EXTREME Supreme can finally get back on the straight and narrow when he is hurled back into the fray at Wolverhampton this afternoon.
His supporters will probably know their fate once the traps snap open as Derek Shaw’s sprinter has recently developed a rather annoying habit of missing the break.
That foible was laid bare on his last two starts at Southwell, when tardiness upon leaving the gates cost him any chance of winning on both occasions.
That said, he still did well enough to make up a fair bit of ground to twice finish third in races that were probably better than this one.
Indeed, Extreme Supreme gave a revealing insight into his well-being over course and distance in February when he again finished third, but only went down by half-a-length in a blanket finish.
The gelded son of Piccolo obviously needs to find a little bit of improvement from somewhere, but it is reassuring Tony Hamilton is back in the saddle, while the handicapper has taken off another 1lb ahead of the Enjoy The Hotel Parade Restaurant Handicap.
He is now 6lb lower than when he last won a race, at Southwell in December 2014, so it could be now or never.
Cookie Ring appeals as a likely sort in the Hotel & Racing Packages Available Apprentice Handicap.
The five-year-old gelding has done well this winter, winning at Kempton and at Chelmsford, and was possibly a shade unfortunate on his last spin two-and-a-half weeks ago.
Pat Holmes’ inmate finished second in a seven-furlong handicap, but nothing was finishing quicker and he simply just ran out of time to catch the neck winner, Powerfulstorm.
That run convinced his trainer that a step up in trip by one-and-a-half furlongs is now the way to go.
And as he has won at Wolves over farther than this, it is hardly a shot to nothing.
Perhaps just as significant in this amateur riders’ race is the fact he again gets the assistance of Paula Muir, who takes off 5lb and has been at the helm for eight of Cookie Ring’s last nine starts.
Aqua Dude can gain handsome atonement following a mishap at Southwell last month when he returns to the circuit and steps up in trip to two-and-a-half miles in the Membership At Southwell Golf Club Novices’ Hurdle.
Irish News Yankee
Nap: Extreme Supreme
(3.15: Wolverhampton)
Double: Cookie Ring
(2.10: Wolverhampton)
Treble: Aqua Dude
(3.30: Southwell)
Yankee: Spring Over
(4.15: Hexham)
