18:15 Wolverhampton

Saturday 24 February 2018

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

Betway Classified Selling Stakes

Off time: 18:15 | Winning time: 1m 13.93s

Dutiful Son¹⁷

Age: 16| Weight: 10-8| J: Unknown| T: Emma Owen| OR: 75| D

Form: 118-156

Swendab¹⁰

Age: 18| Weight: 10-8| J: Ben Robinson⁽⁵⁾| T: J G M O'Shea| OR: 65| C| D

Form: 1121-68

(3)

Amazing Grazing^e/s²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: P Makin| T: R C Guest| OR: 71| CD

5/1

Found a good run of form coming to an end when beaten in a decent handicap on Fibresand last time. Better judged on the form he showed the time before over C&D when taking 0-70 handicap off a mark of 68 and now drops in grade.

Form: 14-3317

Ambitious Boy²⁶

Age: 17| Weight: 9-10| J: Unknown| T: J G M O'Shea| OR: 49| CD

Form: 49667-1

(7)

Ballymore Castle^b1²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-10| J: Sebastian Woods⁽⁷⁾| T: R A Fahey| OR: 69| CD

9/1

Blinkers go on this temperamental sort for the first time. He finally returned to winning form when taking a C&D seller here recently (only had two rivals to beat) and he's not one to get carried away with even at this level.

Form: 2451-04

(5)

Major Crispies^b⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 9-10| J: S H James| T: D O'Meara| OR: 70| D

15/2

Has shown some fair form in handicaps and won twice last year in claiming and handicap company over a 6f trip. Back to form last time out when brought back to this trip (has been tried at further) although he can start slowly and isn't one to totally trust.

Form: 454-974

(6)

Varsovian²²

Age: 8| Weight: 9-10| J: R Winston| T: D K Ivory| OR: 75| BF| D

4/1

Has often gone well fresh in the past and generally likes to race prominently and did so when taking a 0-70 handicap at Lingfield on his return from a break over 7f. Only raced at 6f once since then and may have found the trip a little sharp and might struggle for pace here.

Form: 014-263

(1)

Celerity^p¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: Gabriele Malune⁽⁷⁾| T: L Williamson| OR: 41

200/1

Yet to win a race and has on the whole run poorly for this yard since being transferred from David Evans. Below form in a low-grade handicap last time out (ran too freely) and looks to face a stiff task at the weights here.

Form: 0505-80

It Must Be Faith¹⁵

Age: 16| Weight: 9-4| J: Keelan Baker⁽⁷⁾| T: M Appleby| OR: 64| CD

Form: 82704-5

Louis Vee¹⁹

Age: 18| Weight: 9-4| J: Kate Leahy⁽⁷⁾| T: J G M O'Shea| OR: 39| CD

Form: 07298-0

(9)

Mehdi^p,t¹⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 9-4| J: Callum Rodriguez⁽³⁾| T: P Morris| OR: 68| D

12/1

His overall record isn't a strong one although he did manage to win in handicap company early last year on the AW. Fairly lightly raced since then he ran a little better than of late in a seller over 7f here last time but he's not one to go overboard about.

Form: 139-864

(4)

Monumental Man^p¹⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 9-4| J: William Carson| T: M J Attwater| OR: 73| C| D

18/1

Generally likes to make the pace but was far too aggressively ridden last time out over 6f in a Lingfield handicap. Not really at his best at the moment and is operating below the form he showed when winning a 5f handicap last March.

Form: 2565-38

(2)

Sterling Silva^p¹²²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: Cam Hardie| T: B Haslam| OR: 72| D

12/1

Makes his first start for this yard having left Richard Hannon for whom he was a fairly useful handicapper although he's not won since mid-2016. Not seen out since the end of last year and despite the drop in grade he may need this run.

Form: 243674-

(8)

The Amber Fort^v¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: C J McGovern⁽⁵⁾| T: D O'Meara| OR: 70| BF| CD

85/40

Not won since his second career start but did show that he could handle this grade when second here on his penultimate outing over 7f. Handled the return to handicaps and 6f recently and should be able to make his mark in this off a quick return.

Form: 652-652

(10)

Trotter^b¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: Liam Keniry| T: W S Kittow| OR: 68

12/1

Looked as though he was stretched by a recent try over 7f and looks more at home over this trip. Still yet to win a race though and drops into this grade for the first time having run with credit here last time out; others have a stronger case.

Form: 8223-64

Forecasts

The Amber Fort (85/40), Varsovian (4/1), Amazing Grazing (5/1), Major Crispies (15/2), Ballymore Castle (9/1), Trotter (12/1), Sterling Silva (12/1), Mehdi (12/1), Monumental Man (18/1), Celerity (200/1)

Plenty of these have been capable of decent handicap form in the past and this isn’t a bad event for the grade and it’s hard to rule out many of the field. Amazing Grazing will appreciate a return to this C&D where he has won before and he looks to be one of the leading players along with Varsovian although that one may well appreciate 7f better. Sterling Silva may need the run having his first run for his new yard while neither Ballymore Castle nor Major Crispies are the easiest to win with. THE AMBER FORT is hardly a winning machine but he has some good recent form here and might be able to add to his one previous win dropped in grade.