18:00 Wolverhampton

Thursday 22 March 2018

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

sunbets.co.uk Handicap

Off time: 18:00 | Winning time: 1m 49.13s

(11)

Arlecchino's Leap¹⁰^{(ex 6)}

Age: 6| Weight: 10-0| J: Jason Watson⁽⁷⁾| T: M D I Usher| OR: 66| C

13/2

Handles this track, and whilst yet to score over further than 7f here, he arrives on a hat-trick following successive 1m victories at Chelmsford. Penalty to carry, but once more is handled by a talented 7lb claimer. Wide draw.

Form: 576411

(2)

Ruby Gates¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: Tim Clark⁽³⁾| T: J Butler| OR: 65

50/1

1-18, that sole success being over 1m4f at Dundalk last April from 1lb lower. Not threatened in a couple of recent starts for this trainer, so best ignored at present.

Form: 1777-96

(8)

Foie Gras^p¹⁶⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 9-7| J: S De Sousa| T: C A Dwyer| OR: 65| C

20/1

Finished lame when tailed off at Chelmsford (1m) in October and hasn't seen any action since, so clearly has a few fitness concerns to address. 8 from 58 on the AW, and goes on any artificial surface.

Form: 336960-

(6)

Tellovoi^v⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 9-5| J: P Makin| T: R C Guest| OR: 63| BF| C

12/1

Quirky sort who is a previous course winner, and was beaten just ½L on his last visit to Wolverhampton (7f) in February. Tamer efforts elsewhere since and stamina to prove over this trip.

Form: 123355

(1)

Scribner Creek⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: P J McDonald| T: I Furtado| OR: 62| BF| CD

11/8

Not won for over 11 months, but is a dual C&D winner who arrives in good form on the back of a solid run at Southwell last week (1m) when beaten just over 1L by Illusional. One to consider.

Form: 755-D52

(12)

Shamlan^p²²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-4| J: T Hamilton| T: K Frost| OR: 62| CD

10/1

A C&D winner on his most recent start last month, and raised 3lb for that success with the runner up Critical Thinking scoring subsequently. Not ideally drawn in stall 12, so that's a major barrier to further success.

Form: 002-031

(9)

Kafoo¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: Kevin Lundie⁽⁵⁾| T: M Appleby| OR: 61

12/1

Made the most of an easing mark to score by ½L at Chelmsford latest (1m). Far from a regular winner overall, but races unpenalised for that apprentices handicap success and has made the frame twice over 7f here since November.

Form: 5-03701

(4)

Scrutiny^p,t¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 9-0| J: Josephine Gordon| T: K A Ryan| OR: 58| CD

10/1

Sprung an almighty shock when winning at odds of 66/1 over C&D last month, and finished a close up fourth behind tonight's poorly drawn rival Shamlan next time. Holds a chance, but no more and others likely stronger.

Form: 00-0147

(5)

Bop It^t⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 8-13| J: Harrison Shaw⁽⁷⁾| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 57

80/1

Profited from a career low mark (55) when winning at Southwell in early January, but that success came over the minimum 5f trip so he's massively risky over this extended mile.

Form: 9-10284

(10)

Warofindependence^p³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 8-13| J: Ben Robinson⁽⁵⁾| T: J G M O'Shea| OR: 57

33/1

Runner up off an 18lb higher mark at Kempton in June 2016 for previous trainer Alan Bailey, but that's many a moon ago now, and this 13-race maiden has hardly set tongues wagging since.

Form: 78/5-597

(3)

Cookie Ring^t¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 8-11| J: Faye McManoman⁽⁷⁾| T: L A Mullaney| OR: 55| CD

10/1

Goes well for this rider and already twice a winner this winter for Kristin Stubbs. Beaten 1½L by surprise winner Highwayman over 1m at Newcastle on his first start for this trainer latest. Up 3lb, but this hold-up performer merits respect.

Form: 151-922

(13)

Surewhynot^t1⁶⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-10| J: Ben Coen⁽⁷⁾| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 54

12/1

A nine race maiden, but placed over this trip at Dundalk in December for previous trainer Sabrina Harty. Tongue tied on stable debut which could lead to an improved effort, but cruelly is drawn widest of all in stall 13.

Form: 04030-6

(7)

Play With Me³¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 8-8| J: Connor Beasley| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 52

28/1

Beaten a keeping on 4L third (stablemate second) on her handicap debut at Ayr in May (7f good to firm). Not seen since, but back on the AW today with the market providing the best guide to her chances.

Form: 5453-

Forecasts

Scribner Creek (11/8), Arlecchino's Leap (13/2), Scrutiny (10/1), Cookie Ring (10/1), Shamlan (10/1), Tellovoi (12/1), Surewhynot (12/1), Kafoo (12/1), Foie Gras (20/1), Play With Me (28/1), Warofindependence (33/1), Ruby Gates (50/1), Bop It (80/1)

Question marks against many of these horses for one reason or another (trip, form, draw) and a wide berth could scupper the chances of some of the more interesting runners including the hat-trick seeking Arlecchino's Leap, the recent C&D winner Shamlan and the first time tongue tied Irish raider Surewhynot. Both Kafoo and Cookie Ring merit respect from inside draws, but Ivan Furtado's dual C&D winner SCRIBNER CREEK rates as the selection. He's been barren for the best part of 12 months now, but showed his well-being at Southwell last week (runner up) and can be fancied to regain the winning mentality.