, so be aware of these historical and relevant figures above, even if we do not act upon them!

BEST CATEGORY: 3yo winning favourites in non-handicaps 162-330 for 49% (-10.41)
WORST CATEGORY: 4yos+ winning favourites in handicaps 405-1303 for 31% (-130.15)

TRAINERS: Top trainer at the track Tony Carroll (9%) has a single entry with 7yo gelding POP DANCER 4.10 to be ridden by Hollie Doyle. He is a course and distance winner and seeking his 10th career win, he has stall 1 to help him.

Mark Loughnane (9%) sits third on the leader board and also has a single entry in the 6yo HALLOWED TIME 3.00, who is yet to win from 19 attempts. He will be ridden by Ross Coakley.

Two trainers make the 211 and 218-mile journey from Scotland to Wolverhampton with single entries, and they include EM JAY 2.25 for Iain Jardine (10%) and RAMPANT 4.45 for James Ewart (12%).

If they do not share a lorry we make that 858-miles of diesel to pay for?

JOCKEYS: Hollie Doyle (15%) is third top jockey at Wolverhampton and she has a full book of 6 rides, they include WHAT'S SHE AT 1.50, HECKLING 2.25, DANZART 3.00, WHISPERING ROYAL 3.35, POP DANCER 4.10 & BUSBY 4.45.

The suggestion is her 127th winner at the course beckons!

Jay Mackay (0%) rides the hot favourite in the last race re CLEVER CURRENCY 4.45 for Michael Bell. He weighs 7st 9lbs and his career shows 0-25 for 0% (-25.00).

He will have a first winner sometime and somewhere, but not with our stake money!

TRH reminded members Silvestre De Sousa (14%) was about to come off the cold list and he duly obliged for us at 16/1. He has 5 rides at the course including TAMBORINE 2.25, A PINT OF BEAR 3.00, DOUBLETHETROUBLE 3.35, NELSON GAY 4.10 & DILLYDINGDILLYDONG 4.45.

Jim Crowley (18%) goes to Wolverhampton for just one ride, why would he do that?

STANDBACKANDLOOK 3.35 is trained by William Knight and whilst entitled to go close, given he won over course and distance last time out but has been raised 6lbs so will want another personal best.

OWNERS: None of the top owners at the course have a runner tomorrow.

Pertinence & Pertaining

1.50
NEW BOMBAY
(A Balding) progressed with each start, winner last time out, James Doyle rides and 36% on favourites
WHAT'S SHE AT (A Watson) winner last time out, up in trip for handicap debut, likely to improve further. Hollie Doyle rides

2.25
CHARLOTTE'S WEB
(S & E Crisford) beaten favourite last time out
FRENCH MISTRESS (K P De Foy) beaten favourite last time out, only 4yo in the field, Danny Muscutt rides
QUEEN OF SOLDIERS (R Varian) beaten favourite last time out, James Doyle rides

3.00
DANZART
(S Barclay) C&D winner, posted good 2 of 10 in Carlisle handicap 11 days ago, racing with enthusiasm. Hollie Doyle rides
ELDEYAAR (A Brittain) C&D winner, beaten favourite last time out, weighted to win 60 > 52, Cam Hardies rides
MONSIEUR PATAT (A Wintle) beaten favourite last time out, Finley Marsh rides

3.35
MISS GITANA
(M Prescott) seeking hat-trick, trainer 5 winners from his last 8 runners and 25% with horses 10f+, Jack Gilligan rides
SMALL FRY (G & J Moore) got off the mark for new yard last time out in Lingfield 10-runner handicap with something to spare. Runner-up has won since. Tom Queally rides

4.10
ACES WILD
(A Wintle) C&D winner, last time out winner, Finley Marsh rides
NELSON GAY (M Dods) C&D winner, weighted to win 76 > 69, Silvestre De Sousa rides
DUBAI STATION (R Cowell) weighted to win 92 > 77, Danny Muscutt rides

4.45
RED DWARF
(J Butler) beaten favourite last time out, Danny Muscutt rides
DILLYDINGDILLYDONG (J Owen)C&D winner, trainer 8-21 for 38% (+16.85) at Wolverhampton this year, Silvestre De Sousa rides
BUSBY (P Kirby) weighted to win 62 > 54, 9yo and 10 career wins, Hollie Doyle rides

Wolverhampton’s 5f, 7f and extended 1m starts can be tricky from a jockey’s point of view, because they’re very much draw-dependent. It’s a big advantage being among the low, left-hand numbers. The 1m4f start can also be a slight problem, but at least from there you’ve got a longer trip to get sorted out. Nobody went round the inside in the early days and, while I’m not sure it’s a disadvantage to be there now, most jocks still shy away from that rail. It’s a tight course, but well laid-out and very fair.

– Jason Weaver

Paul MoonThe Racing Horse