VIRTUAL HUG is fancied to rack up a fourth victory at Wolverhampton by landing the Get The Inside Track With raceday-ready.com Handicap (8.30) at Dunstall Park on Monday evening.
To get his head in front, the Nikki Evans-saddled six-year-old must put a rare dull showing at Haydock last time behind him.
But Virtual Hug had put together a consistent body of work earlier in the campaign, including two wins over a mile and a half at tonight’s venue.
The return to the West Midlands is a definite plus for Paddy Bradley’s mount – from 13 visits, my selection not only has three successes, including a course-and-distance score last November, but six in-the-frame efforts besides.
A British Horseracing Authority rating of 57, although 3lb above his last winning mark, looks within range and, with few of his rivals coming into this race at the top of their game, Virtual Hug gets the Nap vote to return to winning ways.
At Windsor, SHAGRAAN has plenty going for him in the Fitzdares Sprint Series Handicap (7.15).
Mick Appleby’s three-year-old has kept some decent company in all three starts of 2024, including a fine fifth to Pilgrim in the Palace Of Holyroodhouse Handicap at Royal Ascot 10 days ago, and this assignment is less demanding
MONDAY’S SELECTIONS
PONTEFRACT
2.10 UNPLUGGED
2.40 ASTAPOR
3.15 ARDEUR
3.45 OLD COCK
4.15 DICK THE LEGEND
4.45 TRUE NATION
WORCESTER
2.25 JAC JUMPER
2.55 BBOLD
3.30 ALL INN HAND
4.00 VOCITO
4.30 PERFECT ARCH
5.00 ELECTRIC EDDY
5.30 INSPECTOR LYNLEY
WOLVERHAMPTON
5.25 CHIEFMAN
6.00 CAPO VATICANO
6.30 READY FREDDIE GO
7.00 OPTICIAN
7.30 SOLDIER’S CLASS
8.00 SAVANNAH SMILES
8.30 VIRTUAL HUG (NAP)
9.00 MY MATE MIKE
WINDSOR
5.45 BIG TIME RASCAL
6.15 WOODHAY WHISPER
6.45 SEEK AND DESTROY
7.15 SHAGRAAN (NB)
7.45 COMPOSITE
8.15 MUJID
8.45 DIAMOND DREAMER
DOUBLE: VIRTUAL HUG and SHAGRAAN