14:15 Wolverhampton

Tuesday 26 December 2017

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

Betway Casino Handicap

Off time: 14:15 | Winning time: 2m 39.03s

(9)

Rite To Reign^v²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 9-4| J: G Lee| T: P J McBride| OR: 70| C

14/1

Potentially very well handicapped on his old form although it's been a while since he's looked like reproducing that level. That said, he was only beaten 7L off a 9lb higher mark over C&D three runs back.

Form: 008836

(4)

Ocean Of Love^h1¹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: H Crouch⁽³⁾| T: S bin Suroor| OR: 73| BF

11/4

Endured a long absence after showing up well on her only juvenile start and has has finished a runner-up in maidens here the last twice. Fair opening mark and introduction of a hood could unlock improvement by helping her settle better.

Form: 4-322

(7)

Tan Arabiq²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: Tom Marquand| T: M Appleby| OR: 69| CD

5/1

A winner over 1m1f here earlier in the year and underlined liking for the track when edging out Belabour over C&D last time, getting first run on that rival. Should be in the shake-up again despite 3lb rise.

Form: 555581

(1)

Freud^t²⁶⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 9-2| J: George Downing| T: Ian Williams| OR: 68

50/1

Dual winner on the AW early in 2016 but has lost his way and has showed next to nothing in the first half of this season. Hard to enthuse over after eight months off despite a falling mark.

Form: 740-808

(3)

Belabour²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: L Morris| T: W M Brisbourne| OR: 67| BF| D

9/4

Kempton maiden winner over 1m4f in January but disappointing in handicap company until narrowly failing to reel in Tan Arabiq over C&D earlier this month The money came for him that day and no surprise to see him reverse form..

Form: 979062

(8)

Beatisa²⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: Jacob Mitchell⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs C A Dunnett| OR: 69

18/1

Came good to readily open her account for Ed Walker over 1m3f at Kempton in October. Followed that by finishing a close-up third off an 8lb higher mark for this yard at Chelmsford (1m5f) earlier this month but raised a further 3lb.

Form: 583313

(5)

Excellent Puck¹⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 8-13| J: Josephine Gordon| T: S Lycett| OR: 65| C| D

9/1

Not won since a 2015 success here over 1m1½f but ran one of his better races when a 2¼L fourth over C&D earlier this month. That said, this looks a more competitive race and others remain more persuasive.

Form: 655324

(6)

Miss Liguria¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: Hollie Doyle| T: E Walker| OR: 68

6/1

Low mileage filly who put a poor handicap debut at Kempton behind her when finishing a staying-on second behind Take Two at Lingfield (1m4f). Clearly going the right way and present mark may not be beyond her.

Form: 053382

(2)

Dolphin Village^h¹⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 8-12| J: Charlie Bennett⁽³⁾| T: S A Harris| OR: 64| D

16/1

Experienced campaigner who has become increasingly hard to win with over the years and is without a success in 12 starts for this yard. That said, his most recent effort when third over C&D was more encouraging.

Form: 898683

Forecasts

Belabour (9/4), Ocean Of Love (11/4), Tan Arabiq (5/1), Miss Liguria (6/1), Excellent Puck (9/1), Rite To Reign (14/1), Dolphin Village (16/1), Beatisa (18/1), Freud (50/1)

Belabour didn't enjoy the smoothest of passages when narrowly failing to reel in Tan Arabiq over C&D last time and is taken to reverse that form on 1lb better terms but MISS LIGURIA may just have too much. Ed Walker's low mileage filly took a big leap forward when going close at Lingfield last time and, with further improvement likely, could take some stopping off the same mark. Elsewhere, Godolphin's Ocean of Love also has to be of some interest on her handicap debut with a first-time hood employed.