20:45 Wolverhampton

Saturday 2 December 2017

All17:4518:1518:4519:1519:4520:1520:4521:15

Betway Free Bet Club Handicap

Off time: 20:46 | Winning time: 2m 36.80s

(6)

Cohesion^p1²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: A Kirby| T: D G Bridgwater| OR: 104| CD

13/2

Lightly-raced and has one win from four on the AW, achieved over C&D in in March off rating of 101. Respectable run in November Handicap at Doncaster latest, back on AW with first-time cheekpieces on and demands plenty respect.

Form: 431470

(8)

Crowned Eagle⁵⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: Tom Marquand| T: M Botti| OR: 95

6/1

Ex-John Gosden inmate, made a winning seasonal return when successful over 1m2f at Windsor (good) in May and has twice gone well at Newmarket on turf off this rating since being gelded this summer. Makes AW debut in first start for new handler.

Form: 1-10734

(9)

Al Hamdany³¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: K Shoemark| T: M Botti| OR: 93| D

3/1

Improved effort to land Kempton contest over his trip recently, being suited by emphasis on fast finish. First outing on Tapeta.

Form: 075251

(5)

Mixboy³²

Age: 7| Weight: 8-11| J: J Fanning| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 89| D

5/1

Decent hurdler and is two from three on the Flat since switching, latest landed a Class 4 Catterick handicap by 6L in October. Rated 11lb higher now and first taste of AW but capable of having a say on recent form.

Form: 151

(2)

Castlelyons^h²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 8-11| J: R Kingscote| T: R Stephens| OR: 89| D

7/2

Did well to land Kempton contest over this trip 24 days ago from unpromising position. Still lightly-raced (eight starts, four on AW) and cannot rule out further progress with 4lb hike to consider.

Form: 45/4801

(1)

Afonso De Sousa⁶⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 8-9| J: Ryan Tate| T: M Appleby| OR: 87| D

25/1

Has become inconsistent, with just one win in his last 25 starts and out of form in three starts this summer/autumn. Beaten more than 11L over C&D in September and facing stern exam again.

Form: 314857

(7)

Canberra Cliffs¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-8| J: Fran Berry| T: D E Cantillon| OR: 90

10/1

Decent strike rate (4-15) on turf but yet to open account in five attempts on AW. Well beaten over 1m2f (AW) at Lingfield recently and likely to find plenty of these too strong on form.

Form: 611327

(4)

Nonios^h⁴⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 8-7| J: K T O'Neill| T: D M Simcock| OR: 84| C

10/1

Good winner at this track a year ago over 1m1½f from a mark of 77. Two efforts on turf this autumn have been poor enough and facing stiff task on these terms returned to Tapeta.

Form: 210-397

(3)

Fair Power⁵⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-3| J: J Quinn| T: S Kirk| OR: 82

16/1

N/R

Form: 511039

Forecasts

Al Hamdany (3/1), Castlelyons (7/2), Mixboy (5/1), Crowned Eagle (6/1), Cohesion (13/2), Canberra Cliffs (10/1), Nonios (10/1), Fair Power (16/1), Afonso De Sousa (25/1)

It might be worth chancing MIXBOY despite his lack of experience on the AW, he's two from there so far on the Flat and reached a rating of 140 over jumps. The manner of his most recent Catterick success suggests even an 11lb hike may not ground his ambitions. Crowned Eagle is in new hands but ran well enough at Newmarket since being gelded to leave the impression he could go well while Cohesion and Castlelyons are also set to be factors.