Wolverhampton Preview: Jet Mate all set for take-off

Jet Mate can take advantage of a drop in grade to open his account in the 7f claiming contest on this evening’s card at Wolverhampton (6.10).
The Bill Muir trained gelding didn’t show much in three maiden runs, but then up a much improved display on handicap debut over 7f at Kempton when fourth of 10 to Muradif in a class 5 contest.

The son of Fast Company was held-up at the rear before making good hedway two from home, and then got outpaced before staying on to be beaten just over five lengths without being unduly knocked about.

The two-year-old was well supported on the back of that effort last time out at the same venue when stepped up in trip to a mile, and showed plenty of pace to chase the leaders before weakening late on to finish fifth of 14 to Winter Queen in a class 6 handicap.

Jet Mate showed enough to suggest that he would be capable of winning a race, and drops into claiming company for the first time.

That should make Jet Mate hard to beat, especially if the fitting of the cheekpieces for the first time have the desired effect and can eake out a bit more improvement.
In the 6f handicap that closes proceedings (8.40), Hit The Lights looks good value to cash-in on a career-low mark.

The gelding won twice last season when trained by Ollie Pears, with the last of those successes coming at Pontefract off a mark of 65.

The four-year-old went on to finish a very good runner-up to Aetna at Newcastle off 70, and now gets into this contest off just 59.

That is 6lb lower than when last successful, and gives Hit The Lights major claims from a handicapping perspective.

The four-year-old, who is now in the care of Pat Chammings, also shaped as if coming back to form last time out at Lingfield when showing bags of early pace to lead before weakening late on to finish fourth to Maria Montez.

Connections are now fitting the son of Lawman with cheekpieces for the first time, and Hit The Lights is ideally drawn to attack from the off in stall 1.

If utlising the draw to the full and getting to the front early, then Hit The Lights could prove very hard to peg back in the hands of Luke Morris.