18:45 Wolverhampton

Saturday 13 January 2018

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

Betway Live Casino Handicap

Off time: 18:47 | Winning time: 3m 39.11s

(6)

Miss Dusky Diva¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: William Carson| T: David Drinkwater| OR: 55| CD

16/1

Took this contest 12 months ago off the same mark. Appeared to be travelling well when clipping heels and coming to grief here over Christmas, so definitely one to consider.

Form: 11708U-

(3)

Shan Dun Na Ngall^b,t²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 9-5| J: Gabriele Malune⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss A Murphy| OR: 53

25/1

Made a flying start when joining this yard last winter, but three runs over the last two months have seen him continue to regress.

Form: 4/19660-

(13)

New Abbey Angel³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: P Makin| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 52

6/1

Has a modest 1-28 strike rate and, judged by his latest effort, it could be the case this speedily bred sort has been running over the wrong trips. Whether he needs to go this far is debatable.

Form: 273022-

(5)

Picture Painter^p⁷⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: T Eaves| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 52

11/2

It took 21 races for him to open his account at Kelso where he did his best to throw it away. His new trainer may have got a bit extra from him which could mean he is well-handicapped for this AW debut, but he clearly has his own ideas.

Form: 5/53357-

(1)

Indian Red⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Joey Haynes| T: M H Tompkins| OR: 55

9/4

Supported last time when third to an improving rival. Has some appeal in this company if similar positive tactics are employed, although the stable have gone 150 days without a winner.

Form: 40775-3

(12)

Poppyinthepark^h⁴⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: Callum Rodriguez⁽³⁾| T: M Mullineaux| OR: 50

50/1

Shaped well in a bumper on racecourse debut but has not delivered on that promise. Particularly poor on stable debut in November and connections will need to have learnt a lot.

Form: 04558-

(4)

Lady Emma^p¹⁵⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: Liam Keniry| T: Steph Hollinshead| OR: 49

80/1

Looks easy to oppose having failed to figure in all starts and returning from a five month absence in another change of headgear.

Form: 090/78-

(11)

Anton Dolin^p³¹

Age: 10| Weight: 9-0| J: Phil Dennis⁽³⁾| T: M Mullineaux| OR: 48

100/1

Went close here last February and had a fair summer over hurdles. Has gone off the boil lately and looks hard to fancy.

Form: 754200-

(8)

Pantomime^v1⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 8-13| J: A Mullen| T: R Menzies| OR: 47

9/1

Lightly raced maiden who has shown signs of progress lately. Could be a surprise package off this mark if the visor has a positive effect.

Form: 600/56-5

(7)

Medieval Bishop^p⁸⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 8-13| J: Toby Eley⁽⁷⁾| T: A Forbes| OR: 47| C

40/1

Last win came in May 2015 and his AW record is just 1-25. Step up to this trip produced a more encouraging effort last time, but another break since raises concerns.

Form: 34/5576-

(9)

Boru's Brook^v1⁴⁵⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 8-12| J: Charles Bishop| T: J & S Best| OR: 45

15/2

Decent jumper in 2015 whose last five runs saw him finish down the field over inadequate trips in Flat maidens. Earns a basement mark as a result and visored on return from a 15 month break. From a shrewd yard and worth checking in the market.

Form: 46007/

(2)

Desktop^b1³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 8-12| J: William Cox⁽⁵⁾| T: A Brittain| OR: 45| CD

11/1

C&D winner who has been well beaten in all starts over the past four months. Blinkers tried but hard to be positive about his prospects at present.

Form: 387000-

(10)

Volturnus^v³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: D C Costello| T: J A Osborne| OR: 50| BF

13/2

Turned a Kempton marathon into a sprint when opening his account at 25/1 in November. Disappointing when gearing down in the final half-mile here last time and different aids are tried now.

Form: 901340-

Forecasts

Indian Red (9/4), Picture Painter (11/2), New Abbey Angel (6/1), Volturnus (13/2), Boru's Brook (15/2), Pantomime (9/1), Desktop (11/1), Miss Dusky Diva (16/1), Shan Dun Na Ngall (25/1), Medieval Bishop (40/1), Poppyinthepark (50/1), Lady Emma (80/1), Anton Dolin (100/1)

Most of these have questions to answer of one sort or another and the market should be instructive regarding the chances of Pantomime, Volturnus and Boru's Brook. The Keith Dalgleish pair set posers with Picture Painter potentially well treated but unreliable and New Abbey Angel not certain to stay. Indian Red enters calculations following an improved effort last time but, with his stable out of luck in recent months, MISS DUSKY DIVA is preferred. Last year's winner gave every indication she was back to her best before clipping heels last time and, back to her winning mark, she has grounds to give a good account.