MIGHTY RIVER can take his record for 2023 to 2-2 with a victory in the It’s Time To Turn To talkSPORT Handicap (8.00) at Wolverhampton tonight.
James Tate’s son of Siyouni, a novice-stakes winner at Dunstall Park at the start of December, didn’t match that form when a below-expectations third at Kempton Park on his handicap debut two starts ago.
But there was much more to like about my selection’s first start of the new year 16 days ago as Rossa Ryan’s mount got the better of Mohatu by one length.
The runner-up has since gone one better, albeit with the help of the stewards, and a 2lb nudge up the weights may not be enough to stop Mighty River, who is bred to appreciate this mile-and-a-half trip, from going in again.
At Plumpton, ART OF ILLUSION is fancied to repeat a course-and-distance score in October as he locks horns with eight rivals for the Tysers Handicap Chase (3.50).
The Warren Greatrex-saddled six-year-old, beaten on his three subsequent visits to the track, was back to winning form at Ffos Las at the beginning of the month and has the improvement up his sleeve to overcome a 6lb rise in the handicap.
Monday's tips
HEREFORD
1.15 HAURAKI GULF
1.50 GENEROUS DAY
2.25 JILAIJONE
3.00 HONNEUR D’AJONC
3.35 ONLY THE BOLD
4.10 MAGIC SAINT
4.40 CASA NO MENTO
PLUMPTON
1.30 HERMINO AA
2.05 SHAW’S CROSS
2.40 PONCHO
3.15 KANSAS CITY CHIEF
3.50 ART OF ILLUSION (NB)
4.24 HENRY BOX BROWN
HUNTINGDON
1.40 ALLIHIES
2.15 SHELDON
2.50 AMOOLA GOLD
3.25 IMPULSIVE ONE
4.00 LARGY NIGHTS
4.30 GLOBAL FAMENGLORY
WOLVERHAMPTON
5.30 APACHE SPARK
6.00 SPLIT ELEVENS
6.30 BORN RULER
7.00 WADACRE GRACE
7.30 DE VEGAS KID
8.00 MIGHTY RIVER (NAP)
8.30 CICELY
DOUBLE: MIGHTY RIVER and ART OF ILLUSION
