Harness racing makes a welcome return to Wolverhampton this Sunday when the Dunstall Park venue hosts a 15 race programme featuring the cream of UK and Irelands pacers and trotters. Almost £25,000 in prizemoney is up for grabs with all pacing races being ran over the standard mile and all trots over a mile and a quarter.

The card opens with a six runner saddle contest where the 2015 BHRC Derby winner John Barley makes his eagerly awaited debut in this discipline. Likely to be favourite, he will have it all to do however to contain the wily veteran Ladyford Lad. Although 14 years old the oldest horse currently in training is in the form of his life and it would be no surprise to see himself and jockey Lauren Moran pass the post in front to claim the 28th red rosette of his long and distinguished career.

The next event is a handicap for grades 2 and 3 class pacers and Tommy Camden, a previous winner at the venue is expected to run well here. Majs Lad could run well here at very rewarding odds as could Shanana Hanover who will have the able assistance of man-of-the-moment Mike O’Mahoney in the bike.

Race 3 sees the first of the le trots and ten silver class French breds go to post here. Sun Gahn is a very consistent sort, as are Bora Bora De Seg and Spot Du Mochel. Trendy Du Closet is the fastest winning time in the line-up however and he is tentatively chosen to prevail in this wide open contest.

The fourth race sees 11 juvenile pacers trying to shed their maiden tags and of these Springhill Calaburn makes most appeal. Performing in Ireland with great credit all season he has recently been acquired and transferred over to the all-conquering Rocker Laidler stable in Durham and big things are expected from the 3 year old. Others to watch out for in this include Panarc a half brother to Tregaron final winner Southern Sunshine and the ultra-consistent Brywins Vacation which is trained locally on the track by Laura Walker.

Race 5 features eleven grade 1 class pacers and recent Corbie Wood winner Thornton Bronte is likely to be all the rage in this. His dam Lola won over $1 million dollars and although he might not reach those lofty heights he’s shown enough talent so far in his short career that leads you to believe that a race of this nature is well within his compass. Lanehouse Boy is out to land a hat trick (both wins at Almeley) whilst Ayr Hostess could be an option for those seeking a bit of value in the betting ring.

The STAGBI sponsored mares and fillies only contest is the six race on the programme and the ever popular Shades Of Grey is seeking her 17th lifetime victory here . Now 9 years old, shes the oldest mare in the line-up and although her form has dipped in recent weeks hopes are high that Wolverhamptons Tapeta surface will spark a revival. Arch rival Dontstoptheparty will be all out to upset the applecart whilst the youngest filly in the field Porcelain Seelster is improving with every start and could spring a big surprise at very rewarding odds.

Race 7 is another handicap this time for Grades 3 and 4 class pacers. Indie Hanover ran with great credit at Corbie Wood last Sunday being narrowly denied in a desperately close finish. Ystwyth Valley is a consistent sort as is Genghis Pride but the answer may lie with John Barley who will thrive on the surface and loves a battle.

Jane Patterson was a wonderful ambassador for the sport back in the day and her memorial race is always a highlight of the trotting mans calendar. This year the event takes the form of a 3 year old le trot and a team of rocket scientists and form boffins couldn’t work out the winner of this one. Narrow preference goes to Elliot De Buliere, purely based on times recorded, but others to consider are Emma Star, Espoir Lila, Éclair Du Torp, Eva Thoris, Emeraude De Bourse and Emirat De Levant (pretty much all of the field really!)

Grades 2 and 3 class pacers are accommodated in the ninth race and Simon Clarkes Rhyds Merlin has been knocking on the door all season. This is his golden chance to shine. Plan B is very talented but erratic at times. A clear round would see him go very close in this. The Dark Destroyer and Aurum Alert are recent Almeley winners bringing them into the reckoning whilst you write off Rocker Laidler at your peril – his Springhill Ruby although not one of his stable stars, is more than capable of holding her own in this grade.

£5000 goes to the winner of race 10 the LPD Demolition and Oakwood Stud sponsored 3 year old classic and although this is only a 2 runner contest, it has all the hallmarks of a tactical cat-and-mouse style affair where either one can win it if it develops into a sprint finish. Both Rhyds Rock Star and Greenhill Debatable are classic winners this season but the big colt has to be favoured over the diminutive filly here. Nevertheless, David did beat Goliath and this remains a race to savour.

Race 11 sees eleven novice graded pacers set to lock horns in an effort to progress to open class handicaps and of these Rhyds Adora is the one to be most interested in. Dai Isaac is a very shrewd operator and he rarely crosses the Welsh border unless hes something very special in the wagon. Adora has had just a single start in her career which was a winning one at Tregaron back in August and now given ample time to recover Isaac produces her here at Wolves so with normal improvement expected she must really be the answer to this tricky little contest. Of the remainder, Chinatown Babe won last week at Almely, GDs Hazzard was narrowly touched off at Corbie Wood recently and Lyons Saint Marys is fancied to run well by her trainer “big money” Mike O’Mahoney.

The twelfth race is more about the drivers than the horses and 8 of the best up-and-coming drivers in Britain are engaged here to showcase their talents. William Laidler Jnr is leading driver William “Rocker” Laidlers son and big things are expected from this teenager who drives MERRINGTON CHECKM8. Ring Of Fire has been a multiple winner in 2017 and the driver responsible for those wins was Joel Richards who has enoyed a stellar first season with a licence. Jordan Heath is one to keep an eye on and his Frisco Jenna cannot be written off in this contest whilst Ystwyth Valley and Red Emerald are lively outsiders for their drivers Michael Cooper and Richard Park respectively

Although only 3 runners go to post in race 13, what the race lacks in quantity it more than makes up for in quality as it’s a “Battle Of The Big Guns” heat. MIRACULOUS broke a track record at Tir Prince (shared with Evenwood Sunofagun) on his last start at Tir Prince and has amassed almost £60,000 in prizemoney in just 3 seasons. He is the automatic choice to win this. In the unlikely event that Miraculous fails to fire Ayr Majesty looks to be the one to best capitalise whilst Tarawood Messi needs to recapture his best form if he’s to trouble the judge here today.

Nine pacers graded class 5 to 7 line up in this cracking handicap which is guaranteed raise the roof of the grandstand at Dunstall Park. The partisan Scottish in attendance won’t hear of defeat for Dreamfair I Say whilst the Welsh will be the same for the popular Lakeside Paddy and On Top McArdle who is on a hat-trick at present. JACK SWAGGER is a multiple winner this season including a classic final at Aberystwyth and will be fancied by connections to emerge victorious today. Coalford Chief however is overdue a trip to the winners enclosure and the striking grey gelding will bring the house down if he can lower the colours of his eight rivals to score for owner Alf Swinbank.

Eight of the UKs best aged French bred trotters line up here in the finale the Malcolm Ali Memorial Cup where the ultra-consistent Titan De Prelong is likely to start favourite. He is due a win and today could be his day. T’es Trop Foot has hit top form with a win at Almeley last week and will be a popular choice amongst punters to follow up. The Irish traditionally bring some colour and atmosphere to any race meeting they attend and Finbarr Quill’s Ariane Des Tithais is making the long journey from County Kerry to compete so that could be a tip in itself. Veteran driver Ian Pimlott makes a welcome return to action at Wolverhampton and his mount THUNDER JIEL could spring a surprise at very rewarding odds. Pimlott is a past master at driving trotters and has been a regular winner at Dunstall Park down through the years. He can turn back time yet again and could be the answer to what is a very tricky finale

A charity auction will be staged during the interval between the 7th and 8th races and all proceeds from this auction will be donated to Leukaemia Research. Stallion services will be auctioned off for those seeking a potential bargain whilst frenzied bidding is also expected for the star prize, VIP lunch for 2 at the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Other items being auctioned include sets of harness, a commissioned portrait, Spa days, golf days, designer jewellery and lots more!

The first race on Sunday is at 1pm and with bookmakers in attendance, full bar, and entertainment being laid on after racing. There is limited availability remaining in the hospitality suites for those seeking lunch on the day and this can be arranged by phoning Claire 078 7510 3278.

Thomas Bennett