20:45 Wolverhampton

Saturday 10 February 2018

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

Betway Casino Handicap

Off time: 20:45 | Winning time: 2m 1.97s

(3)

Warofindependence^p¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: T J Murphy| T: J G M O'Shea| OR: 65

20/1

Back from a break over C&D last month when finishing a one paced fifth of eight to Maestro Mac. Dropped 3lb since, but remains a maiden after 11 attempts.

Form: 2578/5-5

(5)

Ready⁶⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 9-7| J: Paddy Bradley⁽⁵⁾| T: M Pattinson| OR: 65| CD

16/1

Last a winner for Ivan Furtado at Newcastle in November 2016 (1m2f), so whilst he's AW effective, it's been many a moon between drinks. Dropped 3lb since his latest start at Chelmsford in early December.

Form: 869008-

(1)

Captain Revelation^t²³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-6| J: Phil Dennis⁽³⁾| T: M Mullineaux| OR: 64

10/1

Southwell is his preferred AW venue with all three of his synthetics successes (7f to 1m) coming on the Fibresand. Didn't stay 1m3f latest, and down 2lb over this shorter trip.

Form: 0644-87

(10)

Crystal Sunstone^t1¹¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: L Morris| T: A M Hales| OR: 62

14/1

Showed much improved form on his final start for Eve Johnson Houghton at Brighton in October when beaten narrowly by Break The Silence (1m soft). Sold for 4,500 gns and makes his stable debut off the same mark but wearing a tongue tie.

Form: 98582-

(9)

Arabian Oasis¹⁶³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-4| J: Noel Garbutt⁽³⁾| T: M Herrington| OR: 62| CD

33/1

Performing woefully over hurdles for Phil Kirby when last in action during the late summer of 2017, and sold for just £1,200 in November. Back to the scene of his sole career Flat success (C&D) for Charlie Appleby in March 2015.

Form: 400/498-

(7)

Bell Heather¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: Fran Berry| T: P Morris| OR: 62| CD

11/1

A mare who enjoys her racing at Wolverhampton and has been in largely competitive shape since joining from Richard Fahey (same ownership). Just 1lb above her last winning mark.

Form: 3180-56

(2)

Celtic Artisan^b,t¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 9-3| J: Oisin Murphy| T: R Menzies| OR: 61| CD

13/2

Strongest at Chelmsford, but also effective elsewhere, as demonstrated on his penultimate start at Newcastle (1m); beaten ½L by Limoncello. More reliable than some and feasibly handicapped. Has form-lines linked with Bell Heather.

Form: 6473-26

(12)

My Fantasea¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: R Kingscote| T: Ian Williams| OR: 58

4/1

Won a 1m2f+ Dundalk maiden for John Oxx in July 2016, but paid the price for those gains starting off life in handicap company from an unattractive mark. Never threatened to profit from a steadily declining mark on these shores, so safely ignored.

Form: 70407-8

(13)

Star Of The Stage^p²⁹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 8-13| J: Tim Clark⁽³⁾| T: J Butler| OR: 57

80/1

A winner of three races on the AW (7f to 1m), but woefully out of sorts at present, managing to beat only a single rival in his last five starts since mid December. No chance based on the strength of those efforts.

Form: 60/0900-

(6)

Ravenhoe³

Age: 5| Weight: 8-10| J: Oliver Stammers⁽⁷⁾| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 54| CD

2/1

A useful juvenile who has found a new lease of life here lately. A winner of a C&D apprentices handicap for this rider eight days ago, he found the reduced trip just too sharp when beaten ¾L by American Patrol on Wednesday. Every chance.

Form: 756-912

(11)

Log Off⁶⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 8-9| J: Edward Greatrex| T: Karen George| OR: 53| CD

28/1

A C&D winner for Dave Evans in April 2017, this filly logs on for just the third time for her new trainer Karen George. Absent since early December, she races from a falling mark, but needs to show more in order to leave an impression.

Form: 433506-

(4)

Kay Sera²⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 8-8| J: K T O'Neill| T: A G Newcombe| OR: 52| C

33/1

Out of sorts veteran who has done all of his winning over much longer trips (1m4f). Nigh impossible to construct a solid argument for him at present.

Form: 66779-7

(8)

New Abbey Angel²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 8-8| J: Rowan Scott⁽³⁾| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 52

13/2

Probably didn't stay when upped markedly in trip at this course last time out (2m). Remains on the same mark for return to this more suitable trip and whilst he's an infrequent winner, he could conceivably have a say.

Form: 73022-7

Forecasts

Ravenhoe (2/1), My Fantasea (4/1), New Abbey Angel (13/2), Celtic Artisan (13/2), Captain Revelation (10/1), Bell Heather (11/1), Crystal Sunstone (14/1), Ready (16/1), Warofindependence (20/1), Log Off (28/1), Arabian Oasis (33/1), Kay Sera (33/1), Star Of The Stage (80/1)

Not the strongest of races to conclude tonight's action, but a rather obvious looking potential winner arises in the shape of the Mark Johnston trained RAVENHOE. He was a useful horse as a juvenile, and he's appeared firmly back on track over the past week or so for this rider. Whilst he was unable to follow up last Friday's C&D success turned out over a furlong shorter trip here on Wednesday, he was probably only beaten by the reduced distance. Assuming he takes a third quick race in his stride (trainers stock are generally a hardy breed), he should find himself back in the winners enclosure. Of the remainder, Crystal Sunstone looks a likely threat on his first start for Alex Hales (ex Eve Johnson Houghton trained).