Wolverhampton today

This afternoon´s all-weather meeting at Wolverhampton isone of their best cards of the entire year, featuring a listed race and two valuable handicaps. The listed race over 7 furlongs which opens the card at 15.20 CET has 8 entries and looks very open. Beckermet (Roger Fisher/ Chris Catlin) is the highest rated runner, but has been off the track since last summer, has little a.w. experience and is probably better at 6 furlongs. Aeroplane (Simon Callaghan/ Jamie Spencer) is in good form and running over his best distance, while 9yo Bonus (Ger Butler/ Nicky Mackay) is certainly good enough, but has become a bit tricky and is hard to win with these days. The 9 furlongs handicap at 16.30 has 13 runners and is billed as a Lincoln trial. Flipando (David Barron/ Jamie Spencer) finished very well from the rear when runner-up last weekend; although his best form is at a mile, he should get the trip, but is another one who rarely wins.

The logical choice here is Flowing Cape (Reg Hollinshead/ Graham Gibbons), who is much imporved and has won both his starts this year in good style. Ex-German Raptor (Karl Burke/ Fergus Sweeney) has been off the track for 5 mnths, but despite top weight, could run well at a big price. Don´t forget that he finished 4th under a big weight in the 2007 Lincoln, and he has dropped quite a bit in the weights since. The 6 furlongs handicap at 17.40 is another good race. Matsunosuke (Barney Coogan/ Luke Morris) is one of the stars of this winter´s all-weather season and has already won 4 times this year. However he has a huge weight and it is by no means certain that he can confirm the form with last year´s winner Orpsie Boy (Nick Littmoden/ George Baker) on these revised terms. Majuro (Kevin Ryan/ Neil Callan) has been runner-up 4 times running and deserves a change of luck, whie veteran local trainer Reg Hollinshead can possibly complete a double here with Doubtful Sound, who has a good record here and is partnered by up and coming apprentice Andrea Atjeni.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Beckermet - Bonus - Aeroplane
2. Race: Fesko - Ageebah - Grand Honour
3. Race: Flipando - Flowing Cape - Ace Of Hearts
4. Race: Barnezet - Stash - Speak The Truth
5. Race: Matsunosuke - Majuro - Orpsie Boy
6. Race: Capeability - Gifted Leader - If You Knew Suzy
7. Race: Eighteenfifty - Wind Flow - Pass The Port