19:15 Wolverhampton

Friday 12 October 2018

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

Follow At The Races On Instagram Handicap

Off time: 19:15 | Winning time: 2m 42.71s

(8)

Intrepidly¹⁹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: Jason Watson| T: H Spiller| OR: 87

16/1

Successful in a 1m2f Windsor handicap last July, but has been unable to get his head in front since. Plugged on after a slow start at Kempton in March, but more required to figure, accepting that this represents a drop in class for new yard.

Form: 704-368

(10)

Vale Do Sol¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-10| J: L Morris| T: G Peckham| OR: 85

16/1

Multiple winner in Bahrain for Fawzi Nass, and best effort for current yard when a keeping-on fifth over C&D last month. That form not the most solid, and he failed to build on it at Pontefract last time.

Form: 278758

(11)

Super Kid^t¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-10| J: Rob Hornby| T: T D Easterby| OR: 85| CD

16/1

seen to maximum effect when runner-up in a 1m5f handicap at Chester last month, and efforts either side of that run suggests he will struggle to regain winning ways here.

Form: 506205

(4)

Cotton Club³²

Age: 7| Weight: 9-9| J: William Cox⁽⁵⁾| T: N R Mitchell| OR: 84| C| D

50/1

Course winner for Rod Millman early last year, but failed to go on after a fair start over hurdles for Dr Richard Newland, and joined current yard after being beaten in a selling event at Newton Abbot last month.

Form: 713336-

(1)

Agent Gibbs¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: Kate Leahy⁽⁷⁾| T: J G M O'Shea| OR: 77| D

25/1

Gained back-to-back wins on turf in September 2016, but absent for 19 months afterwards, and form this season is patchy at best. Ran poorly last time, and hard to fancy despite getting close to last winning mark.

Form: 428660

(5)

King Kevin^b⁵⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: F Norton| T: E A L Dunlop| OR: 76| CD

10/1

Much improved over the winter, and has gained four course wins in the last year; has struggled recently having climbed the weights, although latest flop at Newmarket forgiven in isolation, and just 1lb above last winning mark now.

Form: 125770

(9)

Noble Expression³²³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: J Mitchell| T: R Varian| OR: 81WS

9/4

Progressive as a juvenile, winning a 1m novice at Chelmsford on final outing. Not seen since, but been gelded and had wind surgery since that win, and fitness unlikely to be an issue on his return. Can go close.

Form: 861-

(3)

Star Ascending¹⁴⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 8-13| J: A Mullen| T: J Candlish| OR: 74| CD

20/1

Has been in sparkling form for some time on the AW, subsequently rising significantly in the weights. Wasn't suited by the way the race panned out here on penultimate start, and far from disgraced at Doncaster since. Headgear off now.

Form: 461135

(7)

Mapped²⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: Callum Shepherd| T: C Hills| OR: 79| BF| D

9/4

Solid rather than progressive, and has come up a tad short on all three handicap starts, but did win a novice auction event at Kempton on penultimate outing, and should be competitive on form.

Form: 462413

(6)

Sunshineandbubbles^p¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-11| J: Rossa Ryan⁽³⁾| T: J Candlish| OR: 72| CD

20/1

No impact on turf in three starts after a summer break, but she is a better performer on this surface, and just 3lb higher than when winning here in April. Place claims if finding best form.

Form: 125488

(2)

Charlie D^p⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-7| J: Liam Jones| T: Tom Dascombe| OR: 74| CD

4/1

100/1 winner of a C&D novice in August, and better form when a rallying second to Rustang in handicap company here last time. Fairly treated off same mark, but has looked an awkward ride. Cheekpieces retained.

Form: 413032

Forecasts

Noble Expression (9/4), Mapped (9/4), Charlie D (4/1), King Kevin (10/1), Vale Do Sol (16/1), Super Kid (16/1), Intrepidly (16/1), Star Ascending (20/1), Sunshineandbubbles (20/1), Agent Gibbs (25/1), Cotton Club (50/1)

This contest may well be fought out by a trio of unexposed three-year-olds, with handicap debutant NOBLE EXPRESSION preferred having had a wind operation and been gelded since winning at Chelmsford last autumn. Mapped is reliable, and should make a decent fist of things again, for all he's not exactly progressive, and he's preferred to Charlie D for minor honours. The latter has run well on all three recent starts here, but might benefit from more severe headgear.