AN UNSUPRISINGLY muted weekend’s racing with the world and his wife thoroughly entrenched in the form for next week’s big National Hunt showpiece.  More importantly, however, the flat season is nearly upon us and therefore Wolverhampton’s trials card is of much more interesting reading.  The opening event of the mammoth 10-race card is the Listed williamhill.co.uk Lady Wulfruna Stakes.  This features a South African Grade 1 winner, a highly-progressive performer from last season and a host of our favourites from the last few months.  Last season Lovelace went from strength to strength and captured a Group 3 at Goodwood before two less than perfect runs to finish off with.  Mark Johnston has been in cracking form on the all-weather this winter and I think this son of Royal Applause can make good use of the 2lb he’s receiving from Grade 1 winning War Artist and set up another profitable campaign.  The third event on the card is the williamhill.co.uk Lincoln Trial Stakes.  Although called a trial the race rarely has any actual impact on the flat season curtain raiser.  Much like the first selection Danehillsundance was a progressive individual last season faring well until pitched in with more seasoned handicappers towards the end of the year.  His victory over subsequent Group 2 winner Miss Lucifer over the Lincoln course and distance was a very useful piece of form and came off a mark only 2 lb lower than he’s on now.  Furthermore he also claimed the scalp of Docofthebay who went on to be third in the Cambridgeshire handicap.  He doesn’t have the same all-weather experience as most of his opponents, despite being third on his only start on the surface, but I think he’s a better sort.  Lastly he also has the added benefit of top jockey Ryan Moore and could reward the each-way punter at the very least.

Selections – 2.25 Wolverhampton, 2 Lovelace

                                                          3.35 Wolverhampton, 9 Danehillsundance