20:15 Wolverhampton

Saturday 10 February 2018

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

Betway Handicap

Off time: 20:15 | Winning time: 2m 40.17s

(7)

Ice Canyon³¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: E J Walsh⁽³⁾| T: W M Brisbourne| OR: 72

5/1

Remains a maiden after 12 starts, but this former Michael Halford in-mate has made the frame on both starts for this yard, including when beaten less than 1L over C&D in December.

Form: 37493-2

(8)

Frown²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Oisin Murphy| T: R M Beckett| OR: 72

7/1

Lightly raced filly who steps into handicap company for the first time (also up in trip) following her 7L second finish to Beautiful Memory at Chelmsford (1m2f) last month.

Form: 3-72

(1)

Tan Arabiq¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: Tom Marquand| T: M Appleby| OR: 69| CD

4/1

Just held on to score by a neck over C&D in December (Ice Canyon third), and races tonight from a 3lb higher mark. Respected, but needs to find further improvement to go in again having folded rather tamely over C&D latest.

Form: 55812-8

(9)

Acker Bilk³²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: Rowan Scott⁽³⁾| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 70| BF| CD

11/4

Profited from a lowly mark when ridden clear by Dougie Costello to score by 8L over C&D in early January. Unable to follow up under a penalty turned out quickly at Southwell immediately afterwards, and the handicapper has now taken further aim.

Form: 9434-12

(4)

The Kid^p,t¹⁰¹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-5| J: Megan Nicholls⁽⁵⁾| T: K Bishop| OR: 68

28/1

Racing over hurdles for Alex Dunn as recently as early November, but has moved onto a new yard, and switches back to the Flat for the first time since October 2016. Current mark fair, and has no problems with this surface.

Form: 442537/

(6)

Henry Croft²¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: George Downing| T: A W Carroll| OR: 68

40/1

With John Gosden once upon a time, but also showed some respectable AW form at Newcastle for this trainer. Lost his way in mid summer and has been absent since (gelded). Couldn't be recommended with any significant level of confidence.

Form: 22/4379-

(2)

Reckless Wave²²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: L Morris| T: E Walker| OR: 67| CD

5/2

Has a 33% AW strike rate (2 from 6), but was a winner on her sole start over C&D in May; 5lb higher tonight. Off the track since late June, when making all to score by 1¼L at Newbury. Interesting with Luke Morris aboard.

Form: 23/1841-

(5)

Itlaaq^t¹⁸

Age: 12| Weight: 9-0| J: Harrison Shaw⁽⁷⁾| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 63| D

20/1

Veteran who is nearly as old as his rider, and hasn't won since the summer of 2016 (1m4f at Thirsk). Not had many AW starts (just five), and his trainer has his string in reasonable order, but others look far more likely.

Form: 5735-38

(3)

Cool Music^p²³

Age: 8| Weight: 8-7| J: Cam Hardie| T: A Brittain| OR: 51| D

50/1

Mare who has returned from a break with a couple of modest efforts, and on the strength of things is up against it here from out of the weights. Yet to show she's a true AW performer (0 from 16 on synthetics).

Form: 22836-7

Forecasts

Reckless Wave (5/2), Acker Bilk (11/4), Tan Arabiq (4/1), Ice Canyon (5/1), Frown (7/1), Itlaaq (20/1), The Kid (28/1), Henry Croft (40/1), Cool Music (50/1)

The handicapper hasn't missed ACKER BILK with effectively an 11lb rise for his C&D romp in early January. That said; he probably started from a misleading mark in the first place, and a perch of 70 isn't necessarily beyond the scope of his abilities. He appears to be the obvious play in a race where the remainder really need to step up to the plate, admittedly that could prove a distinct possibility for the lightly raced and upped in trip handicap debutante Frown. Others to consider include the returning Reckless Wave, with The Kid worthy of close inspection for further down the line.