17:00 Wolverhampton

Saturday 10 March 2018

All13:3014:0514:4015:1515:5016:2517:00

Betway Casino Handicap

Off time: 17:02 | Winning time: 1m 58.95s

(10)

Indian Chief¹⁴³

Age: 8| Weight: 9-9| J: Jason Hart| T: Rebecca Bastiman| OR: 87

8/1

Hasn't raced on the AW since April 2017, and we can probably draw a line under his two previous synthetics starts (Southwell). Off since mid October, and useful on song, but looks high in the weights. Trip will suit.

Form: 136257-

(1)

Maratha^t¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: P J McDonald| T: S C Williams| OR: 85| BF| CD

4/1

C&D winner from a 7lb lower mark in December when beating Perfect Soldier by 2L. Continuing to run well from his revised mark, beaten 2L when a runner up to Ourmullion at Chelmsford latest (1m2f).

Form: 431-252

(3)

Georgian Bay^v²⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 9-6| J: C Lee⁽³⁾| T: K R Burke| OR: 84

10/1

On a fair mark, and 3 from 30 on synthetics, but all of those victories have come at Kempton (7f to 1m). Thereabouts over the extended mile here latest despite meeting trouble in the run, finishing fifth of eight to Able Jack.

Form: 072-645

(7)

Kreb's Cycle²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: B A Curtis| T: Ian Williams| OR: 81

7/2

Consistent on the AW over the course over the winter, rising 9lb in the weights since October (2,10,2,8,1,2). Beaten just ¾L by Able Jack over 1m+ here latest, but closely matched with Tha'ir (third) and Georgian Bay (fifth).

Form: 2028-12

(2)

Tha'ir²⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 9-2| J: L Morris| T: M Appleby| OR: 80| BF| CD

3/1

Rock-solid over C&D lately with a trio of pleasing efforts in the form book. A winner from a 4lb lower mark in late January, he went down by less than 1L to Able Jack (Kreb's Cycle second, Georgian Bay fifth) latest.

Form: 26-9123

(5)

Baz^p⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 9-2| J: P Mathers| T: D Shaw| OR: 80

25/1

A six time winner in France at around this trip, but barren since June 2016. Finished last on his stable debut in a 1m4f Class 2 handicap here on Monday.

Form: 59335-7

(9)

Laqab³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: T Hamilton| T: D Shaw| OR: 78

20/1

With Roger Varian when taking a 1m2f maiden at Newcastle in October 2016 (beat Dharoos by a neck), but for whatever reason didn't appear to train on and was sold for £20,000 in November. Will have needed his recent stable debut.

Form: 21/57-6

(6)

Bounderby⁴⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-9| J: A Mullen| T: D M Loughnane| OR: 73

14/1

Picked up for £17,000 in November (ex Andre Fabre), and is relatively unexposed after just six career starts. Finished 4L third to Maestro Mac over C&D latest, and has more to offer surprisingly dropped a further 2lb.

Form: 2304-63

(4)

Caramuru³¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 8-9| J: Raul Da Silva| T: Miss N L-Beavis| OR: 73

25/1

Cost £80,000 as a yearling, but has clearly had his share of problems, making the racecourse just three times for Richard Hannon. Handicap/stable debut on first start since April 2017. Cost £5,000 at Doncaster Sales in September 2017.

Form: 34/0-

(8)

Barnaby Brook^b⁵^{(ex 6)}

Age: 8| Weight: 8-9| J: R Kingscote| T: Tom Dascombe| OR: 67| CD

6/1

Has proved that he's suited by this track, but he's pitched into a much stronger race than the 1m+ claimer he took here on Monday by 1¼L from Captain Cat. Fitness assured, but others are more compelling.

Form: 627-421

Forecasts

Tha'ir (3/1), Kreb's Cycle (7/2), Maratha (4/1), Barnaby Brook (6/1), Indian Chief (8/1), Georgian Bay (10/1), Bounderby (14/1), Laqab (20/1), Baz (25/1), Caramuru (25/1)

Another tricky handicap to round off a solid afternoon of AW racing on the Tapeta at Wolverhampton. Fine margins split Tha'ir, Kreb's Cycle and Georgian Bay on their recent C&D clash behind Able Jack, with the first named just about preferred of that trio due to his recent level of consistency over C&D. Laqab is one to keep an eye on with the future in mind, but Maratha and BOUNDERBY are more interesting for the present. The selection steps up in grade, and we don't know an awful lot about him in truth (unexposed), but at decent odds from a fair looking mark in an open race he rates as a sporting bet.