El Hombre can be the main man today at Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton 15:55
The Richard Fahey team have been struggling a little of late (0 winners from his last 17 runners over last two weeks) to find the winners and he saddles the favourite in this Class 3 handicap in the shape of his three-year-old colt Coolagh Magic. Despite the colt winning back-to-back handicaps on the all-weather earlier this year and only going down by a length when going for the hat-trick, he was sent off favourite that day, I wan't to take him on today with El Hombre.
Keith Dalgleish's charge has not been disgraced in better company than this on his last two starts and this drop to Class 3 provides him with an excellent opportunity to get his head in front again. The five-year-old won here over course and distance in December, is a five time winner over today's trip and with Joe Fanning in the plate, who has been in good form recently winning on five of his last 25 rides (20% strike rate), I can see him being the one they will have to beat.
Special Prep will have the race run to suit
Newcastle 14:30
Despite just a field of five runners going to post, this should be a true test for them with plenty of pace available, both Ascot De Bruyere and Straidnahanna will be looking to set a strong pace up front and that might just set the race up for a closer like Special Prep. Pauline Robson's runner looked impressive when winning, after being held up in the rear, at Doncaster by 12 lengths just two starts ago and was just caught on the line (traded 1.09 in running) at Catterick on his latest outing over three miles and a furlong.
He has been raised 3lbs for finishing second in that race but I don't see that being enough to stop him today and he will definitely benefit from the pace that will be set by the two front runners.