18:45 Wolverhampton

Monday 5 March 2018

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

Betway Casino Handicap (Div 1)

Off time: 18:45 | Winning time: 2m 2.68s

(2)

Beepeecee^b³⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: Finley Marsh⁽⁵⁾| T: R Hughes| OR: 62| C

3/1

Scored here over 7f last year and best AW win so far came at Chelmsford (1m) from 3lb lower in October. Handicapper reluctant to drop him after some creditable efforts over a variety of trips and may again find a couple too good.

Form: 4387-63

(3)

Candesta^t⁷⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 9-7| J: Daniel Muscutt| T: Miss J Feilden| OR: 60

25/1

Put a poor run of form behind him with a 5L win at Southwell (1m) when last seen in December. Up 7lb for that, but has won from higher than this on All Weather in the relatively recent past. Claims if in the mood but consistency not his strong suit.

Form: 670051-

(5)

Polar Forest^e/s²⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 9-6| J: P Makin| T: R C Guest| OR: 59| CD

22/1

Scored over a similar trip from 7lb higher at Beverley last summer and has C&D winning form. Well held at Newcastle on return from a break last month and drops 3lb here as a result. Support for him would be interesting.

Form: 59978-8

(9)

Let Me In¹³

Age: 8| Weight: 9-5| J: Mitch Godwin⁽³⁾| T: B J Llewellyn| OR: 58| CD

33/1

Hasn't been the easiest to keep sound and is now without a win since a C&D success in November 2013. Was sent off at 50-1 on return from 650-day absence over C&D last month, when unluckily unseating and need to see more before getting involved.

Form: 82244/U

(6)

American Patrol^p²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: A Kirby| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 58| CD

11/8

Both his wins have been here (7f/1m½f), including last time out. Has gone up 4lb for that, but was thereabouts throughout and looked as though there would be more to come over this extra furlong. Should again be a leading player.

Form: 7000-71

(4)

John Caesar^p,t²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 9-1| J: Jason Hart| T: Rebecca Bastiman| OR: 54| CD

14/1

3-42 career profile, one of those successes being here over 1m½f in 2016, when 6lb higher. Not a bad effort back here again last time, but further 1lb drop looks unlikely to prove fruitful today on that evidence.

Form: 1537-85

(1)

Circling Vultures²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: Cam Hardie| T: A Brittain| OR: 52

14/1

Yet to get in a blow in handicaps, though still early days for him. Appears to handle this surface well enough and latest 3lb drop might enable him to get truly competitive for the first time. Market check looks prudent.

Form: 5650-78

(8)

Stamp Duty³¹

Age: 10| Weight: 8-9| J: L Morris| T: Suzzanne France| OR: 48| CD

10/1

Has won just 3-61 and although two of those have been here, the last of them was as far back as 2014. However, has been very competitive in all three recent defeats here over 1m½f and should not be far away from same mark as last time.

Form: 6/4222-4

(7)

Etaad^b⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 8-8| J: Nathan Evans| T: L Egerton| OR: 47| C

9/2

Has a 7f win to his name at the track, though best efforts have been at Lingfield. Ended a poor run of form with a decent effort over C&D last time and has a squeak from 4lb lower, although doubts over whether he can back up that run.

Form: 558-754

Forecasts

American Patrol (11/8), Beepeecee (3/1), Etaad (9/2), Stamp Duty (10/1), John Caesar (14/1), Circling Vultures (14/1), Polar Forest (22/1), Candesta (25/1), Let Me In (33/1)

Typical of this grade, a number of these have claims if able to run to their current optimum levels of ability, but consistency is not a given and the suggestion is AMERICAN PATROL. Neil Mulholland's gelding has to contend with a 4lb rise for winning over slightly shorter here last time and he has the scope for a bit more improvement, so gets the nod. Money for Polar Forest or Circling Vultures would be of interest, while Stamp Duty, Beepeecee and Candesta could all be in the mix if running as they can.