Horse Racing Tips: Progressive Prince poised to rule at Wolverhampton

• Botti stable form points to Prince

• Time to Tango for Tennessee

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Sandown, 13.50 - Back Tennessee Tango each-way @ 12/113.00

The rain forecast for Friday afternoon may play to the strengths of Tennessee Tango who should appreciate this step up in trip granted all of the stamina in his pedigree.

In truth, it is a merit of the selection's quality that he managed to achieve quite so much over the minimum trip given his dosage index (the metric used to calculate a horse's stamina) reads as low as 0.40 which would suggest that today's distance and beyond are ultimately where his future lies.

A recent confidence booster at Plumpton should have put the west country-based gelding spot on for this assignment and his Exeter effort behind the likes of the talented Gentleman Toboot (who reopposes here and is respected) and subsequent Dovecote Hurdle scorer Klub De Reve reads well following the latter's impressive Kempton success.

A mark of 122 doesn't look an overestimate for the son of Affinisea and I'm extremely hopeful he can make his mark on this handicap with the extra places on offer a nice concession to take advantage of.

Wolverhampton, 15.15 - Back Prince Of India @ 4/15.00

Cool Hoof Luke, winner of the 2024 Gimcrack Stakes, made a highly encouraging return to action following a long layoff at Lingfield when third in a renewal of the Kachy Stakes which produced a mighty speed figure.

He therefore might be expected to build on that comeback with victory in this seven furlong Listed contest, but I wonder if it might be a litte tougher than the market suggests, with the layers as short as 2/13.00 about his chance.

A five-week absence should be enough to help Cool Hoof Luke recover from any 'bounce' factor but what is more of a concern is his dosage index which is synonymous with a horse that will excel at sprint distances, not the extended seven furlongs around Dunstall Park.

Of course there are anomalies in this metric and the four-year-old might defy the data, after all he did run well in Goodwood's Vintage Stakes back in the summer of 2024, albeit his keenness probably cost him in the final reckoning.

With Andrew Balding's gelding taking out a large chunk of the market, it might be a race to get involved in so Prince Of India and Witch Hunter appeal.

I will deal with the latter's chance below, but Prince Of India represents a team which have sent out a couple of tidy winners this week, including a first-time out 25/126.00 scorer and their Wootton Bassett colt was last seen when disappointing on soft ground in the Bengough Stakes at Ascot.

He is clearly a much better horse than that judged on his efforts in some warm sprint handicaps throughout the summer and having won over course and distance and finished placed over today's trip at Southwell, these conditions should suit ideally.

Prince Of India won his novice on his return to action last March so fitness ought not to be an issue and he looks capable of embracing the step up to Listed level.

Wolverhampton, 15.15 - Back Witch Hunter @ 8/19.00

Witch Hunter sustained his first defeat in three starts at Wolverhampton in this race 12 months ago, but he was only beaten half-a-length under Jamie Spencer and should make a bold bid to go one better with Joe Leavy taking over in the saddle.

The Southwell Listed contest won by Chancellor last month produced a ridiculously swift speed figure so it was no great surprise the seven-year-old couldn't land a blow, however this test should be more suitable.

Richard Hannon's gelding had previously posted a sparkling win at Newcastle over the mile which led me to believe he may be bound for the the Lincoln Trial earlier on the card.

However, connections have identified this event as a better option and he is worth supporting alongside Prince Of India rather than backing either horse each-way.  

Bibe a Mus bet in the Sandown curtain raiser

It is the seventh weekend of Betfair's terrific "Bet £10 Get £10 on racing multiples" promotion and, with Cheltenham around the corner, I'm going to have a double focusing on a couple of the day's handicaps to try and boost the pot. 

Bibe Mus (Sandown, 13.15) needs to win the opener for new connections in order to have a chance of running in the Fred Winter Handicap at Cheltenham on Tuesday. The smart play may be to support him for that race NRNB at the 25/126.00 available giving the backer a chance to trade the bet if he was to win well at Sandown. If he is beaten then it will be money back.    

The second leg of the double is Norn Iron (Sandown, 16.45) who was a revelation stepped up to two-and-a-half miles last time and an 8lb rise may not be enough to stop him following up.  

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