Wolverhampton Placepot: Thursday February 9

Daily Placepots / Phil Thompson / 09 February 2012 / Leave a Comment

Wolverhampton is the only meeting still standing in Britain today

"Flying Applause returns to a more suitable trip having been stretched on his last two outings and looks well handicapped on his course-and-distance second in November."

With only one meeting going ahead in Britain today, Timeform's Phil Thompson aims to keep the lines down at Wolverhampton....

14:25 - We start off with an apprentice handicap and we will make two selections. Resplendant Alpha returned to winning ways at Lingfield in December and has largely held his form since. With viable excuses for his last two outings he should be thereabouts this afternoon. Flying Applause returns to a more suitable trip having been stretched on his last two outings and looks well handicapped on his course-and-distance second in November.

15:00 - The second leg is another tricky event and again we will take two. Lucky Dan has done most of his racing over sprint distances but he has form over today's seven and his recent staying-on efforts suggest he isready to take advantage of the fact he is 9 lb below his last winning mark. Mataajir has won three times already this winter and shaped as though still in top form when third to Valley Tiger at the track last time. He should at least run his race this afternoon.

15:30 - The original plan was to bank on Crowning Star, but now that the field is down to only four runners, we will play it safe and select both him and Clean Bowled to see us through.

16:05 - Trip Switch has been in fine form this winter, winning four times, and he looks set for another big run here with his impressive claimer a notable booking. Knowe Head has won only once in 12 starts but he has often run well at the course and he looks sure to be thereabouts again.

16:35 -We come to the maiden and It's difficult to look past Roger Varian's Al Freej . The form of her two runner-up efforts thus far looks fairly strong and she's well clear of the competition on Timeform ratings.

17:10 - In the finale it is hard to oppose Gabrial's Bounty, who has improved this year and looked to have a fair bit in hand when opening is account at Kempton last month. A reproduction of that effort should be enough to at least hit the places.

Selections:

14:25 - 1, 6
15:00 - 1, 4
15:30 - 2, 3
16:05 - 5, 6
16:35 - 3
17:10 - 3
= 16 lines

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