Wolverhampton preview: Sahara looks hot suff on handicap debut

Sahara can take advantage of what looks a lenient handicap mark to open her account in the 1m 2f contest on today’s seven-race card at Wolverhampton (15.50).

The Chris Wall trained filly has shaped with bags of promise in three starts, including when fourth of 13 to Melodious on seasonal reappearance at Nottingham.

Sahara raced prominently until losing her place 7f out before keeping on well to be beaten 3 1/2 lengths under tender handling.

The winner went on to score next time up on her handicap debut off 76, the runner-up Lovely Surprise has also won since and is now rated 82, and the third home Lilian Baylis won on her bow at Pontefract yesterday off 74.

That is very strong form in the contest of this class 5 contest and makes Sahara’s opening mark of 67 look very exploitable.

Sahara also shaped far better than the bare result last time out at Goodwood when seventh of 13 to Speedy Boarding in a decent maiden at Goodwood, and the winner has since gone on to land a Listed contest at Newbury and is now rated 96.

Another plus is that Sahara hails from a stable in good form, and Wall does particularly well with lightly-raced three-year-old handicap debutantes.

William Knight is another trainer in good form at present, and Clotilde can provide the West Sussex handler with another success in the 1m 1f handicap that closes proceedings (17.20)

The filly has had three quick runs in maidens, and caught the eye on the second of those when fifth of 13 to Speedy Boarding at Newbury in which she finished in front of the aforementioned Sahara.

After showing plenty of pace to track the leaders and travelling strongly, the three-year-old kept nicely be beaten 7 1/2 lengths without being knocked about.