19:45 Wolverhampton

Saturday 24 February 2018

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

32Red Casino Handicap

Off time: 19:45 | Winning time: 1m 50.39s

Iconic Sunset¹²

Age: 11| Weight: 10-2| J: Unknown| T: J Tate| CD

Form: 22813-1

(3)

Travelcard¹³²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: F Norton| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 79

9/2

Useful and consistent performer as a juvenile despite only winning one race over 6f at Lingfield. This will now be the furthest trip that she's tried having only run up 7f so far and has to cope with a career high mark; returns from a break.

Form: 312332-

(7)

Felisa²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Gabriele Malune⁽⁷⁾| T: P D Evans| OR: 75

14/1

A winner in a lower grade handicap just after the turn of the year (made all) she returned to form last time out with a career best effort when 2nd in a Lingfield 0-70 handicap. Has had plenty of racing but holding her form well but does have to find more off this mark.

Form: 432-172

Poetic Steps¹⁴⁰

Age: 11| Weight: 9-2| J: Unknown| T: C & M Johnston

Form: 110850-

Sharp Reminder³⁰

Age: 11| Weight: 9-2| J: L Morris| T: J Tate

Form: 6243-42

(2)

Battle Lines¹²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: L Morris| T: J Tate| OR: 75| BF

5/2

Came back to his best last time out when making his handicap debut off this mark over slightly further here (beaten by his stablemate). Tried at this trip before but does look as though he needs a little further than this bare mile.

Form: 073-32

(1)

Yamuna River^p²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: J Fanning| T: J Tate| OR: 73

13/2

Improved for the move into handicaps when tried over 1m2f at Lingfield on his penultimate start (wore first-time cheekpieces). Tried over 2f further last time out (not bred for that trip) and switched back to a mile here.

Form: 6637-35

(6)

Corazon Espinado³¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Tom Marquand| T: S Dow| OR: 73

9/2

Looks to have made steady progress in handicaps and won one at his 4th attempt making all at Kempton over a mile. Up 4lb for that win he'll need to show further improvement here as he moves up in grade; may face pace pressure.

Form: 6822-61

(4)

Mr Carbonator¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: K Stott| T: P A Kirby| OR: 72| CD

8/1

Prior to his last start he was in good form winning three handicaps from December onwards over a mile and further looking versatile on various AW surfaces. Looked to struggle to cope with this mark last time and has to bounce back here.

Form: 213-114

(5)

Carp Kid^p1²⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: William Cox⁽⁵⁾| T: J L Flint| OR: 71| BF| CD

6/1

Both of his wins have come outside of handicaps (won a seller and a claimer) and has been well backed in two of his last three races (finished 2nd both times). Can travel strongly in his races and now makes his debut for a new yard; has been beaten three times off this mark.

Form: 914-232

Reverberation⁵

Age: 11| Weight: 8-9| J: Renato Souza| T: S Kirk

Form: 5473-24

Polly's Gold²⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 8-4| J: Unknown| T: Karen George

Form: 2233-43

Forecasts

Battle Lines (5/2), Corazon Espinado (9/2), Travelcard (9/2), Carp Kid (6/1), Yamuna River (13/2), Mr Carbonator (8/1), Felisa (14/1)

Three-year-old handicaps are often difficult to work out and this one is no exception. Travelcard was very consistent as a two-year-old but he does have to overcome a fairly lengthy break and a career high mark as he returns to action. Both Felisa and Carp Kid look as though they need to find more improvement and it may be that CORAZON ESPINADO can continue her upward curve now that he has a handicap win to his name. Battle Lines looks the best of the James Tate pair although he could do with a real test of stamina at this trip.