17:40 Wolverhampton

Monday 12 February 2018

All17:1017:4018:1018:4019:1019:4020:1020:40

32Red ROA/Racing Post Owners' Jackpot Handicap

Off time: 17:41 | Winning time: 2m 3.23s

(5)

Battle Lines³²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Oisin Murphy| T: J Tate| OR: 75| BF

5/2

Ran a solid race in third last time, despite him being favourite in a four runner race. Makes his handicap debut now and is entitled to go close in a very tight race.

Form: 073-3

(8)

Iconic Sunset¹⁰⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: L Morris| T: J Tate| OR: 75

9/2

Ran well off 1lb lower at Wolverhampton in October having gotten off the mark at Kempton on his previous outing. Off since but could have benefitted for the break and may well find further improvement for this step up in trip.

Form: 522813-

(3)

Passing Clouds²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Kieren Fox| T: M J Attwater| OR: 73

7/1

Only narrowly denied at Kempton last time over 1m. That was a career best and if he improved again he would be a threat to all here, as long as he operates on Tapeta as well as he does on Polytrack.

Form: 37-42

(6)

Illusional⁸¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: J Fanning| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 73

4/1

Second of six on debut at Brighton in September but hasn't been able to build on that yet. Possible that Tapeta hasn't suited and may be seen to best effect back on turf.

Form: 236-

(1)

Island Court^t1⁴⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: Tom Marquand| T: H Main| OR: 72

11/2

Well beaten on handicap debut last time (over 1f shorter here), and dropped 3lb needs to take a step forward on stable debut and in first-time cheek pieces.

Form: 69356-

(7)

Orchid Lily³³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: K T O'Neill| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 71

7/1

Has run only to a similar level in three novice events so far but steps up in trip here which may help and doesn't have too much to find with the best of these.

Form: 44-6

(2)

Normandy Blue¹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: P Hanagan| T: R A Fahey| OR: 69

16/1

0/6 and has had more racing than most of these but would be thereabouts here on his best form, for all that he has shown himself to be fairly unreliable.

Form: 06263-0

(4)

Destinys Rock²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: George Downing| T: D M Loughnane| OR: 65

25/1

Outran her odds to be third over C&D last time in novice company, but that's still a fair way short of the required standard in this competitive looking contest.

Form: 56-3

Forecasts

Battle Lines (5/2), Illusional (4/1), Iconic Sunset (9/2), Island Court (11/2), Orchid Lily (7/1), Passing Clouds (7/1), Normandy Blue (16/1), Destinys Rock (25/1)

In a tight handicap where just 4lb covers the top six runners better can be expected from John Gosden's Orchid Lily, but preference is for BATTLE LINES. He's run solid races the last twice including on Tapeta last time out (was beaten favourite but holds excuses). He makes his handicap debut here and could prove better than his mark of 75 in time, while stablemate Iconic Sunset is another one to consider.