19:00 Wolverhampton

Thursday 18 October 2018

All17:2518:0018:3019:0019:3020:0020:3021:00

attheraces.com Handicap

Off time: 19:01 | Winning time: 1m 28.14s

(3)

Nezar⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 9-7| J: Jack Duern⁽³⁾| T: D K Ivory| OR: 78| CD

8/1

C&D winner who is easing in the weights; 3lb lower than when beaten a neck by Treacherous at Kempton (7f) in June; poorly drawn latest.

Form: 125760

(8)

Mon Beau Visage^v¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: M Harley| T: D O'Meara| OR: 78| D

9/2

Runner up in a 1m Class 4 handicap at Redcar last month; no issues with Tapeta (past Newcastle winner) despite being campaigned much more frequently on turf.

Form: 044274

(1)

Baltic Prince¹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 9-6| J: Elisha Whittington⁽⁷⁾| T: A W Carroll| OR: 77| CD

11/1

7-45 on the AW; 6lb higher than when making all to score by 2L at Brighton (1m, good to firm) in September, but has run well enough for this rider at Chester (7f, good to soft) since.

Form: 243013

(6)

Harry Beau^b,t³¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: K Shoemark| T: P D Evans| OR: 77| D

25/1

Pacy sort who isn't fully exposed on the AW (0-3). However, has risen sharply in the weights for a productive spell on turf between May and July (6f-7f), so isn't that well treated as a result.

Form: 309584

(2)

No I'm Easy^p⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Patrick Pilley⁽³⁾| T: Tom Dascombe| OR: 78

10/1

Has limited AW experience (0-2), but the switch to Polytrack (from turf) at Kempton last week didn't muster any renewed enthusiasm; 1lb above his last winning mark (1m, Haydock).

Form: 541900

(10)

Art Echo^p,t¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: L Morris| T: J Mackie| OR: 75| CD

16/1

Finished last of 13 to War Department over 7f at Newcastle latest, but his record over this C&D (412) offers more encouragement; 5lb higher than when beating Fashaar by 1¼L in July.

Form: 679120

(9)

Shepherd's Purse¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 9-4| J: Edward Greatrex| T: D Loughnane| OR: 75| D

14/1

0-14 on the AW, and it's been an increasing tale of woe of late; vulnerable over this extended 7f trip, but on a more cautiously optimistic note, is 8lb lower than when finishing runner up at Ayr (6f) in June.

Form: 660909

(7)

Critical Thinking¹³²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: Joey Haynes| T: D Loughnane| OR: 74| CD

25/1

Stablemate of Shepherd's Purse; in excellent form at this track during the spring with a record of 121 over C&D in April and May; just 1lb above his last winning mark and fresh from a 132 day absence; much respected.

Form: 112184

(4)

Two Weeks⁶²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: A Kirby| T: C G Cox| OR: 76| C

7/2

Lightly-raced filly (1-1 on AW); yet to compete beyond 6f, but that shouldn't be an issue on pedigree (half-sister to the UAE 1m winner Expert Answer); beaten just over 2L when fourth of eight at Nottingham (6f, good) in August.

Form: 51-024

(5)

Ginbar¹⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: R Kingscote| T: Tom Dascombe| OR: 76

4/1

AW debut; twice a winner over 6f on turf and campaigned mainly at that distance accordingly; looked to be a very dubious stayer when tried over 1m (soft) at Windsor last week.

Form: 723359

(11)

Prestbury Park⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: P J McDonald| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 75

10/1

Hasn't seen any AW action since March (0-3), but is most helpfully 14lb lower now after an unproductive summer on turf; noted make strong late progress when finishing 4+L third to Spirit Of Wedza at Catterick (6f) last week; chance.

Form: 284053

Non-Runners

(12)

Plentyinthetanksir⁹

Weight: 9-1| Age: 3

T: D M Simcock J: George Bass

Forecasts

Two Weeks (7/2), Ginbar (4/1), Mon Beau Visage (9/2), Plentyinthetanksir (7/1), Nezar (8/1), No I'm Easy (10/1), Prestbury Park (10/1), Baltic Prince (11/1), Shepherd's Purse (14/1), Art Echo (16/1), Harry Beau (25/1), Critical Thinking (25/1)

It often pays to be wary of eye-catching (unlucky) fast finishers, and there are a couple of horses in this race who fit that profile. Both Prestbury Park and PLENTYINTHETANKSIR were a shade unfortunate some sixty or so miles apart on the same day last week at Catterick and Newcastle respectively. The inexperienced George Bass picked up a 10-day ban for setting his mount too much to do on the Tapeta, and whilst this wide draw isn't ideal, given his hold up run style there's every likelihood that a low draw wouldn't have suited either. However, this 3yo appeals as an ultra progressive horse who can overcome such an obstacle. Critical Thinking is also noteworthy.