Wolverhampton preview: Cumbrianna the Smart choice in opening sprint

Cumbrianna has shaped well in two runs this season and looks weighted to get back to winning ways in the 6f handicap that opens this afternoon’s card at Wolverhampton (13.55), now returned to the scene of her sole career success.

The Bryan Smart filly opened her account as a juvenile the fourth time of asking when making all to score by 1 1/2 lengths over course and distance on her final start of 2014.

Cumbrianna was then on the sidelines for 194 days before running well on handicap debut at Nottingham when fourth off a mark of 61 from a poor draw.

The daughter of Hellvelyn backed up that run with an improved effort to finish fifth of 14 to Taverner at Thirsk last month.

After showing plenty of dash to race up with the pace, Cumbrianna held every chance inside the final furlong before weakening in the final 100 yards to be beaten by four lengths.

It was a run which suggested she was coming to the boil nicely, and Cumbrianna finished just two lengths behind the fourth home Wiggle who won at Ripon last night to give the form a boost.

The assessor has also been kind in dropping Cumbrianna 1lb to a mark of 60, and she is by far the least exposed runner in the line-up so remains open to further progression.

Another plus is that Cumbrianna has bagged a good draw in stall 1 from which to attack, and with Connor Beasley in the saddle everything points to a huge run.

In the 7f handicap (16.25), Boogangoo can deny top weight to enhance her excellent record at the track.

The Grace Harris trained filly is a four-time winner at the Midlands’ venue, and was last successful at Bath three starts back when making all to score by 3/4 of a length off a mark of 72.

Boogangoo backed that up with a solid second at Leicester, and was then far from disgraced of her current rating of 75 when last of five in a class 3 contest at Goodwood.

The drop back down to class 5 company is sure to suit, and the daughter of Acclamation is likely to prove a tough nut to crack if securing an early lead from stall one now returned to her favourite stomping ground.

Selections:
13.55: Cumbrianna (NAP)
14.25: Commanche
14.55: Soul Searcher
15.25: Liberality
15.55: Althania
16.25: Boogangoo (NB)
16.55: Oyster Pearl
17.25: Meddling