21:15 Wolverhampton

Friday 5 October 2018

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

Bank's Mild Handicap

Off time: 21:15 | Winning time: 1m 49.42s

(1)

Arabic Culture⁹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: Nicola Currie⁽³⁾| T: J A Osborne| OR: 67

12/1

Picked up from Godolphin for £10,000 last November having shown some promise on sole start for them. Well-beaten on both starts for this yard including AW debut and he clearly has been difficult to get right.

Form: 4-80

(11)

Baashiq¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: William Carson| T: P W Hiatt| OR: 67| CD

7/1

Dropped to a mark of 62 before scoring here a month ago. New rating takes him into territory that requires improvement.

Form: 785413

(2)

Good Authority³²

Age: 11| Weight: 9-4| J: L Morris| T: Paul George| OR: 67| C

33/1

Last win came four years ago and he has only had five races since. Young trainer has made a bright start to his career but it is still hard to be tempted to side with him.

Form: 1649/35

(8)

Spinart⁴⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: Rob Hornby| T: Mrs P Sly| OR: 67

9/1

Justified market confidence to open his account at Yarmouth despite idling in front. Handicapper has taken a realistic view on the quality of the form and he has gone well here in the past.

Form: 523351

(12)

Screaming Gemini¹³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: R Kingscote| T: D H Brown| OR: 66| BF

16/1

Ex-Roger Varian charge has claims on his close fourth at Kempton in April. The amount of headgear he has worn in the past suggests there have been issues, but no aids are fitted this time and it remains to be seen if a change of scenery has worked.

Form: 250-433

(9)

Dwight D^p²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: P Mathers| T: W Coltherd| OR: 66| CD

7/1

Form has been patchy in recent times, but took a big step in the right direction when 2L second of 13 to Motahassen at Carlisle. Failed to build on that next time but this is a more suitable trip.

Form: 060-627

(10)

New Orleans^v1²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: J Mitchell| T: H Palmer| OR: 70

9/2

Ten-race maiden is becoming frustrating. Best efforts came when first wearing cheekpieces and likewise when blinkers were applied. Wears a visor for the first-time here.

Form: 344255

(6)

Celtic Artisan^b,t²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 9-1| J: Cam Hardie| T: R Menzies| OR: 64| CD

11/2

Has won seven Flat races, including four over C&D, but all have come in lesser company than this and all bar one have been from lower marks.

Form: 621214

(7)

Oskemen^b1²³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: Edward Greatrex| T: A Watson| OR: 68

9/2

Given an enterprising ride last time when just failing to make all at Kempton. Blinkers are on this time but he is taking on better company.

Form: 682273

(3)

Brigand¹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Tim Clark⁽³⁾| T: J Butler| OR: 67

50/1

Left Willie Haggas after a handful of starts and three runs for current yard have seen him finish well beaten off. Hard to make much of a case for in current form.

Form: 832000

(4)

Straight Ash¹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Ben Robinson⁽³⁾| T: Ollie Pears| OR: 67| D

14/1

Won at Brighton in July for Richard Hannon before joining current yard and adding a third career victory when sent to Musselburgh. Has shaped well here in the past but improvement needed off this mark.

Form: 175215

(13)

Retribution^b1³¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: S Donohoe| T: D R Lanigan| OR: 63| BF

14/1

Has come in for support on last three starts including last month's comeback. Found little for pressure and now wears blinkers over a shorter trip.

Form: 08/246-6

(5)

Odds On Oli⁴⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: T Hamilton| T: R A Fahey| OR: 67

12/1

Has winning for on this surface but handicap mark has suffered for his two victories earlier in the year. Last of 12 on latest start and has had a break since.

Form: 334560

Forecasts

New Orleans (9/2), Oskemen (9/2), Celtic Artisan (11/2), Baashiq (7/1), Dwight D (7/1), Spinart (9/1), Arabic Culture (12/1), Odds On Oli (12/1), Straight Ash (14/1), Retribution (14/1), Screaming Gemini (16/1), Good Authority (33/1), Brigand (50/1)

Few of these have appealing profiles and it will be interesting to see if another change of headgear inspires New Orleans. Retribution is proving expensive to follow and may come on for support again with headgear fitted over a shorter trip, whilst Oskemen is tried in blinkers having marginally failed to get home last time. SPINART took 18 races to open his account and made hard work of it. He gets a tentative vote in the hope it aids his confidence as well as his previous form around here.