Bertiewhittle and Alben Star arrive in Wolverhampton's 14:20 on the back of decent efforts in competitive handicaps, and the latter is of particular interest now back at seven furlongs, but it could be worth taking a chance on Intransigent, who has failed to make an impact in three runs at Meydan but is expected to fare better here. The five-year-old, trained by Andrew Balding, progressed into a smart performer last season, winning a minor event over this trip at Haydock, and he also boasts a fine record on polytrack having notched three wins on the surface. The nature of this race should be more suitable than the races he's been running in in Dubai, and he could get back on track.
The feature event of the day is the Imperial Cup, due off at 15:15, and it is a competitive renewal with the likes of Baltimore Rock, Swing Bowler and New Year's Eve all worthy of a place on the shortlist. It could be fought out between a pair of progressive young hurdlers however, namely Regal Encore and Vibrato Valtat, both of whom have something to recommend them. The first mentioned, second in the Champion Bumper last season, got off the mark at the second time of asking over hurdles and was not seen to best effect behind a subsequent Grade 2 winner last time. He's open to any amount of improvement now handicapping but the form of the Anthony Honeyball yard is a big concern (0-17 this year, with his three runners in February being well beaten)so preference is for Vibrato Valtat. The strong-travelling five-year-old got off the mark over hurdles in impressive style at Exeter last month, is just the type to be suited by a race of this nature and could yet have more to offer himself.
Wolverhampton's 16:40 is quite a competitive sprint handicap which can go the way of Joe Eile, who is a solid performer when on song but was largely out of sorts for Ger Lyons last year. As a result his handicap mark has slipped below his last winning one, and the signs were much more encouraging on debut for this yard at Southwell last month where he raced freely after four months off, understandably flinside the final furlong. He is entitled to come on for that reappearance and is the one to be with here, for all that both Trojan Rocket and Hitchens also make some appeal.
Timeform UK SmartPlays:
Back Intransigent in the 14:20 at Wolverhampton
Back Vibrato Valtat in the 15:15 at Sandown
Back Joe Eile in the 16:40 at Wolverhampton
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