Bangor and Wolverhampton previews: River ready to roll

The mare was a bumper/hurdles winner who hasn’t really built on a promising start over fences in three runs this season.

However having started life off over the larger obstacles on a rating of 120, Son Of Suzie is now able to race off a career-low of just 110.

That makes the eight-year-old dangerously well-treated on the pick of his form in what doesn’t look the strongest of class 4 contests.

Son Of Suzie also now gets stepped up significantly in trip, and connections are fitting the son of Midnight Legend with cheekpieces for the first time.

If that combination has the desired effect, Son Of Suzie is going to be tough to beat in the hands of promising 3lb claimer Conor Shoemark.

Selections

14.00: What A Scorcher
14.30: Bellator
15.05: Supreme Asset
15.40: Tanit River (NAP)
16.15: Son Of Suzie (NB)
16.50: The Pierre Lark

Viva Verglas weighted to strike at Wolverhampton

Viva Verglas shaped well last time out and can take advantage of a further drop in the weights to score an overdue success in the 5f handicap that opens proceedings on today’s card at Wolverhampton (14.20).

The gelding was in terrific form in 2013 when trained by David Barron and winning four times, with the last of those successes coming in a class 2 contest over course and distance off a mark of 94.

Although Viva Verglas has failed to get his head in front since, he has run well to make the frame on numerous occasions.

They include two runs at Southwell, when a short-head second to Guishan in a class 3 contest off 81 and runner-up to Ace Master off the same rating.

Viva Verglas is now able to race off just 67, 27lb lower than when last successful, and that gives him outstanding claims from a handicapping perspective in this class 5 contest.

The five-year-old also comes into the race having finished a decent third over 6f at Southwell last month following a break, and that should have blow away the cobwebs and put Viva Verglas spot on for this.

Ashford Island the ace in the pack

In the 7f handicap (14.55), Ashford Island is a fascinating contender now stepped back up in trip.

The Mike Murphy trained gelding has only had seven starts and caught the eye on handicap debut over 1m at Chepstow when sixth of 10 to Senza Una Donna.

After being held-up off the pace travelling nicely, Ashford Island made good headway three form home to hold every chance at the two marker before being unable to find any extra approaching the last and weakening to be beaten 7 1/2 lengths.

The three-year-old was not knocked about and allowed to come home in his own time once it was clear he would not be winning, and showed enough to suggest that he should be capable of winning a race of this nature.

Ashford Island also comes into the contest having posted a career-best effort to finish third over 6f at Kempton last month, keeping on to be nearest at the finish and beaten 3 3/4 lengths.

The step back up to 7f looks sure to suit, and having since been dropped a further 1lb Ashford looks weighted to run a huge race of a basement mark of 47 if taking another step forward.

Selections

14.20: Viva Verglas (NAP)
14.55: Ashford Island (NB)
15.20: Next Edition
15.55: Molly Approve
16.30: Dana’s Present
17.05: Project Bluebook

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