20:15 Wolverhampton

Friday 22 December 2017

All17:4518:1518:4519:1519:4520:1520:45

Betway Casino Handicap

Off time: 20:15 | Winning time: 2m 38.68s

(1)

Falcon's Fire^b⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Rowan Scott⁽³⁾| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 60| D

7/1

Proven on Tapeta, his sole All Weather win being over a similar trip at Newcastle last year. Not been nearly as effective when tried here before, but if you can see past that, he is on a competitive mark and could go well.

Form: 957360

(3)

Mr Frankie⁵⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-6| J: Liam Keniry| T: A Wintle| OR: 59| C

10/1

Sole win from 26 attempts was in a similar race here over 1m1½f for Richard Phillips last year. Twice went close without winning for John Spearing this year, including over C&D from this mark, so is in calculations on debut for this stable.

Form: 042729

(5)

Diana Lady^h,t¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: E J Walsh⁽³⁾| T: L McJannet| OR: 59

66/1

Only win was a walkover on debut in France in 2015 and has now dropped 36lb for six hefty defeats in England, five of those on All Weather surfaces, though none on Tapeta. Hard to fancy despite latest 3lb drop.

Form: 097075

(7)

Tis Wonderful²³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: William Cox⁽⁵⁾| T: C J Gray| OR: 60

7/1

Put up one of his better efforts when beaten just under 2L at Kempton (1m4f) when stepped up in trip last time, belying odds of 66-1 to claim fourth. Same mark today so if he can reproduce or better than on this surface he is not ruled out.

Form: 08-4474

(11)

Dream Magic³⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: A Mullen| T: D M Loughnane| OR: 59

9/1

Acts around here and was not far away in a maiden handicap at the track (1m½f) in July from a mark of 65. Not as good as that in three subsequent starts and there have to be stamina concerns for him over this longer trip.

Form: 824000

(12)

Marshall Aid^t,v¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: K T O'Neill| T: M D I Usher| OR: 55

10/1

22-race maiden. Versatile regarding All Weather surfaces and acts here (runner-up twice over 1m6f from 12lb/10lb higher in past 15 months). Shown little in two recent starts over 2m and this trip plenty sharp enough for him.

Form: 394400

(10)

Cool Music^p¹²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 9-1| J: Cam Hardie| T: A Brittain| OR: 54| D

20/1

Scored on debut in 2014 and took well over three years before she repeated the feat with success at Beverley (1m4f, good to firm) in July. 0-14 on All Weather, but acts here, stable in form and she could be competitive from this mark.

Form: 612283

(6)

Poet's Charm^h²⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 8-8| J: T Eaves| T: M Hill| OR: 51

33/1

Faller over hurdles on last two starts, and yet to win from nine attempts in either code. Acted well enough here last year and is now a stone below his initial handicap mark, but plenty of questions to answer coming into this.

Form: 67-6500

(8)

Ted's Brother^v⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 8-8| J: Poppy Bridgwater⁽⁷⁾| T: Laura Morgan| OR: 47

3/1

Recorded his first win for well over a year when, in a first-time visor, he demolished a field in a 0-50 by 9L at Chelmsford (1m2f) a week ago under this pilot. Escapes penalty for that, but this is tougher and not sure he truly sees out this far.

Form: 822501

(4)

Lucky Ellen⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 8-6| J: F Norton| T: J Candlish| OR: 49| BF

5/2

Has put up three similar efforts since joining current stable, though the worst of them came here (1m1½f) in October. Beaten almost 4L as favourite at Newcastle, when stepped up to 1m4½f last time and a bit to prove from same mark.

Form: 4-50365

(2)

Bridal March^p⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-3| J: J Quinn| T: J Mackie| OR: 46

22/1

0-16 but has gone backwards since a ¾L defeat here (7f) from a mark 60 in May. Beaten 5½L from this mark over C&D last time and, while she is worth another try over the trip, it takes a leap of faith to see her overturning that sort of deficit.

Form: 080566

Non-Runners

(9)

Rock'n Gold¹⁶

Weight: 9-1| Age: 4

T: A Wintle J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Lucky Ellen (5/2), Ted's Brother (3/1), Rock'n Gold (5/1), Tis Wonderful (7/1), Falcon's Fire (7/1), Dream Magic (9/1), Mr Frankie (10/1), Marshall Aid (10/1), Cool Music (20/1), Bridal March (22/1), Poet's Charm (33/1), Diana Lady (66/1)

Basement level fayre in store here and the tentative suggestion is ROCK'N GOLD. One of two representatives for Adrian Wintle, the mare broke a lengthy losing run in the summer, though she is still searching for a first All Weather win. Trip and track are fine for her, she is on a competitive mark and the yard's runners are going well, so she looks worth chancing. Stablemate Mr Frankie could be one of the dangers, while Falcon's Fire, Tis Wonderful and Cool Music are others with some sort of claim.