The Racing Horse offers our WOLVERHAMPTON AW RACECOURSE TEMPLATE for Saturday11 January 2025. There is a 7-race card containing 6 Handicaps and a Maiden Stake Race. The going for the Tapeta Surface is expected to be standard.
RACECOURSE TEMPLATES REVISITED
Winning favourites (last 5 years) Non-handicaps Handicaps 2yo 89-213 42% -27.47 34-107 32% -6.09 3yo 141-286 49% -12.89 206-628 33% -82.41 4yo+ 63-151 42% +4.24 387-1230 31% -112.75 TOTAL 293-650 45% -36.12 627-1965 32% -201.25 Top Trainers last 5 years +/- E Tony Carroll (9%) 78-844 9% -215.22 +0% 8 Mark Loughnane (9%) 69-600 12% -91.64 +3% 1 Michael Appleby (11%) 66-506 13% +49.13 +2% 3 George Boughey (16%) 57-366 16% -43.72 +0% 0 David Evans (11%) 51-414 12% -109.59 +1% 1 Trainers 2024 James Owen (22%) 20-66 30% +34.47 +8% 0 Richard Hughes (14%) 13-33 39% +26.59 +25% 1 Top 5 Jockeys last 5 years +/- R Rossa Ryan (17%) 122-580 21% +54.37 +4% 0 Luke Morris (9%) 98-837 12% -167.43 +3% 0 Daniel Muscutt (14%) 69-403 17% -51.84 +3% 3 David Probert (13%) 69-582 12% -107.94 -1% 4 Billy Loughnane (14%) 68-408 17% -0.06 +3% 0 Jockeys 2024 Rossa Ryan (17%) 40-173 23% +32.13 +6% 0 Top 5 Owners last 5 years +/- E Godolphin (26%) 41-139 29% -22.23 +3% 0 Saeed Manana (17%) 19-83 23% +10.43 +6% 0 Sheikh A Maktoum (23%) 15-43 35% +8.16 +12% 0 Amo Racing (15%) 15-91 16% -13.17 +1% 1 Power Geneva (13%) 15-104 14% -11.80 +1% 0 Upcoming fixtures: Saturday 11 January 2025 Monday 13 January 2025 Saturday 18 January 2025 Monday 20 January 2025 Saturday 25 January 2025 Forthcoming Racecourse Templates To be confirmed Kempton AW (Wednesday 13 January 2025) Wincanton (Thursday 16 January 2025)

CONFIGURATION: The all-weather course at Wolverhampton forms a flat, left-handed oval circuit of just under a mile in length. The bends are fairly sharp and with a straight of under 2f in length it favours horses with the ability to hold a good position as opposed to those who need time to find full stride.
JASON WEAVER: Wolverhampton’s 5f, 7f and extended 1m starts can be tricky from a jockey’s point of view, because they’re very much draw-dependent. It’s a big advantage being among the low, left-hand numbers. The 1m 4f start can also be a slight problem, but at least from there you’ve got a longer trip to get sorted out. Nobody went round the inside in the early days and, while I’m not sure it’s a disadvantage to be there now, most jocks still shy away from that rail. It’s a tight course, but well laid-out and very fair.
WINNING FAVOURITES: Despite the poor quality of racing at Wolverhampton, winning favourites generally have high strike rates, particularly in non-handicap, low-tier races. The wisdom of the crowd is clearly in play and working at this racecourse, and it certainly pays to wager late here or even better just before the off. It's important to note that the 5f, 7f, and extended 1m starts can be challenging for jockeys, and the 1m4f start may also present difficulties. Nevertheless, the high strike rate persists despite these adverse draw conditions. The substantial sample size at this course lends much credibility to the data, with absolutely no signs of fatigue!
- Over the past 5 years, winning favourites show 920-2615 for 35.18% so nearly 3% above the national average, though a level stake loss to SP of -£237.37 to a £1 win stake.
- Winning favourites in non-handicaps score at 45%
- Winning favourites in handicaps score at 32%
- Best category are 3yo winning favourites in non-handicaps 141-286 for 49% (-12.89)
- Worst category are 4yo+ winning favourites in handicaps 387-1230 for 31% (-112.75)
- Differential between best and worst category is a huge 18%
- Top trainer at the course is Tony Carroll (9%) based on volume, not on quality
- Top jockey at the course is Rossa Ryan (17%). His 5-year figures show 122-579 for 21% (+55.37) suggesting each of his rides should be processed and filtered.
- Godolphin (26%) are the leading owners at the course scoring at 31% so +5% above their national average.
- BEST BET: NOGO'S DREAM 11/2 (Each way)
TRAINERS: Top trainer at the track Tony Carroll (10%) has 8 runners including CITY CYCLONE 5.30, VOLTAIC 5,30, NUTCRACKER 6.00, SECRET MISTRAL & CINQUE VERDE 7.00, UNDER CURFEW & TOUSSAROK 8.00 and EQUION 8.30. Mark Loughnane (9%), Michael Appleby (11%) and David Evans (11%) have another 5 runners between them.
JOCKEYS; Danny Muscutt (14%) has 3 rides including MANARA 6.30, KATIE G 8.00 & YEOMAN 8.30.
David Probert (13%) has 4 rides including CATCH CUNNINGHAM 7.00, NAVARRE SPECIAL 7.30, MAHARJAS EXPRESS 8.00 & FINN RUSSELL 8.30
OWNERS: The runners of the top owners at a course should always be processed, they are a good source of winners. Tomorrow, only Amo Racing have a runner and an interesting unexposed sort at that. They run course winner MANARA 6.30 who is seeking a hat-trick and has stall 3 to help. Kevin De Foy trains (13%) but is not in great form showing 0-27 over 53 days. He does strike 18% at the course, Danny Muscutt (14%) has been booked to ride and strikes at 17% here.
RED FLAG: Not Wolverhampton related, but something we have been thinking about for a while now is the riding career of Paul Townend. TRH appreciates what we are about to say is nothing new, but it is worth reminding members he is a jockey with a national average of 36% and his combination with Willie Mullins is 38%. (452-1186). I can hear one or two saying his numbers could be built into a system, if they were a little higher again? How about this? Over the last 5 seasons he has ridden 176 winners from 439 rides for 40.1% on chase courses for a level stake profit of +£2.86. The ratio of wins versus seconds is impressive also, showing 176 winners measured against 70 second places, meaning he gets the job done! For forecast backers his rides finish first or second at 56.04%. TRH has never came across figures remotely similar! Is he the best jump jockey of all time? He has 4 rides at Fairyhouse today including KIMI DE MAI 12.32, KING ALEXANDER 1.07, HUNTERS YARN 1.45 & TULLYHILL (PACAFI) 2.18.
5.30: BetMGM: It's Showtime Handicap (Class 6) 7f36y
- Winning favourites 31%
- VAN ZANT (R Carr) C&D winner, beaten favourite last time out, Josephine Gordon rides 2nd at 18/1
- CITY CYCLONE (A Carroll) winner in the last 7 days winning with plenty up his sleeve and career best, has stall 1, William Carson rides WINNER 8/11
- HEAVENLY FIRE (S Dixon) winner in the last 7 days, carries 5lb penalty, has stall 5, Dale Swift rides
- Exacta £15.50 & CSF £19.93
6.00: Win £1M With BetMGM's Golden Goals Maiden Stakes (Class 5) 1m142y
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- Winning favourites NA
- WANDERLUST (M Botti) likely player give hooded 3 of 10 over C&D on debut 15 days ago. Has stall 2 and surely competitive, Marco Ghiani rides 2nd at 7/4
- DESTRUCTIVE (M Bell) trainer form shows 3-10 for 30% since December, Hector Crouch rides WINNER at 9/4
- RUN WITH IT (R Beckett) €125,000 2yo and trainer excellent with newcomers, market check, Ed Greatrex rides
- Exacta £7.30 & CSF £6.84
6.30: Gamble Responsibly At BetMGM Handicap (Class 5) 1m1f104y
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- Winning favourites 33%
- MANARA (K De Foy) benefited from step up in trip when scoring on her nursery debut in November, following up here under a penalty in more impressive fashion just 4 days later. Handicapper reacted with 11lb rise, might not be enough to stop her. Danny Muscutt rides WINNER at 2/1
- PATROL (D Cunha) finds plenty for pressure and should go well again. Rhys Clutterbuck rides 2nd at 7/4
- Exacta £5.80 & CSF £6.01
7.00: Gamble Responsibly At BetUK Handicap (Class 4) 5f21y
- Winning favourites 31%
- NOGO'S DREAM (R Hughes) trainer 13-33 for 39% (+26.59) at course last year, Ethan Jones (5) rides 2nd at 11/2
- CINQUE VERDE (A Carroll) C&D winner, 5-11 for 46% last year. Off 161 days but 10/1 looks big with chance on pick of form. William Carson rides Opened 25/1 but WINNER at 18/1
- EL BUFALO (D Cunha) C&D winner, beaten favourite last time out, Rhys Clutterbuck rides
- Exacta £121.30 and CSF £99.75
7.30: Boost Your Acca At BetMGM Handicap (Class 6) 6f20y
- Winning favourites 33%
- ROYS DELIGHT (P Evans) drops from Class 4 to Class 6, Jordan Williams (5) rides
- SARAFINA HSHAIRI (Edward Smyth-Osbourne) plum draw on handicap debut with step up in trip to suit, Josephine Gordon rides 3rd at 13/2
- ROSELILY (J Jones) trainer in great form 6-22 for 27% (+18.00), Hector Crouch rides
8.00: BetUK. It's Where The UK Bets Handicap (Class 6) 6f20y
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- Winning favourites 31%
- MAHARAJAS EXPRESS (I Williams) well handicapped, took a firm step in right direction debuting for a new yard when 2nd here 5 days ago. David Probert rides
- ROGUE THUNDER (P Morris) last time out C&D winner, Ryan Kavanagh (7) rides 3rd at 4/1
- KATIE G (E Dunlop) latest effort best excused, visor back on now, so not without hope at 20/1 or bigger, Danny Muscutt rides
8.30: Weekly Free Bets With BetMGM Extra Handicap (Class 5 1m142y
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- Winning favourites 31%
- YEOMAN (J Fanshawe) weighted to win 76 > 70, Danny Muscutt rides 3rd at 8/1
- JERSEY ROCS (C Hills) C&D winner, seeking hat-trick, Marco Ghiani rides
- KIT GABRIEL (S Spencer) C&D winner here 11 days ago, Dale Swift rides