16:20 Wolverhampton
Thursday 30 March 2017
All14:1014:4015:1015:4516:2016:5517:25
sunbets.co.uk Handicap
- 4YO plus  |  Class 6  |  1m 141y  |  Standard  |  11 Runners  |  Allweather  |   Weighed In
- Off time: 16:22Â Â |Â Â Winning time: 1m 49.49s
Cloth number
Odds
Horse A-Z
Show odds
Sprang a mild surprise when winning by half a length at Kempton last week, and despite the narrow margin of victory he has a 6lb penalty to deal with. Showed good form over C&D on the start before and it's possible the switch to all-weather is suddenly bringing out the best in him.
C&D winner who has recently had most of his best form over the more specialist 7f trip, having not won over further for almost two years. Well beaten when weakening through the final furlong in what was probably an easier contest than this over C&D last time and makes limited appeal down only 2lb.
Narrow winner at Kempton earlier in the month and goes up 2lb for that effort. Has a good chance on that evidence but finished sixth off 1lb higher in a very similar race to this over C&D back in November. Still one for the shortlist, though.
Hasn't once since December 2015 and has only shown modest form of late, including when beaten 11L over slightly further at Chelmsford when last seen last month. Sliding down the handicap, though, and has place claims on that basis.
1/28 in her career with that one win coming back in September 2015 at Kempton over much shorter. She has run well enough over this trip for all hope not to be lost, however, especially given she's now on a career low mark, but she must overcome a wide draw.
Still seeking her first win since May 2014 and has seemed largely regressive in that time. On the odd occasion that she has gone close since then, it has always been over shorter.
Ran well in defeat behind Monologue at Kempton last week, and it's very possible this course winner could reverse form given the narrow margin there and the fact his re-opposing rival carries a penalty.
Won a Kempton maiden and ran some over very encouraging races when with Richard Hannon and then John Butler back in 2013 and 2014, but has not looked anything like the same force since moving to her current handler, and almost all her recent form has been some way off the required standard to get competitive here.
Fair fourth over a furlong further here earlier in the month at a big price and remains on the same mark for this. Looks to still be improving on that evidence and there should be more to come from a potentially helpful draw.
22 race maiden who makes his British debut having done much of his racing at Dundalk, including putting up a good performance when only beaten narrowly over a similar trip to this two starts ago. British handicapper rates him slightly higher (which isn't particularly unusual), and he is in an intriguing contender here.
0/17 in his career but when closest to getting off the mark at this course, albeit over shorter. Has been well held in his recent races and there looks to be no reason to expect anything else here.
Forecasts
Monologue (5/2), Society Ranger (4/1), Appease (7/1), Rafaaf (15/2), Secret Lightning (8/1), Canford Belle (11/1), The Greedy Boy (11/1), The Dukkerer (14/1), Poor Duke (50/1), Adiator (50/1), Bold Grove (50/1)
A lot of how this race depends on if Secret Lightning can come on for her recent win at Kempton, where she kept on well over very slightly shorter. If she can improve for that run, she should be hard to beat, but given the potential for a slightly more competitive race, preference is for RAFAAF. He ran an eye-catching race when third behind today's top weight last time out, and is unpenalised for that performance, whereas his reopposing rival carries a penalty. Given we know he handles not only the surface but this specific course, he could take some beating. The slightly speculative suggestion to complete the tricast is the interesting Society Ranger, making his first appearance in Britain today.
- Rafaaf
- Secret Lightning
- Society Ranger
Prize Money
1st: £2,588.002nd: £770.003rd: £385.004th: £192.00
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