It’s week two of the Racing League on Thursday evening in front of the ITV Racing cameras and the team bandwagon rolls into Wolverhampton and the all-weather. Our value tipster Matthew Sutcliffe is here with his best bets for the action here…
Published: 9.35am, Wednesday, 31st July (Prices correct at time of publishing)
5:45 Tote.co.uk Chris ‘Got A Text’ Hughes Racing League R8 Handicap (Trainers Reg’ To Racing League) (Class 4) (3yo+ 0-80) – Havana Rum 10/1 with William Hill – 1pt WIN
This is likely to be ran at a solid gallop with habitual front runners Brian The Snail (2), Muscika (12) and Habooba (11) drawn across the track, and that could set it up for HAVANA RUM, who came from off the pace to win cosily at Pontefract, overhauling the prominent racers who were always well positioned.
That was a career best effort from Havana Rum, and the signs were there on her penultimate effort behind Jordan Electrics at Hamilton who gave a big boost to that form when taking the Scottish Stewards’ Cup next time out. Catherine Chroi, who was behind Havana Rum that day, also posted an excellent 2L 6th in the Ayr Gold Cup Trial next time out which further boosts that effort.
Though unraced at Wolverhampton, he’s proven his ability on the all-weather when bolting up by 3L at Newcastle in 2022, and his wins around sharp tracks such as Pontefract, Catterick and Ripon suggest that the track at Wolves can suit. He’s back up in grade but that shouldn’t be an issue given he was a cosy length winner in this class at Ripon in May and if backing up that career best RPR of 82 from last time out then he’s sure to go well with the race to suit despite this career high mark.
6:15 Tote.co.uk Kevin Blake ‘Ah Sure Look’ Racing League R9 Handicap (Trainers Reg’ To Racing League) (Class 4) (3yo 0-85) – Thunder Blue 14/1 with bet365 – 1pt WIN
THUNDER BLUE will find this 0-85 much easier than the 0-105’s he’s contested the last twice including the Palace Of Holyroodhouse Stakes at Royal Ascot, where he was beaten just three lengths from a 133-day layoff on debut for Jamie Osborne. He backed that effort up with a staying on 9th (beaten 4L) in a competitive 52K handicap on the July Course where it paid to race either on the front end or the far-side. Thunder Blue was slowly away and a never nearer 9th, but he stayed on well and the 6th, who was also toward the rear on the nearside, has since come out and won well at Windsor on Monday.
Connections have played a blinder getting him 5lbs down in two race to drop him into 0-85 company, and if this formerly smart two year old can carry on his progression for Jamie Osborne then he’s likely to prove far too good for this opposition from a handy middle draw.
7:15 Tote.co.uk No Yeeehaaa For Matt Chapman Racing League R11 Handicap (Trainers Reg’ To Racing League) (Class 3) (3yo+ 0-90) – Helm Rock 12/1 with bet365 – 1pt win
HELM ROCK has carried top-weight to victory three times in his seven career victories, and can give a good account of making that four on Thursday. He’s dropped 2lbs below his last winning mark and 8lbs below his peak career best rating of 100, so he’s gradually coming down the weights to a workable mark and perhaps now is the time to catch him.
He fared well in his near-side group at Newmarket last time out when beaten four lengths into fifth, and the 1st/2nd both fared well in a competitive C2 0-105 handicap at Ascot next time out. That signalled a return form likely imminent, and given he picked up a racing league handicap at Newcastle last August, this has likely been the plan for him as he was a runaway C&D winner in 2022.
He’ll need some luck to get a good position from stall thirteen, but the pace looks to be an honest one which will suit this strong travelling son of Pivotal, who often comes to hand this time of year.
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