15:50 Wolverhampton

Thursday 16 August 2018

All13:2013:5014:2014:5015:2015:5016:2016:55

sportnation.bet Home Of Rewards Handicap

Off time: 15:52 | Winning time: 1m 29.36s

(7)

Fieldsman¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: S Donohoe| T: D C Griffiths| OR: 65| D

7/1

Without a win since May 2016, and 0-7 on the AW, but not beaten all that far on his penultimate start (third), and dropped 3lb since his run in a Class 3 handicap at Ascot last month; more realistic assignment.

Form: 946438

(10)

Showdance Kid¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: William Cox⁽⁵⁾| T: K Frost| OR: 65| CD

12/1

Difficult to pinpoint the reason for a lacklustre showing last month, but in good shape prior to that, and just 4lb higher than when scoring by ¾L from Weloof over C&D in June.

Form: 231127

(8)

Counter Spirit¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: David Probert| T: I Mohammed| OR: 63| BF

7/4

Not seen much racing, but placed on both starts in handicap company, including when a close up third over C&D last month; major chance off the same mark if able to reproduce that level of form.

Form: 43-723

(4)

Sarangoo⁶⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 9-5| J: J F Egan| T: M S Saunders| OR: 63| D

25/1

Long in the tooth, but 9lb below her last winning mark (September 2016), and finished runner-up to Viola Park on her last AW start at Kempton (7f) in May.

Form: 48-7278

(9)

Pushkin Museum¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 9-5| J: Tim Clark⁽³⁾| T: J Butler| OR: 63| C

14/1

Knows his way around here blindfolded (four-time 6f winner), but raced keenly when finishing sixth over this trip latest, and has plenty on with Counter Spirit (third) on that evidence.

Form: 540146

(5)

Juan Horsepower^p²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: Danny Brock| T: Jane Chapple-Hyam| OR: 61| C

8/1

Beaten just 2L in a 6f claimer here in July (Pushkin Museum behind), and claimed from Mick Appleby for £4,000; bogged down in the Newmarket mud on stable debut, but now returns to a more suitable contest.

Form: 378035

(1)

Secret Memories^p,t³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: Gavin Brouder⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss K Brown| OR: 61| D

6/1

Irish raider who was a winner on quick ground at Leopardstown (7f) last month, but was unable to get home after adopting forcing tactics in a C&D fillies' handicap on Monday; not without a chance if ridden with more restraint.

Form: 952134

(12)

African Blessing^p1⁴⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: William Carson| T: C Wallis| OR: 60| D

28/1

Bang out of form on turf since returning from a six month absence; his last win came in a Leicester seller in the summer of 2017 (for David Barron), and it's got to be a worry to see the cheekpieces now being sought.

Form: 4454-70

(6)

Caledonia Laird⁶¹

10/1

Had a short break (and wind surgery) since running at Bath in June (1m, firm), but competitively handicapped if that's done the trick; fully effective at Dunstall Park (regular C&D scorer) and noteworthy to see P J McDonald booked.

Form: 5-37155

(3)

Grey Destiny^p⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 9-1| J: Cam Hardie| T: A Brittain| OR: 59| CD

5/1

Best on the AW (4-41), and is a three-time C&D winner; sits just a couple of pounds above his last winning mark, and was narrowly denied at Newcastle last week, so should be thereabouts.

Form: 576052

(2)

Alqalsar³⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: T Hamilton| T: J M Bradley| OR: 59

33/1

Showed initial promise for Brian Meehan as a three-year-old, but moved on in November for just £8,000; failed to beat a single rival in three starts for this trainer dropping 14lbs in the handicap as a result.

Form: 522-805

Non-Runners

(11)

Cadeaux Boxer²²

Weight: 8-8| Age: 5

T: L Carter J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Counter Spirit (7/4), Grey Destiny (5/1), Secret Memories (6/1), Fieldsman (7/1), Juan Horsepower (8/1), Caledonia Laird (10/1), Showdance Kid (12/1), Pushkin Museum (14/1), Cadeaux Boxer (16/1), Sarangoo (25/1), African Blessing (28/1), Alqalsar (33/1)

Wolverhampton regulars Grey Destiny and Caledonia Laird are entitled to be on the premises, with the latter named particularly interesting under P J McDonald if able to show any further improvement for wind surgery (the market could prove helpful), but the least exposed runner in the race is COUNTER SPIRIT. She has made a pleasing start to life in handicap company, and has done well to avoid the unwanted attentions of the handicapper after her eye-catching staying on third to De Little Engine over C&D last month. Of the remainder, the top-weight Fieldsman should relish this marked ease in grade.