19:45 Wolverhampton

Saturday 16 December 2017

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

Betway Live Casino Handicap

Off time: 19:45 | Winning time: 2m 45.36s

(6)

Excellent Puck¹²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-8| J: Callum Shepherd⁽³⁾| T: S Lycett| OR: 66| C| D

7/1

Not won since 2015 success here over 1m1½f. These days does most of his racing at 1m6f plus. Balance of form gives him a bit more to find particularly after layoff.

Form: 665532

(3)

Dolphin Village¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 9-6| J: B A Curtis| T: S A Harris| OR: 64| D

11/2

Eighth here last time gives him over 10L to make up with Balabour. 5lb better off with that rival at today's terms but that unlikely to see a reversal.

Form: 789868

(11)

Pour L'Amour¹³⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: S W Kelly| T: D M Loughnane| OR: 64| CD

14/1

Now just 1lb higher than she was when a dead-heat winner over C&D in May. Fifth over C&D when last seen off 1lb higher mark but given lengthy absence since she is unlikely to better that position here.

Form: 104335

(5)

Raashdy²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: L Morris| T: P W Hiatt| OR: 63| CD

2/1

AW four-timer saw him up 16lb in the handicap but showed new mark no terror when third here latest upped to 1m6f. Progressive nature means he again must be considered today.

Form: 811113

(2)

Gabrial The Terror²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-4| J: Liam Keniry| T: P Morris| OR: 62| CD

22/1

Five-time AW scorer but yet to show top form for new yard. 7½L behind Raashdy here latest over 1m6f and a 3lb pull unlikely to be enough for him to overturn that.

Form: 320537

(4)

Udogo^p³⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-4| J: M Dwyer| T: B G Powell| OR: 62| D

16/1

Poor strike rate overall (just 5-46) and recent form suggests he's rather on the downgrade Handicapper dropping him chunks now but he shows no signs of being able to take advantage of it.

Form: 865969

(8)

Inflexiball⁷⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: F Norton| T: J Mackie| OR: 62

16/1

In decent form at the end of the summer until ground turned heavy latest. Had a break since but this mark is workable although she must prove her stamina over 1m4f.

Form: 511336

(1)

Daily Trader³⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: Fran Berry| T: P D Evans| OR: 65

4/1

Won off this mark over 1m2f on AW back in March. Bit more to find after latest starts when fifth and fourth but has each-way possibilities.

Form: 325354

(10)

Never A Word^p,t¹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Tom Marquand| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 64

9/1

Ran on well here over 1m1½f two starts ago to finish fourth. Upped to 1m4f at Kempton latest however he appeared to not get home so that a big woory.

Form: 809478

(12)

La Goulue^v¹¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-3| J: Hollie Doyle| T: J Gallagher| OR: 45

66/1

Unplaced in six starts to date and today races from 6lb out of the handicap and from the widest draw. Evidence enough to rule her out.

Form: 889064

Non-Runners

(7)

Belabour¹⁴

Weight: 9-9| Age: 4

T: W M Brisbourne J: P J McDonald

(9)

Somnambulist⁵⁷

Weight: 9-3| Age: 3

T: K Dalgleish J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Raashdy (2/1), Belabour (3/1), Daily Trader (4/1), Dolphin Village (11/2), Excellent Puck (7/1), Never A Word (9/1), Somnambulist (10/1), Pour L'Amour (14/1), Inflexiball (16/1), Udogo (16/1), Gabrial The Terror (22/1), La Goulue (66/1)

Top-weight BELABOUR ran an excellent race in defeat latest over C&D. That is the best recent form on offer so he is the one they all have to beat today. Hugely progressive Raashdy is one of the main threats and we can't be sure yet that his progress has halted. Inflexiball would have a chance too if fully wound up after a break having enjoyed a decent spell herself in the summer.