15:50 Wolverhampton

Thursday 22 March 2018

All14:1014:4015:1515:5016:2516:5517:2518:00

Betway Casino Handicap (Div 1)

Off time: 15:50 | Winning time: 1m 59.39s

(4)

Polar Forest^e/s⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 9-9| J: P J McDonald| T: R C Guest| OR: 57| CD

20/1

Dual C&D winner back in 2014 and hasn't won anywhere on synthetics since November 2016 (Newcastle). Fallen 14lb in the weights since early October, but generally out of form.

Form: 978-840

(9)

The Juggler^v¹⁴⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: Oisin Murphy| T: W J Knight| OR: 55

3/1

Returns to action following a winter break. Broke his duck at the 18th attempt at Chelmsford in August (1m2f), and a runner up off a mark very similar to today's on his next outing.

Form: 052128-

(1)

Deleyll^b²²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: A Kirby| T: J Butler| OR: 55

5/1

Still sits 5lb above his last winning mark (1m2f, Lingfield, June 2017). However, whilst entitled to have needed both starts last month returning from a break, there's equally no denying that he needs to up his game considerably.

Form: 0712-59

(2)

Feel The Vibes³³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: Josephine Gordon| T: M Blanshard| OR: 54

10/1

Remains a maiden after 12 starts, but there have been recent signs that he could be poised to strike; especially now upped marginally in trip. Ran fairly well on his sole start at Wolverhampton in July 2017, and he's 6lb lower today.

Form: 6450-44

(3)

Cockney Boy^t,v⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: S De Sousa| T: M Appleby| OR: 53| CD

3/1

Made all under a positive ride from Luke Morris over the extended mile here early last month to down Sir Lancelot by ¾L. Consistent since, but perhaps just signs that the 'blinkers effect' is faltering, and now 7lb higher.

Form: 4-51823

(6)

Gone With The Wind^p,t⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 9-3| J: D Tudhope| T: Rebecca Bastiman| OR: 51| CD

7/1

On the same mark from which he won off here last month (1m+), but contests a stronger race on this occasion. Feasible on the strength of his latest effort (fourth) that he could prove suited by this extra furlong.

Form: 001084

(5)

Jeremy's Jet^t²²

Age: 7| Weight: 9-1| J: George Downing| T: A W Carroll| OR: 49| CD

11/2

Broke the maiden tag on his 27th career start in a Class 7 handicap here latest (1m+), beating Joys Delight by a neck. That breakthrough success might just spur him onwards and upwards. 3lb higher.

Form: P6-3341

(8)

Spirit Of Gondree^v²³

Age: 10| Weight: 8-13| J: Liam Keniry| T: J M Bradley| OR: 47| CD

33/1

A six-time AW winner from 75 synthetics starts, but not since December 2015. Went close at Lingfield latest (1m), when beaten ¾L by Ravenhoe, but this longer trip mightn't prove ideal.

Form: 77-6672

(7)

Steel Helmet²²

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: Ben Robinson⁽⁵⁾| T: H Bethell| OR: 45

14/1

Ran a couple of fair races on the AW at Newcastle for Brian Ellison, but has seemingly regressed since joining this trainer and the win-less sequence has reached 18. Hard to enthuse over this maiden.

Form: 05-7055

Forecasts

The Juggler (3/1), Cockney Boy (3/1), Deleyll (5/1), Jeremy's Jet (11/2), Gone With The Wind (7/1), Feel The Vibes (10/1), Steel Helmet (14/1), Polar Forest (20/1), Spirit Of Gondree (33/1)

Not the strongest of contests, with a couple of recent Class 7 handicap winners (Jeremy's Jet and Gone With The Wind) featuring in the line up. The returning The Juggler obviously requires close scrutiny for William Knight, but in a race which won't take all that much winning we'll chance FEEL THE VIBES. Yet to break his duck (ex Richard Hannon), he's served notice of minor improvement over shorter trips recently, and from a fair mark (54), this extra yardage could see him squeeze out a fraction more for the excellent Josephine Gordon.