4:30 Wolverhampton (AW)
This Class 6 handicap at Wolverhampton over 1m1f104y on standard ground brings together a field of 13 limited performers, several with course experience but few in strong recent form. The KTB Fit scores are modest across the board, topped by It's A Love Thing on 64, with the next four principals clustered between 54 and 49. Overall the numbers point to a race that will be decided by which of these familiar faces can rediscover a spark on a track where many have already shown their best.
How the race shapes up
The pace shape lacks an obvious leader and points to a steadily-run, tactical affair in which being handy should pay. With the vast majority of the field, including all five principals, tending to be held up and produce their efforts late, the race is likely to develop into a test of timing from off the pace. The key question is whether any runner can summon enough finishing speed in a race that may not go hard up front, or whether one of the more prominent types can steal a march.
The KTB Fit ranking
-
1It's A Love Thing KTB Selection64/100
It's A Love Thing is an 8-year-old with three wins from 13 starts at Wolverhampton, including success at today's distance in the past. He has been well below form throughout the year, producing a string of modest efforts that offer little encouragement, though the drop back in trip could help. The trainer has a solid 13% strike-rate at the track from 52 runs while the jockey's figures read 10% strike-rate at Wolverhampton from 196 rides. Usually held up, he produces his effort late and will need to find more than he has shown of late from draw 10. Recent form reads 678083.
-
2Port Noir54/100
Port Noir is a 9-year-old with a strong record at Wolverhampton, recording five wins from 30 starts, and he also has three wins from 17 attempts at today's trip. He handles the standard surface well with five wins from 31 starts and his recent form of 613708 shows he can still be competitive at this level on his day. The trainer has an 11% strike-rate at the track from 180 runs and Luke Morris takes the ride with a 12% strike-rate from 4602 rides at Wolverhampton. Usually held up, he produces his effort late from draw 3 and remains a danger if returning to his best.
-
3Manton Road52/100
Manton Road is a 4-year-old limited performer who has won three times from ten starts at Wolverhampton and holds a solid record on standard ground with four wins from 20 runs. His recent form of 231543 demonstrates consistent placing ability, although he has been vulnerable when stepped up in grade. The trainer operates at a 6% strike-rate here from 160 runs while Kieren Fox takes the mount. Usually held up, he produces his effort late and the step up in trip today asks a fresh question from draw 5.
-
4Magic Runner49/100
Magic Runner is a 4-year-old who has won twice at this track and twice at today's trip during a busy career. Recent form has been poor with figures of 705768 and the yard's modest 10% strike-rate at Wolverhampton from 875 runs offers no particular encouragement. James Sullivan has a solid record at the track with a 7% strike-rate from 1073 rides but this one looks vulnerable again. Usually held up, he produces his effort late from draw 4.
-
5Love You More49/100
Love You More is a 4-year-old limited performer who has shown little in four runs at this track and is drawn wide today from stall 13. He has a win on standard ground but steps up in trip for the first time, which asks a fresh question. The trainer holds a solid 13% strike-rate at Wolverhampton from 157 runs and Billy Loughnane is aboard with a 20% strike-rate from 810 rides at the track. Usually held up, he produces his effort late and recent form reads 707166.
-
6Galactic Glow48/100
Galactic Glow is a limited 9-year-old who has been around the track 50 times in the last year yet still struggles to win. He has shown some consistency with placed efforts this season but his two runs here have produced no better than fifth and he is dropping back in trip today having failed to land a blow at this distance before. The trainer's 11% strike-rate from 35 runs at Wolverhampton is respectable given the modest calibre of his runners.
-
7Read All About It46/100
Read All About It is a limited performer who has shown just a bit of ability on this track, finishing third here on his only visit. He has placed once on standard ground and once at today's trip but is dropping back in distance after a recent 1m2f run and has been largely out of form this year. The trainer holds a 14% strike-rate at Wolverhampton from 151 runs while Hector Crouch has a solid record at the track.
-
8Rajendra43/100
Rajendra is a limited 3-year-old who has failed to place in six starts this year and finished ninth on his only previous visit here. He steps up in trip today having shown little at shorter distances. The trainer operates at a 14% strike-rate at the track from a big sample.
-
9Henfield42/100
Henfield is a limited 3-year-old who has shown bits of ability on this surface, winning once and placing three times from four starts on standard going. He steps up in trip today having not been tried beyond a mile, which asks a fresh question of him. The yard has a 0% strike-rate from eight runs at Wolverhampton and this is his first run here.
-
10Implied Volatility42/100
Implied Volatility is a limited 4-year-old who has shown little spark in recent starts and has failed to win or place in five runs at this track. He steps up in trip for the first time with first-time headgear applied but has already been beaten three times at this distance. The trainer's modest 10% strike-rate here from a large sample offers no particular encouragement.
-
11Marveling38/100
Marveling is a limited 3-year-old who has shown little since a modest debut effort. He ran no better than seventh on his only previous visit here and steps up in trip today for the first time. The trainer strikes at 9% from 223 runs at the track.
-
12Lady Delila37/100
Lady Delila is a limited 6-year-old who has shown some ability on this track, finishing placed on two of her four starts here. She steps up in trip today having been placed once at the distance without winning, and she has been competitive on standard going without scoring. The trainer's modest record at Wolverhampton adds a note of caution.
-
13Big Moonrise33/100
Big Moonrise is a limited 3-year-old who has shown little since finishing third over C&D in January. He steps up in trip today having been comfortably held over 7f on his last two starts. The trainer's modest 11% strike-rate at Wolverhampton comes from a huge sample of 4048 runs.
KTB verdict
It's A Love Thing is the KTB Selection. He has three wins from 13 starts at Wolverhampton, including at this trip, and the trainer's solid 13% strike-rate at the track provides some hope that he can bounce back from a string of modest efforts this year. The drop back in trip may help him, and in a steadily-run race where being handy pays he could be suited by his held-up style if the pace collapses. His main dangers are Port Noir, who has five course wins and a solid record at the trip, and Manton Road, who has won three times here and shown consistent placing ability of late.
KTB Selection It's A Love Thing
This is the narrative read of the 4:30 Wolverhampton (AW). For the live card — runner-by-runner stats, the full Fit Score breakdown and current odds — see the Wolverhampton (AW) racecard. Every result we hold for the track is on the Wolverhampton (AW) results & records page. New here? How KTB works explains the Fit Score and why we publish both.
Questions about this race
Which horse has the strongest course record at Wolverhampton?
Port Noir has won here five times from 30 starts.
How many of the principals are stepping up in trip today?
Manton Road, Love You More, Rajendra, Henfield, Implied Volatility, Marveling and Big Moonrise are all stepping up in trip.
Which horse is wearing first-time headgear?
Implied Volatility is wearing first-time headgear.
Which trainer has the highest strike-rate at Wolverhampton among those with runners?
The trainers of Read All About It and Rajendra both have a 14% strike-rate at Wolverhampton.
Which jockey has the highest strike-rate at Wolverhampton in this field?
Billy Loughnane has a 20% strike-rate at Wolverhampton from 810 rides.
18+. Analysis and entertainment only — no guarantee of profit. KTB race previews are published for interest and are not betting advice. Only ever stake what you can comfortably afford to lose, and set your own limits. Free, confidential help: the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 (GamCare.org.uk); in Ireland, the GamblingCare.ie helpline on 1800 936 725. Self-exclude at any time via GAMSTOP.
More from Kickthebookies