13:10 Wolverhampton

Tuesday 26 December 2017

All12:0512:4013:1013:4514:1514:5015:2516:00

Betway Live Casino Handicap

Off time: 13:10 | Winning time: 1m 59.55s

(9)

Victoriously^p¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: L Morris| T: Andi Brown| OR: 60| CD

6/1

Finally opened his account over this C&D last winter and duly followed up at Lingfield when next seen in April but wasn't sighted again until a below par effort at Chelmsford recently. Still 5lb above last winning mark, so vulnerable.

Form: 6231-18

(1)

Mr Frankie⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-6| J: William Cox⁽⁵⁾| T: A Wintle| OR: 59| CD

12/1

Sole win from 27 attempts was in a similar race over C&D for Richard Phillips last year. Twice went close without winning for John Spearing this year but never fired on his debut for a new yard on Friday.

Form: 427295

(11)

Top Offer^b³⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 9-6| J: K Shoemark| T: P Morris| OR: 59| CD

25/1

Good effort to win over C&D earlier last month - confirming his liking for racing round here. Up 4lb for that effort and only mid-division over C&D last time. No margin for error but five week break may have refreshed him.

Form: 257417

(8)

The Gay Cavalier^t¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-6| J: J Mitchell| T: J Ryan| OR: 59

14/1

Can perform at a higher level than this when on-song, but losing streak is beginning to build up now following another mid-division effort at Lingfield two weeks ago. Others look more likely right now.

Form: 063767

(6)

Mio Ragazzo^h1¹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: M M Monaghan⁽³⁾| T: M Botti| OR: 60| BF

8/1

Few miles on the clock and far from disgraced on his handicap debut at Kempton (1m) last month when finishing third. Couldn't back that effort up over C&D next time (too keen) but dropped 2lb and remains capable of better now hooded.

Form: 54937

(4)

King Kevin^b¹⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: R Havlin| T: E A L Dunlop| OR: 60| CD

5/2

Finally came good at the ninth attempt when winning at Chelmsford (1m2f) and duly followed up from a 7lb higher mark over C&D. Raised a further 4lb but just thwarted in his hat-trick bid at Newcastle. Remains of interest.

Form: 733112

(2)

Ingleby Angel²⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 9-5| J: Fran Berry| T: D O'Meara| OR: 58| BF| D

5/1

A 10-time winner for this yard on turf in his younger days but unsuccessful for Colin Teague and hasn't quite managed a win since rejoining current yard despite several decent efforts. Mark is fair but still winless on the AW.

Form: 303253

(7)

Windsorlot²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: George Downing| T: A W Carroll| OR: 57

12/1

Broke his maiden tag when victorious over 1m2f at Bath (good) in August. Fair form since, most notably when just edged out by King Kevin over C&D latest. Re-opposes on 3lb better terms so clearly of interest.

Form: 415662

(13)

Topmeup^v¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: Josephine Gordon| T: Miss Gay Kelleway| OR: 59

25/1

Winner of three races on soft ground this year but remains winless from 12 attempts on the AW, though was only just touched off over 1m at Lingfield last time. Worth a try over this longer trip, though draw not ideal.

Form: 251462

(3)

Lord Murphy³¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: T Eaves| T: D M Loughnane| OR: 56| CD

11/1

Dual C&D winner and ran well to finish third-up over this C&D last month from a 1lb higher mark. Shaped better than latest effort here suggests (didn't get clear run) but no margin for error nonetheless.

Form: 574737

(10)

Joys Delight²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: Toby Eley⁽⁷⁾| T: D M Loughnane| OR: 58

20/1

Yet to get off the mark in 12 attempts so far, though has shown up well to finish third and second respectively in his two most recent starts over C&D. Likely to be competitive once again.

Form: 420632

(5)

Hold Hands^t1³⁹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: Jenny Powell⁽⁵⁾| T: B G Powell| OR: 55

33/1

Still a maiden (13 runs) but was getting the hang of things last winter, finishing third over 1m4f here before occupying the same position at Kempton. Handicap mark is feasible on first run for 13 months but absence is obviously a concern.

Form: 698533-

(12)

Born To Reason^b⁴⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: D C Costello| T: K Frost| OR: 57| BF| CD

12/1

Came good with successive C&D wins in October but couldn't complete the hat-trick after a weight rise before a disappointing effort over 1m at Newcastle last time. May do better following a six week break.

Form: 701176

Forecasts

King Kevin (5/2), Ingleby Angel (5/1), Victoriously (6/1), Mio Ragazzo (8/1), Lord Murphy (11/1), Windsorlot (12/1), Mr Frankie (12/1), Born To Reason (12/1), The Gay Cavalier (14/1), Joys Delight (20/1), Topmeup (25/1), Top Offer (25/1), Hold Hands (33/1)

A competitive race in which King Kevin has to be considered after narrowly failing to complete a hat-trick at Newcastle, though it could be argued that Windsorlot may have his measure on 3lb better terms for an earlier neck defeat over C&D. Topmeup is also interesting but any value may lie with the lightly-raced MIO RAGAZZO who had done enough to be sent off favourite for a better event over C&D last time only to race far too keenly. The introduction of a hood could be the making of him.