15:10 Wolverhampton

Monday 20 February 2017

All14:1014:4015:1015:4516:2016:5517:2517:55

Betway Middle Handicap

Off time: 15:10 | Winning time: 2m 0.99s

(3)

Muqarred^p⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-8| J: J Garritty| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 66

10/1

Rated 79 after winning a handicap at Leicester almost two years ago and has gone close a couple of times since from marks in the 70s, though would have liked to have seen a bit more from his last two starts before getting involved here. This is his first run at this circuit.

Form: 761420

(10)

Kicking The Can²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: D Nolan| T: D Thompson| OR: 65

11/1

Landed a Newcastle maiden in over 1m2f in November and went very well over 1m back there last time from a mark just 1lb below today's. Wide draw to overcome but otherwise has sound claims.

Form: 613-523

(13)

Argaki³⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 9-6| J: Connor Beasley| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 64

18/1

Won a handicap over the extended mile here a couple of years ago from a mark of 63 so comes into this 1lb higher. Recent form not particularly inspiring, but you don't have to go back far on his CV to see why he may still be capable of a bold showing today.

Form: 026096

(5)

King Oswald⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: A Kirby| T: J W Unett| OR: 64

5/2

6lb higher today than when landing a handicap over the extended 1m here in August. Went close over C&D last time and a slightly better draw than that today, so cannot be ruled out despite being back up 3lb.

Form: 255663

(1)

Tenerezza¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: J Fanning| T: I Jardine| OR: 63

7/1

Has run with some credit in all four handicaps that he has contested to date, including the first of those when a beaten favourite over C&D. Would have to be under consideration for punters again.

Form: 5-42138

(12)

Shamlan^p,t¹²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: Noel Garbutt⁽³⁾| T: J Farrelly| OR: 63

100/1

5lb lower today than when winning here over 7f last April, though recent efforts have not suggested that he has been crying out for this step back up in trip.

Form: 0800-00

(9)

Leonard Thomas^p⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 9-5| J: George Downing| T: A W Carroll| OR: 63

14/1

Claimed a Newcastle handicap over 1m from a 4lb lower mark in December and went close back there next time. Not sure he has ever really revealed his hand over this sort of trip, so you could still argue that he is unexposed over it and a market check is strongly advised with his yard having had a couple of recent winners.

Form: 1-37376

(6)

Dunquin⁴⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: L Morris| T: J Mackie| OR: 62

5/1

Cost 12,000 GNS as a three-year-old and remains a maiden after 14 starts. Made the frame at Beverley in handicap company from a 9lb higher mark and not disgraced under today's pilot here over C&D two starts ago. Yard had a recent winner and this inmate is not discounted.

Form: 8707-01

(4)

Athassel²

Age: 8| Weight: 9-2| J: S Donohoe| T: P D Evans| OR: 60

11/2

Won over 6f here in December and added two more successes at the track over 7f last month. Has continued to go well in defeat including over a furlong shorter last time, for which he has gone up a further 2lb. First attempt at this sort of trip for some time and looks worth another go.

Form: 136641

(11)

John Caesar^t¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: Rowan Scott⁽⁵⁾| T: Rebecca Bastiman| OR: 60

25/1

Races from same mark as when scoring here last April (extended 1m) and also when a close fourth here last time. Sees out 1m2f and should be very competitive if overcoming his draw.

Form: 39344-4

(2)

Hannington^t,v1¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: Alistair Rawlinson⁽³⁾| T: M Appleby| OR: 58

16/1

Won on Lingfield's Polytrack and has tended to do best on a sound or fast surface on turf. Once rated 81, but been running way below that level and on the slide now for a year. Has won in headgear, so it may be that he can improve on recent efforts for the application of a visor, but others look better placed to be winning this time.

Form: 861722

Non-Runners

(8)

Mary Le Bow³⁷

Weight: 9-4| Age: 6

T: V R A Dartnall J: Callum Shepherd

(7)

Powered⁶

Weight: 8-9| Age: 4

T: P D Evans J: Non Runner

Forecasts

King Oswald (5/2), Dunquin (5/1), Athassel (11/2), Tenerezza (7/1), Muqarred (10/1), Mary Le Bow (10/1), Kicking The Can (11/1), Leonard Thomas (14/1), Hannington (16/1), Argaki (18/1), Powered (20/1), John Caesar (25/1), Shamlan (100/1)

A very difficult race for punters as you can make cases for plenty of them and the suggestion is KING OSWALD, who has a better draw than when going close here last time and might be up to the task. Kicking The Can is entitled to be in the shake-up, while Tenerezza and Dunquin are short-listed and a market check is strongly advised. 1. King Oswald 2. Kicking The Can 3. Tenerezza