Time Is Right At Wolverhampton

The 3.30 Wolverhampton is a good quality handicap but perhaps because of the paucity of 0-95 races on the all-weather we find horses shoe-horned into the race. The main protagonists are 6f horses, whilst the 5f specialists are either badly drawn our outclassed. Only one horse has ideal conditions and that is Mappin Time.

Although not as good on turf, he won three starts back at Beverley before his season was curtailed in an effort to keep him away from soft autumn ground. Back on the all-weather he looks set for another productive winter.

Last time he raced on an artificial surface he finished third over course and distance and was slightly unlucky the way the ran unfolded. The leaders set a steady gallop and although Mappin Time clocked a rapid 22.6s closing sectional it wasn’t enough to bridge the gap.

That performance was good enough to earn an adjusted speed rating of 90 and he races off an official mark of 86 this afternoon, 4lbs lower than his last all-weather mark.  With a strong pace likely in this line-up, the race could be set-up for him.