15:20 Wolverhampton
Monday 13 February 2017
All14:2014:5015:2015:5016:2016:5017:2017:50
Betway Middle Handicap
- 4YO plus | Class 4 | 1m 1f 103y | Standard | 8 Runners | Allweather | Weighed In
- Off time: 15:20 | Winning time: 1m 59.86s
Cloth number
Odds
Horse A-Z
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Last three wins have all been in claimers, including over C&D. Yard going well, but this inmate didn't really show enough when last in a handicap from 1lb higher.
1lb lower than his sole handicap success, which was at Lingfield in May. Goes well on this surface too, however, and as a consistent sort he is very likely to give punters a good run for their money once again.
Has a maiden win to his name at this venue and added two Beverley handicaps at up to 1m2f to his CV last summer, the latter from a mark of 76. Continued to run well in defeat at marks up to today's and comes here after a six-month break for a top yard among the winners. Can go well fresh, though yet to win first time after a break.
Landed a Chelmsford handicap (1m2f) from a mark of 71 in July and went close to adding to that over C&D last time. 3lb rise makes this tougher, but would be no great surprise if he proved good enough.
Both wins have been over 1m, though bred to get this trip and perhaps it was the handicapper rather than the distance that beat him when tried over it for the first time at Chelmsford last month. Bit to prove here either way.
Landed back-to-back Chelmsford wins in January last year, the latter off 76, but has steadily gone off the boil since. Would like to see signs of a return to form before recommending and perhaps a first-time tongue strap may assist.
Has won eight times from 1m up to 1m4f, three of them over C&D and perhaps this is his optimum. 6lb higher than the most recent of those successes and although he was comfortably beaten at Chelmsford last time, he should appreciate the return to this venue and can still be very competitive from this mark.
Has four C&D wins plus another here over 1m4f to his name, so very much respected in that regard, especially as the last of those (almost a year ago) was from an 8lb higher mark. Yard searching for a winner at present and this might be the one to get it back on track.
Forecasts
Dutch Uncle (3/1), House Of Commons (4/1), Pivotman (5/1), Marshgate Lane (6/1), Final (13/2), Toga Tiger (15/2), Spes Nostra (11/1), Freud (50/1)
Toga Tiger is clearly in good form at present and should be heavily involved despite another 3lb rise, though SPES NOSTRA could be the one to side with. Admittedly, Iain Jardine's runners have not been winning much of late, though plenty have run to form and this course specialist has his best chance at the weights for some time. Pivotman will appreciate the return to this venue and can put up a better showing than last time out, and along with Dutch Uncle and Final he could be in the shake-up.
1. Spes Nostra
2. Toga Tiger
3. Dutch Uncle
Prize Money
1st: £4,690.002nd: £1,396.003rd: £697.004th: £349.00
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