Wolverhampton preview: Big Time primed for success
Published:
David Metcalf | January 18, 2016
Big Time can gain reward for a string of solid efforts by landing the 1m handicap on today’s card at Wolverhampton (14.30).
The gelding had some very smart form to his name as a juvenile when trained in Ireland, winning on debut at Naas before going on to finish runner-up in the Group 2 Railway Stakes and Group 1 Phoenix Park Stakes.
Big Time then had just two runs as a three-year-old and was far from disgraced on the first of those when fifth of 11 to Kingman in the Irish 2000 Guineas off an official rating of 114.
Now in the care of Dandy Nicholls, the five-year-old is able to race off a career-low mark of 85 having shown that he retains plenty of ability in finishing in the frame in four of his last five starts.
Big Time particularly caught the eye on his penultimate outing at Kempton when staying on strongly from a hopeless position to finish a never nearer 1 3/4 length third to Steal The Scene, and backed that up with a solid second to Forceful Appeal at Chelmsford.
Forceful Appeal has since come out and won again to give the form a boost, and judged on that run this looks a good opening for Big Time to bag an overdue success.
Your Lucky Day aptly named for 5f handicap
In the 5f handicap (15.00), Your Lucky Day can defy top weight to provide rising apprentice star Josephine Gordon with another winner.
The Chris Dwyer trained gelding has only had five starts and has shown improved form in his last two outings since going down the handicap route.
After finishing a solid second at Southwell, the four-year-old put in a career best effort at the same venue earlier in the month when third of 10 to Fortinbrass.
Your Lucky Day showed plenty of pace to chase the leaders before keeping on well to be beaten 2 1/2 lengths, and it was an effort which suggested the son of Cockney Rebel should be more than capable of winning races off his current mark of 55.
The assistance of Gordon in the saddle is also a massive plus, and taking her 5lb claim into account Your Lucky Day looks weighted to open his account in what is a weak class 6 contest.
Selections
14.00: Sewn Up
14.30: Big Time (NAP)
15.00: Your Lucky Day (NB)
15.30: Justice Rock
16.00: Winged Dancer
16.30: Stencive
17.00: Amazement
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