Like A Prayer has been shaping far better than his form figures suggesst and at 11/1 rates the standout bet at Wolverhampton this evening in the 1m 1f contest (8.00) now partnered by Cam Hardie for the first time.
Ralph Beckett’s charge finsihed a good fifth to the now 102-rated Glorious Empire over 6f at Kempton last November, before showing imrpoved form when upped in trip.
He opened his account in good style over a mile at Kempton off a mark of 59, travelling supremely well throughout and easily beating Armelle by 2 1/4 lengths.
The three-year-old then followed up in a mile contest at Lingfield off 65, where he won going away by 1/2 a length and was value for much more than the winning margin.
Like A Prayer was then off the track for 100 days, and shaped as if needing the run on seasonal reappearance when a tenderly handled sixth of eight at Newmarket.
He was the unsuited by a slow early gallop when fifth at Windsor, and given a a poor ride on his penultimate start at Kempton when held-up well off the pace and never put into the race at any stage before staying on late to finish fifth of 11 to Matravers.
Like A Prayer was then beaten just 2 lengths when fifth of 10 to Holiday Magic over a mile at Kempton last time out, where after racing keenly and getting outpaced two from home he kept without being umable to quicken.
That run suggested he was coming to the boil nicely, and the extra furlong he tackles today may well suit judged on that effort.
The handicapper has also since dropped himn 1lb to 67, and that is just 2lb higher than when last successful.
Connections have also booked crack appretice Cam Hardie to do the steering, and taking his 3lb claim into account Like A Prayer is effectively 1lb lower than when running out at emphatic winner at Lingfield back in February and weighted to take all the beating.
Daily Sport recommended bet: 2pts each-way Like A Prayer (11/1 bet365, BetVictor – BOG)