Monday Racing Tips: Dr Foster could be on call at Wolverhampton

We have a fairly quiet Monday on our hands with just three meetings in the UK and none in Ireland. National Hunt racing takes centre stage with two meetings in the afternoon.

Ayr kicks us off before being swiftly followed by Plumpton and Wolverhampton’s competitive eight-race card takes us into the evening.

One of our stronger fancies on the day is one for Mick Appleby who makes his handicap debut and has to be thoroughly unexposed in this sphere.

18.30 Wolverhampton - Dr Foster @ 6/5

The feature race of the day is very competitive for a four-runner affair and Mick Appleby’s handicap debutant DR FOSTER could be the one to side with.

Having had just four starts to date, there have been signs of improvement between almost every run so far.

The son of Advertise got off the mark when trying a mile for the first time at Kempton last time out and the extra half-a-furlong here shouldn’t be an issue on the evidence of that effort.

The form is largely untested but it was a reasonably valuable novice event and could work out well over time. He’s been gelded since and there should be loads more to come now switching to handicaps.

Oisin Murphy is an eye-catching booking and his 35 per-cent strike-rate in the last fortnight means the former champion jockey arrives in top form. Dr Foster runs off a mark of 79 here which certainly looks workable and this looks like a cracking opportunity for a swift return to the winners’ enclosure.

19.30 Wolverhampton - Darlo Pride @ 7/2

A sprint contest over the minimum trip at Wolverhampton, last time out winner DARLO PRIDE could certainly be one to look out for. Anthony Carson’s four-year-old has been very consistent of late and his most recent performance indicates that there could be more to come.

A three-time winner over the minimum trip, this gelding put in a career best effort when winning nicely off a 5lb lower mark over course and distance last time out.

It was a particularly impressive victory as he took a keen hold early on but still managed to run on strongly to score by just shy of two lengths.

The 5lb hike in the weights will obviously make things a little harder for him but there’s every reason to be confident that further improvement could be on the cards.

Regular rider William Carson remains in the saddle and the pair should be bang in the mix once again. Trainer Anthony Carson has a 50 per-cent strike-rate in the last fortnight and that certainly bodes well for Darlo Pride’s chances here.

15.05 Ayr - Ballycoose @ 5/2

Irish raider BALLYCOOSE could spoil the party for the home team and trainer Stuart Crawford loves a winner at Ayr, having trained 45 winners at the Scottish track to date. This Isaac Souede and Simon Munir-owned gelding is one of his three live chances at the course on Monday.

The son of Mahler won a maiden hurdle here back in December 2021 and the majority of his best efforts since have come at Ayr.

Victorious on his chase debut here last time out, his jumping was noticeably slick and he made most of the running, before going on to score by two-lengths despite idling on the run-in.

That effort certainly suggested that fences will be the making of this horse and it’s likely that there’s plenty more to come. A 5lb higher mark shouldn’t be too taxing and there’s every chance he’ll get the job done once again.

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