16:20 Wolverhampton

Monday 20 February 2017

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

Betway Sprint Handicap (Div 1)

Off time: 16:20 | Winning time: 1m 13.96s

(4)

Berlios⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: P Makin| T: T D Barron| OR: 72

7/2

Won a Southwell maiden last March before being put away until December, when he went well returning to handicap company. Sent off favourite last time as a result, but unable to see out his effort in the final furlong. Now dropped 1lb and returned to a trip over which he was placed in Ireland, he looks set to go well from a good draw.

Form: 63762-1

(11)

Ebony N Ivory^p⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Hollie Doyle⁽⁵⁾| T: A Watson| OR: 70

11/1

Won a 6f Salisbury maiden on good to soft last May for Roger Varian but has found a handicapping win beyond him in seven subsequent starts. 1lb below when making the frame here last month and could go well back here, though does have an inconsistent profile.

Form: 6-38475

(7)

Tadaawol^p1¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: P J McDonald| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 70

5/1

6f Newcastle maiden winner in November on just his third start, his first for this yard. Well beaten back there over 7f last time but couldn't rule him out from 2lb lower and now back over this distance.

Form: 453222

(5)

Colourbearer^t¹⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 9-5| J: B A Curtis| T: C Wallis| OR: 68

20/1

1lb higher today than when scoring over this trip at Chelmsford last month. Reasonably consistent performer, though recent efforts suggest that there will be one or two too good for him today.

Form: 236082

(8)

Head Space^t¹⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 9-4| J: Katherine Begley⁽⁷⁾| T: P D Evans| OR: 67

16/1

Won for the first time away from turf at Lingfield (6f) in November, from a mark 4lb lower than today's. Has gone close twice since then back at that venue, but percentage call looks to take him again this time.

Form: 943406

(3)

Inshaa²³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: T Eaves| T: M Herrington| OR: 66

8/1

0-14 career record but he has threatened to win a couple of times lately and wasn't far away from 1lb lower at Newcastle (1m) last time, albeit in a claimer. Worth a try back in trip for this prominent racer.

Form: 42-5393

(10)

Commanche^p¹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 9-2| J: J Fanning| T: C A Dwyer| OR: 65

14/1

Enjoyed a good autumn, winning 3-5 starts, all on the All Weather, though his two defeats in that period were here over C&D and also 7f. Nonetheless, he went well from today's mark at Newcastle last time and looks short-list material.

Form: 430451

(1)

Pushkin Museum⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: A Kirby| T: P Morris| OR: 65

2/1

Up a total of 11lb for winning back-to-back handicaps over C&D in the past three weeks. Well beaten fourth from the most recent of those wins has come out and made the frame since, so the form looks solid enough and he may be capable of completing the hat-trick. Usually held up.

Form: 113522

(2)

Divine Call^b³²

Age: 10| Weight: 8-11| J: F Norton| T: J M Bradley| OR: 60

20/1

Races from same mark as when scoring over C&D in November. Has found life trickier since then, but entitled to get closer again today.

Form: 35-7600

(6)

Doeadeer^v1⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-10| J: Connor Beasley| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 59

20/1

6f Chelmsford maiden winner 11 months ago, but handicapping has thus far proved fruitless, save for making the frame here last month from today's mark. Sported first-time blinkers that day and if the switch to a first-time visor has a similar effect then she has claims.

Form: 2-18800

Non-Runners

(9)

Red Stripes⁸

Weight: 9-4| Age: 5

T: L Williamson J: K Stott

Forecasts

Pushkin Museum (2/1), Berlios (7/2), Tadaawol (5/1), Inshaa (8/1), Red Stripes (10/1), Ebony N Ivory (11/1), Commanche (14/1), Head Space (16/1), Colourbearer (20/1), Doeadeer (20/1), Divine Call (20/1)

Pushkin Museum is enjoying a purple patch and looks sure to go well again under a pilot that rides this track as well as any, though COMMANCHE might have the right credentials for today. Although he was beaten here twice while winning elsewhere in the autumn, neither of those defeats suggested that he doesn't handle this surface or track and he remains on a very workable mark, especially over this trip. Berlios is very much respected and Doeadeer could also return to form. 1. Commanche 2. Pushkin Museum 3. Berlios