20:15 Wolverhampton

Saturday 24 March 2018

All17:4518:1518:4519:1519:4520:1520:4521:15

Betway Handicap (Div 1)

Off time: 20:16 | Winning time: 1m 13.50s

(6)

Pushkin Museum¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-9| J: G Lee| T: P Morris| OR: 62| CD

4/1

Victorious over C&D in January and put in a couple of solid efforts in defeat here subsequently. Disappointed last time out however and races off a mark 2lb higher than for that latest success.

Form: 55-1548

(5)

Clergyman⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 9-8| J: D Tudhope| T: Rebecca Bastiman| OR: 61| CD

11/10

Winning for the third over C&D when justifying favouritism here last time out. Raised 8lb for that victory but remains of interest in what looks a competitive affair.

Form: 591391

(10)

Sky Gypsy¹⁷⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Jason Watson⁽⁷⁾| T: D H Brown| OR: 60

11/1

Signs of ability on her first two starts at two but disappointed since and had just two starts in 2017. Probably best watched at present.

Form: 351/50-

(3)

Spirit Of Zebedee^p¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: Jason Hart| T: J & S Quinn| OR: 59| D

25/1

Finished 1L third off a 7lb higher mark at Catterick (6f, soft) in October and handicap mark is falling following some poor efforts since. Market support would be interesting back over 6f.

Form: 303-900

(8)

Highly Focussed⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: F Norton| T: Mrs A Duffield| OR: 55| BF| D

3/1

Recorded his first victory when winning over this trip at Newcastle last month. Finished fourth off this mark here subsequently and he is one to note in this contest.

Form: 7526-14

(7)

Frank The Barber^p,t²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 8-13| J: Toby Eley⁽⁷⁾| T: Steph Hollinshead| OR: 52| C

14/1

Often runs well here and beaten just 1L over 6f at Lingfield last time out. Races off the same mark today and interesting despite this looking a tougher contest.

Form: 4-27843

(4)

Rapid Rise^b⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 8-7| J: William Cox⁽⁵⁾| T: J M Bradley| OR: 46

20/1

Not beaten far when finishing third in a Class 7 contest over C&D last month. Well beaten in this grade subsequently however and is a maiden after 23 starts.

Form: 6-28038

(1)

Celerity^p⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 8-7| J: Shelley Birkett⁽³⁾| T: L Williamson| OR: 45

40/1

Career best effort in finishing 3L third over C&d last time out. Maiden after 32 starts however and more needed in this company.

Form: 809463

Non-Runners

(2)

Nuzha¹

Weight: 9-2| Age: 4

T: A G Newcombe J: E J Walsh

(9)

Louis Vee¹

Weight: 8-7| Age: 10

T: J G M O'Shea J: Kate Leahy

Forecasts

Clergyman (11/10), Highly Focussed (3/1), Pushkin Museum (4/1), Sky Gypsy (11/1), Frank The Barber (14/1), Nuzha (16/1), Rapid Rise (20/1), Spirit Of Zebedee (25/1), Louis Vee (33/1), Celerity (40/1)

HIGHLY FOCUSSED can register his second success of the year by taking this 6f handicap contest. The selection was a winner at Newcastle last month and can take this with Clergyman taken to finish best of the remainder. Pushkin Museum was a winner here earlier this year and he can claim third on this occasion.