Daily Dial #57: Two Bets at Wolverhampton

First up, Pickersgill was a selection back in January when making her stable debut for Iain Jardine following her move over the Irish Sea from Sheila Lavery. Pickersgill was one of just three winners from 120+ runners for Lavery in 2025, which suggests she was above average, and her form in Ireland suggests she ran to an Irish mark of 75 at a bare minimum.

She goes here in a 0–65 off 62, and her run back in January when 4th of 11, beaten 3 lengths off 65, suggested she was more than capable. She pulled hard in the early stages that day and was somewhat penned in on the turn under Midge Mullen. When the gap came, the bird had flown, but she finished with plenty of credit.

She has been dropped 3lbs since, a move I can’t understand, but it’s an ease I think they’ll be keen to capitalise on, and the booking of Lewis Edmunds today suggests a positive ride is expected.

Next up is Saxon Grace on stable debut for Daragh Bourke and is another who has made the move over the Irish Sea, having moved to Bourke’s Lockerbie-based stable from Co Meath-based Claire O’Connell.

With O’Connell’s record across Flat/AW reading just 4/131, it is fair to say improvement could be expected in more capable hands, and Bourke has a proven track record in his short training career of finding a fast uptick in new recruits.

Of the 17 he has sent out on their first start for him having come from elsewhere in training, he has notched 4 winners (23.5%) and 7 (41%) in the frame. Also worth noting the jockey booking, as a Bourke runner with Jason Hart saddled up for the first time reads 211178180311 — that’s six winners from twelve, and only one of those was sent off the favourite.