20:15 Wolverhampton

Saturday 9 December 2017

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

Betway Casino Handicap

Off time: 20:16 | Winning time: 3m 1.84s

(5)

Watersmeet³⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-1| J: R Kingscote| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 106| BF| CD

9/4

C&D winning AW specialist who has been in good form recently, especially on a synthetic surface. Second at Chelmsford last time off this mark and possibly the one to beat based on that piece of form.

Form: 112602

(3)

Cohesion⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: A Kirby| T: D G Bridgwater| OR: 102| C

4/1

Has always given the impression that he stays this far but is yet to win beyond 1m4f; minor claims after running well in fourth at this course last time out.

Form: 314704

(7)

Brandon Castle^h,t⁴⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-8| J: A Mullen| T: A Watson| OR: 99| C| D

9/2

Well-beaten when tackling Group 1 class in the Prix Royal-Oak last time, but that seemed a highly optimistic target for a horse who had been winning AW handicaps. 9lb higher than his last win but this much more realistic.

Form: 121119

(1)

Haines²³⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-3| J: William Cox⁽⁵⁾| T: A M Balding| OR: 94| C| D

10/1

All seven career wins have come in AW staying contests, 4lb higher than when winning at this course two starts ago (over further). Outclassed in AW Marathon Final latest and returns now at a more realistic level.

Form: 684-169

(4)

Cosmelli^b¹¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: T Eaves| T: Miss Gay Kelleway| OR: 93

25/1

Listed winner when trained in Italy but only tame form since moving to Britain; big step up needed here to even place.

Form: 088787

(2)

Suegioo^p¹⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 8-10| J: S W Kelly| T: R A Fahey| OR: 87

12/1

2014 Chester Cup winner but hasn't won a race since; obviously easily good enough to win a race of this nature off this mark on his best form but has regressed the past couple of seasons.

Form: 705327

(6)

Velvet Revolution⁹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 8-9| J: Josephine Gordon| T: M Botti| OR: 85

3/1

Has come up short at this level in the past, but has run very well in easier races at Kempton the last twice and is worth another chance in a more challenging affair, though the drop in trip is a minor concern.

Form: 428012

Rule 4

Rule 4 applies to all bets - deduction 35p in the pound

Forecasts

Watersmeet (9/4), Velvet Revolution (3/1), Cohesion (4/1), Brandon Castle (9/2), Haines (10/1), Suegioo (12/1), Cosmelli (25/1)

It's highly probable that WATERSMEET may simply be a cut above the rest of these and he is taken to defy top-weight. With a fine record in AW staying contests he ran well in second at Chelmsford last time and though he has never won off a rating this high his performance last time suggests that it should still be a workable mark for him. He is taken to see off Brandon Castle, who should find this much easier than the Group 1 Prix Royal-Oak he finished down the field in last time out, and Velvet Revolution, who could yet make his mark at this level but perhaps needs a longer trip to produce his best form.