Race: 7.00 Wolverhampton (3yo Handicap, 6f)
Date: Tuesday 27th January 2026
We aren’t quite at the finish line yet—there are still a few races left on the card—but the 7.00 is arguably the trickiest puzzle of the evening. It’s a 0-55 handicap exclusively for three-year-olds. At this level, these young horses are still learning the game, and form can flip upside down in a heartbeat.
However, when the form lines are messy, the track bias and the stopwatch usually tell the truth.
The Trap in Stall 8
The market has Calabrian Soldato as one of the favourites, largely because he finished a decent second at Chelmsford last time out. But I’m worried about his setup today.
He has been dealt a rotten hand with Stall 8. Over six furlongs at Wolverhampton, the run to the first bend is short. If you are drawn wide and want to be handy (which he does), you have to burn a lot of petrol to get across. With a “Strong” pace forecast, he risks getting trapped three-wide on the turn or doing too much too soon. At 3/1, that is a headache I don’t need.
The Change of Scenery
My money is going on Luna Beaux (around 100/30). She has just moved to the Adrian Wintle yard, and a change of scenery often wakes these young horses up.
More importantly, the data is screaming in her favour. She has the highest speed rating in the field by a decent margin, and she has drawn Stall 2. While the wide runners are scrapping for position, she can sit comfortably on the rail and save her energy for the straight. She looks the most solid proposition in a shaky race.
The Cheeky Longshot
If you are looking for something at a bigger price, have a second look at He Bangs The Drums (18/1).
On paper, his form is nothing to write home about. But here is the interesting nugget: Trainer Archie Watson has booked 7lb claimer Harry Vigors for the ride. When this pair teams up, they have a 29% strike rate (2 wins from 7 goes). That is a massively high number for an 18/1 shot. It suggests they might have a plan to use that weight allowance to get competitive.
The Verdict
I’m taking on the wide-drawn runner and siding with the speed figure on the inside.
Main Bet: Luna Beaux (Win) – * Ideally placed to strike from Stall 2.*
The “Lively” Outsider: He Bangs The Drums (Each Way @ 18/1) – Trusting the trainer/jockey stats.