Alan Thomson’s Tips: Lacemaker looks a money maker

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WOLVERHAMPTON has been a happy hunting ground for Sylvestre De Sousa and he returned from warmer climes in Dubai to ride a double at the Midlands track in midweek.

Significantly, he kicks on to Wolverhampton’s evening fixture from Doncaster this afternoon and THE LACEMAKER (8.45) could be worth the wait at the end of a long day’s punting.

Formerly trained by Ed Dunlop, The Lacemaker has had two runs for new handler Chris Dwyer, a trainer who provides a steady stream of winners for SDS on the all-weather. The filly has finished fourth on both occasions, the most recent coming three weeks ago when beaten more than three lengths by Desert Fox.

That came in a Class 5 sprint, so this demotion to Class 6 company is very welcome, especially since the handicapper has dropped her 3lb. The application of first-time cheek-pieces suggests the yard means business.

The media spotlight falls on Doncaster and LORD GLITTERS (3.35) may well possess the necessary class to defy top weight in the 32Red Lincoln Handicap.

David O’Meara gave his gelding the green light on Thursday after swithering whether to risk Lord Glitters on very soft ground so early in his campaign. Drying winds should ensure the track isn’t riding too testing and if Lord Glitters can reproduce the blistering turn of pace he used to scythe down a whole posse of rivals in the valuable Balmoral Handicap at Ascot in October he will surely be in the mix.

His second to Accidental Agent in a Heritage Handicap at Ascot in August was a sterling effort and he ended the season with another second, this time in a Listed contest at Newmarket in November. Lord Glitters, a dual winner in France at a mile, clearly goes well on a straight track and his low draw may well prove advantageous.

O’Meara also saddles last year’s winner Bravery at the bottom of the weights but more potent threats to Lord Glitters are posed by well-touted Fire Brigade, shock Cambridgeshire winner Dolphin Vista, Chelsea Lad and Addeybb.

LANCELOT DU LAC (1.50) can win the first race of the new Flat turf season, the Unibet Cammidge Trophy over six furlongs.

Last year’s Stewards’ Cup hero will be fit as a flea on the back of a recent success at Wolverhampton and his Goodwood win came on soft ground. Lancelot Du Lac runs Donny well, having been placed twice in Listed company on heavy ground.

The jumps card at Newbury looks trappy but if all eight runners go to post for the juvenile hurdle NIGH OR NEVER (2.40) is worth an each-way punt at around 10-1.

Rebecca Curtis has kept the four-year-old off the course since he lost out to Royale Zanzibar in a driving finish at Hereford in mid-January and the winner ran a sound race in defeat under a big weight behind Eragon De Chanay at Sandown a fortnight ago.

Recommended bets

• Wolverhampton 8.45 – The Lacemaker (100-30, McBookie, bet365)
• Doncaster 3.35 – Lord Glitters ew (6-1, general)
• Doncaster 1.50 – Lancelot De Luc (3-1, general)
• Newbury 2.40 – Nigh Or Never ew (14-1, William Hill)

Johnb's Saturday Tips

• Newbury 2:40 – Falcon Sun 5-1 paddy power
• Thurles 2:45 – Castlegrace Paddy 13-2 bet365eachway 1/4 odds 1-2
• Bangor 2:50 – Dragon Khan 8-1 paddy powereachway 1/4 odds 1-2-3 NB
• Lingfield 3:10 – Wahash 5-1 bet365
• Doncaster 3:35 – Dark Red 22-1 coral eachway 1/5 odds 1-2-3-4-5-6
• Lingfield 3:45 – A Momentofmadness 9-4 paddy power NAP

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