17:45 Wolverhampton

Monday 8 January 2018

All16:1516:4517:1517:4518:1518:4519:1519:45

Betway Handicap

Off time: 17:47 | Winning time: 3m 2.38s

(7)

Tobacco Road^p,t²⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 9-10| J: A Kirby| T: D Pipe| OR: 74

14/1

Winner three times on the Flat but best form in this sphere has come over shorter. Winner over hurdles in November and worth a check in the market today.

Form: 762508

(4)

Jalingo¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-10| J: Tom Marquand| T: A Stronge| OR: 74

14/1

In good form for John Ferguson over hurdles in 2015. Well beaten on his stable debut and first outing in well over two years last month and probably best watched at present.

Form: 14343/6-

(10)

Jack Bear⁸⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 9-9| J: Oisin Murphy| T: R A Teal| OR: 73| BF| D

11/2

Well beaten in two starts on the Flat in the autumn and racing over hurdles prior to that. Worth a check in the market on debut for this yard.

Form: 1259/65-

(2)

Lady Makfi⁶⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-9| J: S Donohoe| T: J Farrelly| OR: 73| C

20/1

Good effort to finish runner-up over an extended 2m here in August and was outclassed when finishing last in a Listed race subsequently. One to note on her first start in over two months.

Form: 5/84620-

(3)

Takbeer^p³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-9| J: Charles Bishop| T: Mrs N S Evans| OR: 73

9/2

Won and placed on turf in the summer but held on his return to the AW over an extended 2m here last month. Drop in trip looks likely to suit.

Form: 671206-

(11)

Azam^p²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: L Morris| T: M Appleby| OR: 76

3/1

Successful over 1m2f at Kempton as a two-year-old but held in five starts since joining this yard. Market support would be interesting on this occasion.

Form: 530067-

(9)

Paddys Runner³⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-6| J: Liam Keniry| T: D Killahena & G McPherson| OR: 70| BF

12/1

Just touched off over hurdles at Market Rasen in October and returns to the Flat following a couple of disappointing efforts in that sphere subsequently. Has run well here in the past.

Form: /58/2-

(12)

Methag³²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: D C Costello| T: A M Hales| OR: 70

40/1

Winner twice on turf in France but disappointing since finishing runner-up over 1m4f at Newbury (soft) in the spring.

Form: 1-52706

(6)

Belabour¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: S W Kelly| T: W M Brisbourne| OR: 67| BF

8/1

Shaped as if this step up in trip would suit when finishing runner-up over 1m4f here on his penultimate outing. Disappointed over the same C&D since but remains of interest today.

Form: 790628-

(5)

Rite To Reign^p¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 9-3| J: G Lee| T: P J McBride| OR: 67| C

11/2

Beaten 15L when finishing third over an extended 2m at Southwell in November. Well beaten twice since including over 1m4f here last time.

Form: 088366-

(1)

Sandy Cove³³

Age: 7| Weight: 9-2| J: Nicola Currie⁽⁵⁾| T: D Loughnane| OR: 66| C| D

40/1

Refused to race on final turf outing for James Eustace at Yarmouth when wearing cheekpieces for the first time in August. Held over hurdles since and debuting for this yard today.

Form: 6/6460R-

Non-Runners

(8)

Argent Knight⁷

Weight: 9-11| Age: 8

T: C N Kellett J: T J Murphy

Forecasts

Azam (3/1), Takbeer (9/2), Jack Bear (11/2), Rite To Reign (11/2), Belabour (8/1), Paddys Runner (12/1), Tobacco Road (14/1), Jalingo (14/1), Argent Knight (16/1), Lady Makfi (20/1), Methag (40/1), Sandy Cove (40/1)

PADDYS RUNNER has been racing over hurdles since his most recent Flat outing here and having run well here in the past he is taken to make a winning return to AW racing for trainer Graeme McPherson. The selection was narrowly beaten over hurdles three starts back and can take this ahead of Belabour who can put a disappointing effort last time out behind him by finishing runner-up today. Lady Makfi represents a shrewd handler and she can finish third on her return from a break.