17:00 Wolverhampton

Monday 23 January 2017

All14:0014:3015:0015:3016:0016:3017:0017:30

Betway Middle Handicap

Off time: 17:00 | Winning time: 1m 59.69s

(3)

Melanna²³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-11| J: Callum Rodriguez⁽⁷⁾| T: R Ford| OR: 77

40/1

Record back-to-back wins in Ireland at the end of the summer but unplaced on last three starts and has a career high mark to contend with on debut for this yard.

Form: 407-089

(5)

Hard To Handel⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: P Aspell| T: C Ellam| OR: 73

100/1

Last two wins came in sellers/claimers and not many horses improve for leaving the David O'Meara stable. Barely beaten a rival home on last two starts and shaped as if amiss last time so he's hard to fancy off the back of that.

Form: 066303

(12)

Gossiping¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: S W Kelly| T: G & J Moore| OR: 73

6/4

Showed improved form for this yard last time when getting off the mark at the fifth attempt. Another wide draw to contend with now and 8lb higher in the weights so likely to need more but provided they go a good gallop he may be able to back that win up here.

Form: 151131

(10)

Beautiful Stranger^p⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-6| J: Connor Beasley| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 72

14/1

Winner of a C&D claimer and ran well in a seller finishing third last time but likely to need more returned to handicap company.

Form: 456616

(2)

Instill¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: Rob Hornby⁽³⁾| T: Miss M E Rowland| OR: 72

25/1

Recorded back-to-back wins in the summer of 2015 but not seen for well over a year and percentage call suggests he will need this.

Form: 113/755

(8)

Pivotman^b,t¹⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 9-6| J: Lewis Edmunds⁽⁷⁾| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 72

4/1

Two time C&D winner who is still on a feasible mark. Beaten favourite here last time but talented claimer booked who's well worth his 7lb claim and likely to make another bold bid from the front.

Form: 147010

(13)

All You^v³³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: D Tudhope| T: D O'Meara| OR: 71

33/1

Previous course winner but produced a poor comeback run when last seen finishing tailed off and has a wide draw to contend with now.

Form: 923085

(6)

Gone Viral^p1¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-5| J: Liam Keniry| T: George Baker| OR: 71

33/1

Yet to place in three starts on the AW and handicap mark looks on the high side for what he's achieved. Hard to fancy.

Form: 40342/0

(1)

Idol Deputy^p³³

Age: 11| Weight: 9-3| J: Racheal Kneller⁽⁵⁾| T: J Bennett| OR: 69

50/1

Eleven time course winner who has had a remarkable 54 starts at this course. Unplaced on last ten runs prior to a third here last time out and needs to build on that.

Form: 46-0381

(11)

Silver Alliance^p²⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 9-3| J: Shelley Birkett⁽³⁾| T: Miss J Feilden| OR: 69

100/1

Two-time C&D winner but not scored on the AW since 2013 and virtually tailed off on last three starts. Wide draw makes this tough.

Form: 09-9805

(4)

Fastnet Blast^b⁶⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: G Baker| T: E Walker| OR: 69

9/4

Still a maiden but been in flying form this winter and he may improve for the services of this jockey for the first time. Up 2lb for not winning but that looks fair enough and looks the most likely winner here.

Form: 455535

(7)

Roman De Brut¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: Charlie Bennett⁽⁵⁾| T: D M Loughnane| OR: 68

10/1

Ran fourth to Bollihope at Newcastle with previous winner Taopix just in front and went one better when placed over C&D last time. Useful apprentice takes off 5lb and he will need to be seen to full effect with the gelding on a career high mark.

Form: 255431

Non-Runners

(9)

Dakota City²¹

Weight: 9-6| Age: 6

T: Miss J Feilden J: A Kirby

Forecasts

Gossiping (6/4), Fastnet Blast (9/4), Pivotman (4/1), Dakota City (7/1), Roman De Brut (10/1), Beautiful Stranger (14/1), Instill (25/1), All You (33/1), Gone Viral (33/1), Melanna (40/1), Idol Deputy (50/1), Hard To Handel (100/1), Silver Alliance (100/1)

George Baker may make all the difference for FASTNET BLAST and he's taken to get his head in front for the first time. Gossiping was impressive last time out but needs to prove an 8lb rise isn't excessive. Dakota City is probably a little better over further but he's a consistent sort who placed here last time and a repeat of that may be good enough for the same again and Pivotman could be dangerous if allowed an uncontested lead 1. Fastnet Blast 2. Gossiping 3. Pivotman