Raceday LIVE – Aspire To Glory
Wolverhampton,
Sat 08 Feb 2025 19:45
Related horse(s):
Aspire To Glory
Aspire To Glory heads to Wolverhampton for his third start of the year in Division II of the Class 6 Classified Stakes (19:45) over 1m½f.
Read our Raceday LIVE Preview below and join us ahead of the race for all the build-up and live updates from the track with the team and Aspire To Glory's lucky owners for the day across our social channels on X (@coral) and Instagram (@coralofficial).
Raceday LIVE Preview
Aspire To Glory makes the trip to Wolverhampton tonight as he aims for his third career victory in what will be his 26th start under rules.
Although both of his wins to date have been over the seven furlong trip, he's no stranger to running over a mile and has ridden over tonight's course and distance, finishing just under five lengths back in 7th position in September of last year. He was drawn wide out in stall 11 that day, and he began the race in the rear, as he wasn't able to get across for position in the early going, due to having so many horses inside of him from the offset. Despite that, he was able to give a good account of himself and stuck to his task well to pick up a couple of positions towards the latter part of the race.
He didn't have any luck with his draw last time out either, being put in stall one on Newcastle's straight mile course on the all-weather. This meant that he had open space to one side of him, which can be off-putting for horses and might not encourage them as much as being in the middle of the bunch on a straight course. Again, he was able to perform well for much of the race, and took up a prominent position with his rivals on that side of the track, before beginning to fade in the closing stages of the race.
WATCH: Rowan Scott reflects on Aspire To Glory's performance on the straight mile at Newcastle
Although Aspire To Glory has been given stall one again this afternoon, it's far more advantageous this time around due to the first bend coming up very quickly after the start. He should be able to get into position on the rail early, providing he breaks well, and take the shortest route around Dunstall Park as a result.
The ground is set to be Standard at Wolverhampton tonight, and as previously mentioned the stalls will be on the inside of the track, meaning Aspire To Glory will be tight to the rail from the off. Kieran O'Neill resumes his partnership with our Alice Haynes-trained gelding this evening, having taken the reins on him six times previously, including his first run of this year, where he finished second, and his last run at Wolverhampton on Boxing Day.
WATCH: Alice Haynes previews Aspire To Glory's race at Wolverhampton
Chris Dixon, Racing TV Analyst, provides an exclusive preview of today's 13:46 at Newcastle
After being handed a tricky stall on the flank at Newcastle last time, Aspire To Glory has fared much better on the draw front at Wolverhampton on Saturday with an advantageous berth in stall 1. Although he’s not really a horse to make a load of excuses for, I’d tend to lean towards the view that his failure to build on a good run at Southwell was at least in part to seeing a lot of daylight on the outside of the pack at Newcastle last time as it’s not really a position you see too many winners taking up, and he could bounce back to form here. If he does he’s capable of going close in what looks a fairly weak race and his chance will likely to enhanced if sticking to the prominent racing tactics that served him well at Southwell.
There’s little pace forecast in this so a prominent pitch is a likely advantage and if able to get a spot close up, perhaps just in behind the more likely pace-setters Dash Power and potentially Van Zant, I think he could go close. Dash Power is definitely the horse to beat following his easy 5 length win over course and distance last time while Van Zane is inconsistent but capable of getting involved if on a going day. Of the others the class dropper Vecchio would probably be feared most as he contests a lower grade of race than he’s ever been in before and has had a short 40 day break. He has several pieces of form that would be good enough to take this but can miss the break and will probably need to start a bit sharper than he has been of late.
Trainer and Jockey Statistics
Alice Haynes has a solid record on the all-weather at Wolverhampton, posting 28 winners from 228 runners at Dunstall Park, with a further 49 finishing in the first three home. Two of those place finishes have come from eight runners since the start of 2025, however she's yet to score her first victory at the track this year.
Kieran O'Neill has had one winner so far in February, in his ten rides so far this month and that was a 66/1 winner at Southwell for trainer Barry Brennan. He had three rides at Lingfield yesterday too, finishing third onboard all three horses. Kieran has a solid record when riding for Alice Haynes, winning 101 times for the Newmarket based trainer, and finishing in the top three a further 231 times. Kieran also has a good record on the all-weather at Wolverhampton having won 100 times from just over 1000 rides there in his career.
Aspire To Glory's Owners for the Day
As winners of the recent Owner for the Day competition, 10 lucky Coral Racing Club members have been given the chance to enjoy an exclusive owners experience for Aspire To Glory's run at Wolverhampton this evening.
Each winner, along with a guest of their choosing, will receive free entry to Wolverhampton Racecourse, including exclusive access to Owners & Trainers areas. They'll have the opportunity to meet Aspire To Glory and the Alice Haynes team, plus get to head into the parade ring before the race begins to be amongst all the other owners, trainers and jockeys. And last but by no means least, each winner will get to take home an equal 10% split of any prize money won by Aspire To Glory.
Prize Money
Today's Class 6 contest is worth £6,000 in total, with the winner set to scoop £3,140 for their lucky owners.
2nd: £1,473 | 3rd: £736 | 4th: £368 | 5th: £183
WOLVERHAMPTON 19:45 – LATEST ODDS
We hope you enjoyed reading today's Raceday LIVE Preview. Don't forget to tune in just before 19:45 to watch Aspire To Glory's next run for the club live on the Coral Sports app.
Read our Raceday LIVE Preview below and join us ahead of the race for all the build-up and live updates from the track with the team and Aspire To Glory's lucky owners for the day across our social channels on X (@coral) and Instagram (@coralofficial).
Raceday LIVE Preview
Aspire To Glory makes the trip to Wolverhampton tonight as he aims for his third career victory in what will be his 26th start under rules.
Although both of his wins to date have been over the seven furlong trip, he's no stranger to running over a mile and has ridden over tonight's course and distance, finishing just under five lengths back in 7th position in September of last year. He was drawn wide out in stall 11 that day, and he began the race in the rear, as he wasn't able to get across for position in the early going, due to having so many horses inside of him from the offset. Despite that, he was able to give a good account of himself and stuck to his task well to pick up a couple of positions towards the latter part of the race.
He didn't have any luck with his draw last time out either, being put in stall one on Newcastle's straight mile course on the all-weather. This meant that he had open space to one side of him, which can be off-putting for horses and might not encourage them as much as being in the middle of the bunch on a straight course. Again, he was able to perform well for much of the race, and took up a prominent position with his rivals on that side of the track, before beginning to fade in the closing stages of the race.
WATCH: Rowan Scott reflects on Aspire To Glory's performance on the straight mile at Newcastle
The ground is set to be Standard at Wolverhampton tonight, and as previously mentioned the stalls will be on the inside of the track, meaning Aspire To Glory will be tight to the rail from the off. Kieran O'Neill resumes his partnership with our Alice Haynes-trained gelding this evening, having taken the reins on him six times previously, including his first run of this year, where he finished second, and his last run at Wolverhampton on Boxing Day.
WATCH: Alice Haynes previews Aspire To Glory's race at Wolverhampton
Chris Dixon, Racing TV Analyst, provides an exclusive preview of today's 13:46 at Newcastle
After being handed a tricky stall on the flank at Newcastle last time, Aspire To Glory has fared much better on the draw front at Wolverhampton on Saturday with an advantageous berth in stall 1. Although he’s not really a horse to make a load of excuses for, I’d tend to lean towards the view that his failure to build on a good run at Southwell was at least in part to seeing a lot of daylight on the outside of the pack at Newcastle last time as it’s not really a position you see too many winners taking up, and he could bounce back to form here. If he does he’s capable of going close in what looks a fairly weak race and his chance will likely to enhanced if sticking to the prominent racing tactics that served him well at Southwell.
There’s little pace forecast in this so a prominent pitch is a likely advantage and if able to get a spot close up, perhaps just in behind the more likely pace-setters Dash Power and potentially Van Zant, I think he could go close. Dash Power is definitely the horse to beat following his easy 5 length win over course and distance last time while Van Zane is inconsistent but capable of getting involved if on a going day. Of the others the class dropper Vecchio would probably be feared most as he contests a lower grade of race than he’s ever been in before and has had a short 40 day break. He has several pieces of form that would be good enough to take this but can miss the break and will probably need to start a bit sharper than he has been of late.
Trainer and Jockey Statistics
Alice Haynes has a solid record on the all-weather at Wolverhampton, posting 28 winners from 228 runners at Dunstall Park, with a further 49 finishing in the first three home. Two of those place finishes have come from eight runners since the start of 2025, however she's yet to score her first victory at the track this year.
Kieran O'Neill has had one winner so far in February, in his ten rides so far this month and that was a 66/1 winner at Southwell for trainer Barry Brennan. He had three rides at Lingfield yesterday too, finishing third onboard all three horses. Kieran has a solid record when riding for Alice Haynes, winning 101 times for the Newmarket based trainer, and finishing in the top three a further 231 times. Kieran also has a good record on the all-weather at Wolverhampton having won 100 times from just over 1000 rides there in his career.
Aspire To Glory's Owners for the Day
As winners of the recent Owner for the Day competition, 10 lucky Coral Racing Club members have been given the chance to enjoy an exclusive owners experience for Aspire To Glory's run at Wolverhampton this evening.
Each winner, along with a guest of their choosing, will receive free entry to Wolverhampton Racecourse, including exclusive access to Owners & Trainers areas. They'll have the opportunity to meet Aspire To Glory and the Alice Haynes team, plus get to head into the parade ring before the race begins to be amongst all the other owners, trainers and jockeys. And last but by no means least, each winner will get to take home an equal 10% split of any prize money won by Aspire To Glory.
Prize Money
Today's Class 6 contest is worth £6,000 in total, with the winner set to scoop £3,140 for their lucky owners.
2nd: £1,473 | 3rd: £736 | 4th: £368 | 5th: £183
WOLVERHAMPTON 19:45 – LATEST ODDS
We hope you enjoyed reading today's Raceday LIVE Preview. Don't forget to tune in just before 19:45 to watch Aspire To Glory's next run for the club live on the Coral Sports app.
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