Wolverhampton preview: Pete and Winston a potent combination
David Metcalf | January 4, 2016
Lean On Pete has an excellent record at Wolverhampton, so looks decent value to further chance it with victory in the 1m 1f handicap on today’s card at the Midlands venue (15.40) now reunited with jockey Robert Winston.
The Ollie Pears trained gelding is a four-time course and distance winner, and the last of those successes came under Winston 13 months ago off a mark of 67.
Lean On Pete has since run well to be placed on numerous occasions off higher marks, including at this track when third off 73 and a neck runner-up to Sequester off 71.
The seven-year-old is now able to race off 70, just 3lb higher than when last victorious, and that gives Lean On Pete every chance from a handicapping perspective on the pick of his form.
Lean On Pete also comes into the race on the back of a cracking second in an amateur riders’ contest over course and distance, and the booking of Winston suggests connections mean business.
He has partnered Lean On Pete on just three occasions, winning once and finishing in the frame on the other two, and clearly knows how to get a tune out of the son of Oasis Dream.
Punters can celebrate this New Year in Time Square
In the 1m 2f handicap (16.10), the well-treated Time Square is a fascinating contender now dropped back down in trip and can go well at a big price.
The Tony Carroll trained gelding is a five-time winner at Kempton, and three over those have come over this afternoon’s journey.
In the last of those 13 months ago, Time Square showed a good attitude to beat Understory by a neck off a mark of 58.
The eight-year-old got put up to 63 for that success, but is now able to race off just 52.
It gives the son of Westerner major claims at the weights, so Time Square will appreciate the drop back to 1m 2f having raced freely and been ridden far too aggressively over 1m 4f at Kempton last time out when shaping far better than his final finishing position of seventh suggests.
Selections
14.00: Binky Blue
14.35: Lucky Lodge
15.10: Never To Be
15.40: Lean On Pete (NAP)
16.10: Time Square (NB)
16.40: With Pleasure
17.10: Effusive
Related
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