Despite offering his rivals Hector Crouch and Luke Morris a healthy head-start, Billy Loughnane hasn’t given up on winning the All-Weather Jockeys’ Championship and heads to Wolverhampton with four chances – live on Sky Sports Racing.
4.40 Wolverhampton – In-form King’s Code and Smart Hero lock horns
The opening BetUK: It’s Where The UK Bets Handicap in the West Midlands looks a cracker with a quality field of ten heading to post.
The David Evans-trained King’s Code enjoyed the perfect end to the year when winning his last two starts at this track with a bit to spare and he is fancied to go well again in this similar heat, with Jordan Williams retaining the ride.
Smart Hero scored for the second time on the all-weather when landing a course handicap last month and he remains capable of better as he heads up in trip under Clifford Lee.
David Simcock’s All-Weather Horse Of The Year contender Hitched is worth a mention, while Felix has 1 ½ lengths to find with King’s Code and a 2lb pull in the weights.
5.25 Newcastle – Hat-trick-seeking Molveno faces Royal Alliance
Marco Botti’s Molveno built on his Kempton novice success when landing a handicap at the same venue last month and this progressive three-year-old is taken to follow up in this Best Odds Guaranteed At BetMGM Handicap under a 3lb penalty.
Royal Alliance heads the dangers for George Boughey and Billy Loughnane. A comfortable winner of a seven furlong novice here in October, he ran with credit when third under a penalty at Chelmsford and makes plenty of appeal on this handicap debut.
Mark Loughnane’s Studious has taken well to the all-weather winning his last two starts impressively and looks worth a crack at this higher grade.
6.55 Newcastle – Swiss Ace and Tasever contest trappy affair
Ruth Carr saddles Swiss Ace who finished an excellent second behind William Dewhirst over this course and distance on his last start and his trainer reaches for first time cheekpieces to eke out further improvement in this Win £1M With BetMGM’s Golden Goals Handicap.
Tasever arrives in a rich vein of form winning two of his last three starts including when beating the reopposing Quandary over this course and distance last time. A 2lb rise in the weights looks fair and he rates a strong contender.
Another to note is Novak who steps back up to seven furlongs. He has tasted success at Gosforth Park twice before, and last managed a victory over this trip in November.
Others
In the 6.25pm BetMGM: It’s Showtime Restricted Novice Stakes, Twilight Diamond will look to build on an impressive debut victory for David O’Meara last time out. Noble Testimony – a son of Prix de l’Abbaye winner Wooded – is an intriguing debutant here for Ed Bethell, with Aidan Keeley in the plate.
Well backed last time out, Jonny Garlic returns to action in the 5.40pm BetMGM: It’s Showtime Handicap at Wolverhampton. Rossa Ryan, who has hit form recently, replaces Cieren Fallon in the saddle.
Watch Wolverhampton and Newcastle live on Sky Sports Racing
