19:15 Wolverhampton

Thursday 29 March 2018

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

Betway Casino Claiming Stakes

Off time: 19:50 | Winning time: 2m 1.94s

(6)

Tha'ir⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 9-1| J: Josephine Gordon| T: M Appleby| OR: 79| CD

8/11

Not the force of old but still useful at this level and has won twice over C&D in the last nine weeks, including in a seller last time out. Yard in good form and, on balance, looks the one they all have to beat.

Form: 912361

(3)

Nobel Duke¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: S W Kelly| T: M Scudamore

33/1

Ran creditably here on only three-year-old start when with William Haggas. Absent 599 days before tackled hurdles for new connections with little success. Didn't show much returned to the Flat last time ahn has something to prove at present.

Form: 3/0

(4)

Thecornishbarron^p1¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: William Cox⁽⁵⁾| T: A Sadik| OR: 54| D

66/1

0-13 on AW and only career success came on turf at Yarmouth nearly two years ago. Has little obvious chance on these terms and others make far more appeal.

Form: 5300-56

(2)

Athassel²⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 8-12| J: S M Levey| T: P D Evans| OR: 71| C

10/1

Has decent record of 8-37 wins on AW but not beyond 7f, so this trip would seem likely to stretch this veteran's stamina to the very limit. Weakened over furlong less here last time so looks up against it.

Form: 46-5594

(1)

Barnaby Brook^b⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 8-11| J: Elisha Whittington⁽⁷⁾| T: Tom Dascombe| OR: 73| CD

2/1

3lb better off with Tha'ir on thier running here last time but was beaten six lengths. Young apprentice rider's 7lb claim helps the cause but will do well to bridge the gap.

Form: 7-42122

(7)

Black Dave^v¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 8-8| J: K T O'Neill| T: P D Evans| OR: 60| CD

25/1

Run badly on both starts since returning from mid-winter break but had previously landed 10f Lingfield seller in good style. Has something to find on these terms but cannot be dismissed completely out of hand.

Form: 99P1-07

Non-Runners

(5)

Start Seven¹⁴

Weight: 9-2| Age: 6

T: J A Osborne J: J P Spencer

Forecasts

Tha'ir (8/11), Barnaby Brook (2/1), Start Seven (5/2), Athassel (10/1), Black Dave (25/1), Nobel Duke (33/1), Thecornishbarron (66/1)

THA'IR is proven at this trip and looks a safer bet than his likely main market rival Start Seven, who might find things happening quicker than he would ideally like. The selection scored comfortably last time out in selling company, and while this is tougher he should still come out on top. Barnaby Brook chased Tha'ir home last time and is a litle better off at the weights but it won't be easy for him to reverse the places, while a fair display from Black Dave is possible, although he has something to find on figures to win.