Timeform Radio Tips: Cardinal's in line for a win

Today's bets come from Wolverhampton

David Cleary picks out his best bets at Wolverhampton.

Kempton has bitten the dust for the second day running, but Wolverhampton has survived a morning inspection, despite the weather over the weekend, and gets the show back on the road this afternoon after a blank day yesterday. As might be expected for the all-weather on a Monday at this time of year, today's card is mostly bargain-basement fare but a couple of the handicaps look competitive and slightly better quality. 
The best bet on the card may come in the last at 17:35, in which Lean On Pete, despite some in-form rivals, holds strong claims for a fourth win in five starts. Lean On Pete has taken well to this particular track and looked better than ever following a short break when a last-gasp winner earlier this month. He did even better than the short-head margin over Follow The Flag suggests too, finding trouble in running after travelling strongly in rear but picking up really well to lead on the line. Lean On Pete has been raised 5 lb for that but the form has been boosted since and he looks more than capable of defying that rise. 

The five-furlong handicap which opens the card at 14:35 has a competitive look to it. Passionada is the least exposed in the field and has shown improved form since switched to polytrack, her win over course and distance at the start of December the best performance of her career to date. She's been off since, but so far she's not been campaigned like a typical sprinter and that shouldn't be a problem. She deserves to be favourite, though not so clear-cut a one as the morning market suggests. Cardinal also figures on a good mark and may be the one to back against her. He shaped well after a short break here early in the month, tying up late on after kicking on early in the straight when third to Colybor. He's dropping back a furlong in trip today but he has won over it on turf and it shouldn't be a worry on this surface from the way he travels.

Recommendations:

Back Lean On Pete @ 3.8514/5 in the 17:35

Back Cardinal @ 5.85/1 in the 14:35