20:40 Wolverhampton

Tuesday 20 February 2018

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

sunbets.co.uk Handicap

Off time: 20:42 | Winning time: 1m 48.41s

(5)

Champagne Pink^h²⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: C Lee⁽³⁾| T: K R Burke| OR: 76| CD

7/2

Proved herself as fully effective at this track since November, landing a hat-trick of victories over the extended 1m1f trip. Up the weights now (16lb above her first success), and this shorter trip isn't ideal, but very much respected nonetheless.

Form: 8111-42

(6)

Dark Alliance¹⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 9-7| J: Edward Greatrex| T: D M Loughnane| OR: 74| C

15/8

Ran on to finish a respectable 1¾L third to Spare Parts over 7f here last week when seeking to land a hat-trick. Most probably will appreciate this extra yardage and holds every chance of making it 5 from 16 on synthetics.

Form: 995-113

(7)

Sooqaan⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 9-7| J: Cam Hardie| T: A Brittain| OR: 74| CD

10/1

Won by just a neck over C&D in December from a 23lb lower mark, but that tells only a fraction of the tale. Developed into a Southwell specialist thereafter winning three on the bounce (1m) until the winning run was halted latest.

Form: 1-71114

(2)

What Usain^p,h¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-3| J: Alistair Rawlinson| T: M Appleby| OR: 70| CD

14/1

Accomplished AW performer from a respected stable but generally seems better over further than this nowadays. Beaten 1½L by Samphire Coast over this trip at Chelmsford earlier in the month.

Form: 1386-63

(4)

Buckland Beau^p²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 9-1| J: S Donohoe| T: C Fellowes| OR: 68| CD

12/1

Not won since February 2016, but lurks from a much reduced handicap mark as a result. No obvious issues with this track (course winner), and was only headed in the final strides when beaten a head by Lazarus at Chelmsford (1m2f) penultimate.

Form: 805-520

(3)

Spes Nostra^b²⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 9-1| J: J Fanning| T: R M Smith| OR: 68| CD

50/1

Woeful for previous trainer Iain Jardine after winning at Newcastle in May 2017 (1m2f), and no better on his recent stable debut. Not the type to be siding with in the circumstances at the age of ten.

Form: 07770-9

(9)

Steal The Scene²²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: D C Costello| T: K Frost| OR: 67

20/1

Not a regular winner (1 from 13 on synthetics), but running well enough on the whole, and was only beaten a head by Right Action (run well since) over 7f here on Boxing Day. Not quite as strong over 1m.

Form: 0082-39

(1)

Barnaby Brook^b⁴⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 8-13| J: Patrick Pilley⁽³⁾| T: Tom Dascombe| OR: 66| CD

13/2

Has developed into a Wolverhampton regular since winning off a 5lb lower mark (extended 1m1f) here in early September. A drop back in trip doesn't appear to be an obvious move as he seeks to record a fifth AW success.

Form: 71627-4

(8)

Scribner Creek¹⁰⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 8-10| J: Gabriele Malune⁽⁷⁾| T: I Furtado| OR: 63| CD

11/2

Dual C&D winner, most recently in April 2017 for Daniel Loughnane from an almost identical mark. Made the headlines on his debut for his new trainer last month (a case of mistaken identity), and races over a more suitable trip today as a result.

Form: 468755-

Non-Runners

(10)

Zefferino²⁴

Weight: 9-10| Age: 4

T: M Botti J: M M Monaghan

Forecasts

Dark Alliance (15/8), Champagne Pink (7/2), Scribner Creek (11/2), Barnaby Brook (13/2), Sooqaan (10/1), Zefferino (10/1), Buckland Beau (12/1), What Usain (14/1), Steal The Scene (20/1), Spes Nostra (50/1)

A fairly compact finale, with the gaze of the masses likely pointed towards Scribner Creek given his understandably well publicised 'debut' for Ivan Furtado. Champagne Pink adores Dunstall Park, but she faces a tougher task these days from her elevated mark, and isn't certain to relish this drop back in trip. Sooqaan is another to have run up a sequence (at Southwell), whilst at the other end of the spectrum, the long time winless Buckland Beau is now very well handicapped. However, the thriving DARK ALLIANCE rates as the selection. He ran very well when seeking to land a hat-trick last week, and lost little in defeat to a pair of talented handicappers in their respective grades (Spare Parts and Right Action). If anything, a step up in trip should suit, and he's capable of registering one more success from his current but rising handicap mark of 74.