Richard Birch's play of the day at Wolverhampton

Cluedo

7.30 Wolverhampton

Cluedo, a course-and-distance winner at around this time last year, looks the solution to the 5f handicap (7.30) at Wolverhampton.

In common with the majority of Henry Candy's string, the Kodiac filly hasn't really fired for much of this year, but recent signs have been more encouraging.

The dual winner shaped well on her return from wind surgery when runner-up to all-the-way winner Kiss And Run at Goodwood last month.

Heavily backed from 8-1 to 16-5 favourite, she ran on strongly inside the final furlong but couldn't peg back her rival.

Cluedo needs fast ground on turf to show her best and there's a possibility underfoot conditions that evening may have been slower than ideal.

Before that highly creditable run, Cluedo had been dropped 4lb by the handicapper and given a real chance.

She was entered in several sprint handicaps during St Leger week and Candy elected to run her at Doncaster, probably to keep the filly away from soft ground at tracks like Sandown and Bath.

There was little sign of market confidence behind her on Town Moor and, although by no means disgraced, she could keep on only at one pace in the closing stages to finish ninth behind joint-favourite Fantasy Master.

Cluedo has been dropped another 1lb for that Doncaster defeat and competes off a mark just 2lb higher than when successful at Wolverhampton a year ago.

From a family who enjoy racing on sand, she overcame a slow start and poor position at the top of the straight on that occasion by unleashing an impressive turn of foot to beat Phoenix Beach by a length and a half.

She's well drawn in stall three this time and this is a significant drop in class from Doncaster. On a mark of 70, she fits in beautifully at the top of this 0-70.

Everything looks firmly in place for a return to winning ways and I'll be disappointed if she doesn't score.