Tin Hat ready to shine again

Tin Hat can snap a lengthy losing streak in the Bombardier British-Hopped Amber Beer Handicap at Wolverhampton tomorrow.

The five-year-old has not tasted victory since August 2019, but he did not get too many chances to shine last year – with just five runs in total in 2020.

Tin Hat did Eve Johnson Houghton proud in that handful of runs though, clearly striking up a real rapport with Georgia Dobie, who steered him to placed efforts at Newmarket and Lingfield – with that fourth in Surrey representing his most recent run.

Beaten just a length over six furlongs, Tin Hat could not quite find the extra required at the finish, but he still ran a decent race in defeat.

Dobie’s 5lb claim is again a valuable asset as Tin Hat switches back up to seven furlongs here.

The Thunderer defied his odds of 22-1 when third on his racecourse bow in November, and can improve to win the Get Your Ladbrokes Daily Odds Boost Novice Stakes.

Starting over this extended mile trip, he ducked right leaving the stalls, putting himself at an immediate disadvantage before staying on in a likeable manner to finish third, despite having to race pretty wide. It later transpired he had also lost a shoe in the race, so perhaps The Thunderer can be marked up a bit for this second run.

Contingency Fee seems to the enjoy the Fibresand test on offer at Southwell – and he should show up well again in the Play 4 To Win At Betway Handicap at the Nottinghamshire track. The sixyear-old has run 12 times at the course and has finished out of the first four on just two occasions, with his most recent outing yielding a twoan d-three-quarter-length fourth behind Mr Carbonator on New Year’s Day.

Racing off a mark of 64 that day, he has subsequently been dropped to a perch of 61 – in turn some 2lb lower than his last winning rating at this track. Admittedly it is a fair while since that success back in November 2019, but Contingency Fee appears to be running into a bit of form and can take full advantage of his revised mark.

Perfect Swiss also makes a quick Southwell reappearance after hacking up here last week. Having his first start at the track, Tim Easterby’s runner was travelling much the best before picking up well when given the signal, eventually coming home eight and a half lengths clear. He will be saddled with a 5lb penalty in the Bombardier British Hopped Amber

Beer Handicap, but will surely be hit a bit harder than that when he is reassessed.

Samovar rarely ventures far from South well and he should be thereabouts again in the Heed Your Hunch At Betway Handicap.