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Horse Racing

Silent is golden at Wolverhampton

February 2024

Silent Age can maintain his perfect record with a second victory in the Stay Golden With Betmgm Safer Gambling Novice Stakes at Wolverhampton on Friday.

As a relation of Group One winners Rebel's Romance and Measured Time, hopes would have been high for this son of Dubawi but he did not make his racecourse bow until last month, when he had already been gelded.

Silent Age showed a fair measure of ability though, winning a Kempton maiden over 1600m, showing a professional attitude to fend off a well-bred runner-up by a short head.

Charlie Appleby sends him over an extended 1600m here and while he must concede weight all round, Silent Age can be expected to rise to the challenge.

Enzos Angel is 4lb well-in the second division of the Build Your Acca With BetUK Handicap and can take full advantage.

The five-year-old secured his first career success on his first start for Neil Mulholland, having been out of luck in his previous 10 starts for Stuart Williams.

Off the track since August, Enzos Angel was well supported at this venue last week, racing from a mark of 51 and kicking four lengths clear for what was a convincing win.

Enzos Angel must shoulder a 5lb penalty for that, but his new mark of 60 means he is still slightly ahead of the curve, with the way he stayed on over an extended 1800m offering hope for this 2400m trip.

Optician can prevail in the first division, notching up a four-timer in the process.

He has triumphed three times over this course and distance since the beginning of December, with his mark rising from 55 to his current perch of 65.

Winning margins of half a length, a neck and a nose have limited the handicapper's reaction and Optician could have something to work with still.

Almodavar Del Rio made a promising return to action last month ahead of the Win £2,000,000 With BetMGM's Golden Goals Handicap.

Beaten three-quarters of a length on his first spin since June, Almodavar Del Rio just dropped away in the final 200m but should strip fitter for the run and is on an appealing mark.

Spirits Bay can get his season back on track with victory in the Dont Retire Without My Pension Expert Novices' Hurdle at Exeter.

A dual bumper winner, Nigel Twiston-Davies' charge made a decent start when finishing second at Sandown in November but then suffered a tired fall at Cheltenham when in third place.

Spirits Bay has been given time to get over that fall and the patience can pay dividends.

Wholeofthemoon should appreciate stepping back up in trip in the BBC Makeadifferenceawards Handicap Hurdle at Sedgefield.

A winner over just short of 4000m on his penultimate start, dropping back to 3200m saw him beaten at odds on but he can bounce back returned to the longer distance. - Press Association

TAB is betting on 5 UK meetings on Friday. Here are the tips.

EXETER: Race 1: 15.30 Hurricane Highway, Race 2: 16.03 Mad Mike, Race 3: 16.33 Dolly Delightful, Race 4: 17.05 Spirits Bay, Race 5: 17.40 Robyndzone, Race 6: 18.10 House Of Stories, Race 7: 18.45 Joyau Allen.

SEDGEFIELD: Race 1: 15.54 Jubilee Girl, Race 2: 16.24 Royle Steel, Race 3: 16.54 Wholeofthemoon, Race 4: 17.30 Elleon, Race 5: 18.00 Dillarchie, Race 6: 18.33 Blue Bear, Race 7: 19.08 Calevade.

LINGFIELD: Race 1: 16.10 Endosser, Race 2: 16.40 Molly Mischief, Race 3: 17.15 Three Dons, Race 4: 17.47 Shot Of Love, Race 5: 18.20 Big Narstie, Race 6: 18.55 Intoxicata.

WARWICK: Race 1: 16.15 Fantomas, Race 2: 16.45 Ten Lengths Tom, Race 3: 17.20 Ballycamus, Race 4: 17.52 Midnight Mary, Race 5: 18.25 Royal Rhythm, Race 6: 19.00 Luna De Castana.

WOLVERHAMPTON: Race 1: 18.55 Bright, Race 2: 19.30 Almodavar Del Rio, Race 3: 20.00 SILENT AGE (NAP), Race 4: 20.30 Optician, Race 5: 21.00 Enzos Angel, Race 6: 21.30 Lawmans Blis, Race 7: 22.00 Old Chums, Race 8: 22.30 Ludo's Landing.

ALL TO COME: Silent Age and Enzos Angel (Wolverhampton, Races 3 and 5).

 

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