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Today on Sky Sports Racing: Unbeaten William Haggas star Yonafis seeks hat-trick at Wolverhampton

Yonafis won both starts as a two-year-old and bids for hat-trick on reappearance at Wolverhampton on Tuesday (3.20); Commonwealth Cup entry Archiano features in At The Races App Expert Tips Novice Stakes (2.20); watch Wolverhampton, Brighton and Hexham live on Sky Sports Racing

William Haggas
Image: William Haggas sends Yonafis to Wolverhampton in search of a third consecutive victory

An unbeaten William Haggas-trained colt and a former Willie Mullins gelding look the headline acts on an intriguing Tuesday of action, live on Sky Sports Racing.

Archiano aims to prove Ascot potential

Yonafis will bid to make it three wins from as many starts in the Sky Sports Racing Sky 415 Handicap (3.20) at Wolverhampton in the famous Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum colours.

Stevie Donohoe will take the ride on the 88-rated three-year-old, who will bid to remain unbeaten and possibly set up a tilt at a handicap at Royal Ascot next month.

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Royal Ascot live on Sky Sports Racing

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Notable rivals for him include 2021 Chesham Stakes fourth Sweeping, with Hollie Doyle taking the ride on the Archie Watson-trained horse, who failed to fire on seasonal reappearance at Pontefract.

Earlier on the card, Watson throws two darts at the At The Races App Expert Tips Novice Stakes (2.20), with Commonwealth Cup-entered debut winner Archiano lining up alongside Wiseacre, who was third on debut at the same track.

Course specialists Dawn View, Junoesque back at Brighton

Junoesque wins at Brighton in July last year
Image: Junoesque wins at Brighton in July last year

At Brighton, the feature comes at 2.30, the Go Racing With Vickers.Bet Handicap, where Stuart Williams bids to land the Class 4 handicap with Dawn View, who is having her ninth course start and chases a fourth win at the track.

Later on the card, recent winners Junoesque and Mitigated Rish clash in the Join Vickers.Bet Free Bet Club Handicap (4.00) but the former, trained by John Gallagher, could be one to watch as she goes in search of a remarkable eighth course win.

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The evening action comes from Hexham, with Drumconnor Lad and For Three facing off again in the Hexham Racecourse Static Caravan Sites Available Handicap Hurdle (7:33), with the latter having got the better of his opponent last time out.

Former Willie Mullins-trained Antey also lines up, now in the hands of Lucinda Russell.

Tuesday racecards I Latest Sky Bet odds

Watch the action from Wolverhampton, Brighton and Hexham live on Sky Sports Racing (Sky 415 | Virgin 535) on Tuesday May 17.

Wolverhampton tips

At The Races' Hugh Taylor...

2.50 Wolverhampton - G'daay

G'daay seems to have improved for the fitting of cheekpieces, and with the return to seven furlongs likely to suit back on the all-weather, he looks to have a strong chance at Wolverhampton this afternoon (2.50).

He took a step forward when first fitted with cheekpieces at Lingfield over six furlongs last November when chasing home the progressive Sovereign Slipper, who completed a hat-trick in good style on his only subsequent start.

On his next start at Chelmsford over seven furlongs plenty went wrong for him, as he raced very keenly, found plenty of trouble in running, and then hung left under pressure (as he has done on several occasions). However, he still found plenty in the closing stages to lead near the finish.

He's only a pound higher here on his return to the all-weather and, having presumably needed the run on his reappearance at Doncaster (when the headgear was omitted), returned to form when a good fifth of 19 dropped to six furlongs in a Class 4 event at Ascot.

There should be plenty of pace on here and he has a strong jockey booking in James Doyle, both of which should help him significantly, and he might be able to take advantage of what looks a favourable mark on this surface.

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3.20 Wolverhampton - Aswan

The unbeaten Yonafis is a short-priced favourite for the extended on mile Class 3 handicap at Wolverhampton today (3.20), but Aswan appeals as the type to take well to the all-weather and looks a value alternative.

He travelled smoothly when winning a competitive nursery at the Glorious Goodwood meeting last July, kicking a couple of lengths clear a furlong out before being closed down near the finish.

He finished only ninth in the seven furlong nursery at the Ebor meeting but shaped much better than the bare form, seeming at a big disadvantage in racing wide and then towards the centre/stands side in a race where the finish was dominated by horses that raced round the inner and challenged towards the far side in the straight.

Most of the horses that challenged centre to stands side in that race subsequently left the bare form well behind, so that almost certainly was a much better effort from Aswan than the form might suggest.

The progeny of his sire Caravaggio have a better strike rate on the all-weather than turf and the strong-travelling Aswan appeals as the type to take well to an artificial surface. Fitted with a first-time hood today, if he takes to the headgear, he could take another step forward.

4.20 Wolverhampton - Mutara

Mutara shaped very well in the circumstances when fourth over the extended one-mile-and-one-furlong trip at Wolverhampton two outings ago and can reverse the form with Captain Kane in the closing one-mile-and-four-furlong handicap (Wolverhampton 4.20).

He raced three wide all the way round on that occasion and in the circumstances did well to finish fourth - the fact that he faded in the final furlong surely a consequence of the trip he'd encountered rather than an indication of lack of stamina.

Upped to the extended one-mile-and-three-furlong trip at Windsor last time, he raced in mid-division in a race run at a very steady pace, and the two frontrunners, who may well have been the best horses at the weights anyway, had the race between them in the closing stages.

Mutara plugged on well to finish third, however, and although he isn't bred for this sort of trip, he looks as if it might suit him. He's 8lb better off with Captain Kane this time and should have a better trip from stall 3, so a big run looks on the cards.

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