Wolverhampton preview: All set for a Swashbuckling success

David Metcalf | October 20, 2015

Swashbuckling has shaped with bags of promise in two starts to date and holds outstanding claims of opening his account in the 1m 1f maiden which gets proceedings underway on this evening’s card at Wolverhampton (17.40).

The Michael Wigham trained gelding caught the eye in no uncertain fashion on debut when third of 10 to Persun over 1m at Newmarket, staying on strongly from off the pace under tender handling to be nearest at the finish and beaten just 1 1/2 lengths.

Swashbuckling backed that up with a solid second to Prendergast Hill at Epsom, where after being given plenty to do he finished with a rattle from the two marker to go down by a diminishing 1 1/4 lengths.

It was an effort which suggested Swashbuckling was a winner waiting to happen, and both the races he has run in so far have thrown-up plenty of subsequent winners.

The son of Raven’s Pass clearly has lots of ability, and now gets the services of James Doyle in the saddle for the first time.

With the prospect of even better to come, this looks a glorious opportunity to Swashbuckling to get off the mark.
In the 1m handicap (21.10), Atreus can bag a belated first success now fitted with the cheekpieces for the first time.

Trained by the shrewd Mick Easterby, the gelding is yet to get his head in front in 19 starts but has run well to be placed on seven occasions and often shaped better than the bare result.

Atreus posted a solid effort back in May when beating just a head at Musselburgh off a mark of 59, and was also far from disgraced next time up at Hamilton when fifth of 13 off 64.