Betway Live Casino Apprentice Handicap

Off time: 17:10 | Winning time: 2m 28.11s

(1)

Luv U Whatever¹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 9-12| J: Sebastian Woods⁽³⁾| T: Mrs Marjorie Fife| OR: 73| CD

4/1

Has good form around here and a C&D record of 11212 to go with his eight wins on the Fibresand although he's not won here for nearly a year. Managed to end a long losing run on his penultimate start but might just find this mark beyond him.

Form: 053212

(2)

Sonnetist¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: Gabriele Malune⁽³⁾| T: P D Evans| OR: 72| CD

8/1

A perfect 1/1 over C&D he scored on his only start here so far in December and ran well enough on two of his three subsequent starts. Ran poorly last time out at Kempton and needs to bounce back returned the scene of his best recent form.

Form: 461-230

(3)

Star Ascending^b¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-11| J: Connor Murtagh⁽³⁾| T: J Candlish| OR: 72| CD

3/1

His last six runs have seen him record form figures of 122111 with his C&D form reading 21221 although the handicapper has hit home hard now. 9lb higher than his last win he'll need find some more improvement but does act well on this surface.

Form: 22-1111

(4)

Compatriot⁸^{(ex 6)}

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: Callum Shepherd| T: O Murphy| OR: 60

6/5

A move to this yard has seen him go two from two at Wolverhampton over 1m4f (well backed on each occasion). He's thriving for this yard but has an 8lb higher mark and a new surface to contend with against some Fibresand specialists.

Form: 7224-11

(5)

Oceanus²³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: Shelley Birkett| T: Miss J Feilden| OR: 62

12/1

Just the one run here so far but has work to do here based on that run which saw him finish 5th to Star Ascending. Comes from a yard that punch above their weight on Fibresand but overall does look to have a touch task.

Form: 036-635

Forecasts

Compatriot (6/5), Star Ascending (3/1), Luv U Whatever (4/1), Sonnetist (8/1), Oceanus (12/1)

An intriguing little handicap to close the card with the improving Compatriot looking to complete a hat-trick up a further 8lb in the handicap and now tackling a new surface although his sire has had a couple of winners here from a limited number of runners. Luv U Whatever won the selling stakes on this card last year but his recent win and subsequent rise in the weights may just put this race out of reach. STAR ASCENDING has really improved of late especially on this surface and although the handicapper is catching up with him fast he may have one last win in him. Both Sonnetist and Oceanus will need to show more than they have to take a hand here.