Be Like Me and back winner at Wolverhampton

BE LIKE ME is given yet another chance, despite top-weight, in a 13-runner Nursery Handicap over six furlongs of Wolverhampton tapeta tonight, when diners will witness a magnificent floodlit spectacle from the lavish third-floor restaurant, a measureless sight!

An eight-race programme should provide a superb menu and Be Like Me could well be a tasty proposition.

Gabriele Malune replaces Anton Fresu, one of several good reasons why we’re siding with Marco Botti’s charge; few apprentices have impressed more and his 5lbs allowance is a bonus for prospects of this consistent, hitherto luckless, Helmet filly, close fourth on the Dunstall Park course last month over five furlongs.

Prior to that Be Like achieved her ‘career-best’ time-handicap mark when two lengths runner-up to Poetry over the minimum trip on Nottingham turf; she needs further; ironically Botti dismissed that idea following a promising effort at Newbury over six on a pristine surface.

None better than this but the draw is a major factor; Be Like Me is berthed six, ideal.

Earlier ‘super-Saturday’ is very much about grade one fixtures at Haydock and Ascot where Jason Watson replaces Hayley Turner on Ripp Orf, one of twenty ‘decs’ for an intriguing 80000 Cunard Handicap over seven furlongs.

Earlier this season ‘Daily Earner’ rode magnificently to win over course and distance aboard David Elsworth’s charge, ‘ride of the season’ in my book but young Jason won the Stewards’ Cup and is an adequate replacement; Hayley is required by Michael Bell to ride at the Lancashire venue and down the road at the aforementioned Wolves meeting where she has four mounts. Busy day.

Ripp Orf is well-weighted, trained by a ‘genius’ and worth a punt each-way with four places on offer. ‘Aged’sprints offer tremendous value, especially for ‘timebiased’ aficionados like myself.

If all eight run in a Nursery Handicap over seven furlongs ‘standard to slow’ (watered!) Kempton polytrack Richard Hannon-trained Water Diviner should occupy one of three places under stable jockey, Tom Marquand, despite the widest draw.

Kempton, 2.40 Water Diviner (e.w); Ascot, 2.45 Ripp Orf (e.w); Wolverhampton, 7.15 Be Like Me (nap-e.w)