16:15 Wolverhampton

Monday 17 December 2018

All16:1516:4517:1517:4518:1518:4519:1519:45

Betway Amateur Riders' Handicap

Off time: 16:15 | Winning time: 2m 1.05s

(9)

Red Touch^v²⁰²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Mr James Kendrick⁽⁵⁾| T: M Appleby| OR: 73| CD

25/1

Course winner over 1m½f but that way back in 2015. Four runs in the spring saw him win once at Southwell but was well beaten latest on turf when last of eight and possibly need this first run back.

Form: 27-7148

(1)

Zaeem²⁶⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 10-13| J: Miss Kayleigh Rayner⁽⁷⁾| T: I Furtado| OR: 72| CD

20/1

Dual 1m½f course winner (2014 and 2015) won twice over 7f at Southwell last winter but arrives here off quite a lengthy absence and this trip possibly stretches his stamina to the limit these days.

Form: 31-1289

(7)

Agent Gibbs^p⁴¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Miss Brodie Hampson| T: J G M O'Shea| OR: 71

9/2

Having missed all of last season he hasn't been the most consistent this term but has a couple of good seconds on AW including latest at Kempton over 1m4f where he's done most of his racing. Could go well but drop in trip a negative.

Form: 660902

(12)

Sunshineandbubbles^p¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-10| J: Miss Serena Brotherton| T: J Candlish| OR: 69| CD

12/1

Three time C&D winner has rather uncompelling recent form at first glance including last three here but twice she's not stayed 1m4f and got an awful trip in between over 1m2f. Back to last winning mark now but draw again the worry.

Form: 488009

(3)

First Dance¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 10-10| J: Mr William Easterby| T: T P Tate| OR: 69| BF

4/1

Failed to kick on from August Pontefract success (1m2f) but signs of improvement at Redcar in October. Didn't possibly stay 1m4f last time out here but running well until final 1f so this trip offers hope from an each way perspective.

Form: 168376

(13)

French Mix⁴¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-8| J: Miss H Welch⁽⁵⁾| T: Alexandra Dunn| OR: 67| C

11/1

1m4f course winner in May has since won her first turf race over 1m2f at Brighton. Latest third of 13 here over 1m4f a sound enough effort although she merely stayed on at one pace. Could go well if made more use of over this trip.

Form: 432193

(6)

Energia Flavio¹⁰⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-4| J: Mr Matthew Ennis⁽⁵⁾| T: P Morris| OR: 63| CD

20/1

Dual course winner this season, a 1m½f seller and more recently a 7f claimer. Impressed in the later win and ran well again the next twice before a slightly less encouraging effort here latest. Trip the major doubt here with 7f seemingly ideal.

Form: 401536

(10)

Light Of Air^b²³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-4| J: Miss Katy Brooks⁽⁷⁾| T: G & J Moore| OR: 63

7/1

None from 11 this year but several sound turf efforts in the summer and latest effort at Lingfield (AW) was encouraging when he was a close eighth after a very slow start and traffic problems 2f out. Genuine chance here if starting on terms.

Form: 322348

(4)

Sotomayor^t¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 10-3| J: Oscar Palmer⁽⁷⁾| T: R Hannon| OR: 64

25/1

1m4f Lingfield winner hasn't really performed in three races post wind surgery but he has finished tamely in each of them over 1m3f-1m4f so might just be that this shorter trip could be what he's been crying out for.

Form: 628770

(5)

Berlusca⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 10-3| J: B Roberts⁽⁷⁾| T: D Loughnane| OR: 62| CD

11/2

C&D win latest was his fifth but first for three years. Only beat the five rivals there but gets away without any additional weight from the handicapper so surely a leading contender in a race where few rivals arrive in form.

Form: 444661

(2)

Matravers^p²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: Mr Patrick Berkins⁽⁷⁾| T: M Keighley| OR: 61

12/1

Not won since with Sir Michael Stoute in 2014. Returned from an uninspiring spell over hurdles latest when ninth of 14 at Kempton. That gives him a fair bit to find and suggest this trip sharp enough.

Form: 47235-9

(8)

Mr Red Clubs^p¹⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 10-0| J: Mr Frederick Tett| T: H Tett| OR: 59| CD

10/1

Nine-time course winner (twice C&D) managed fair fourths here (1m½f) and at Kempton (1m) latest and both times doing best work late on. Return to this trip coupled with an ease in handicap gives him very solid each way claims here.

Form: 456844

(11)

Thunderhooves^t1⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-12| J: C J Todd⁽⁵⁾| T: J Ryan| OR: 53

50/1

Unplaced in nine career starts and after two unsuccessful hurdle races he was beaten 23L back on the level latest in a class 6 contest at Chelmsford. Long way out of the handicap and makes little appeal.

Form: 0-85580

Forecasts

First Dance (4/1), Agent Gibbs (9/2), Berlusca (11/2), Light Of Air (7/1), Mr Red Clubs (10/1), French Mix (11/1), Sunshineandbubbles (12/1), Matravers (12/1), Energia Flavio (20/1), Zaeem (20/1), Sotomayor (25/1), Red Touch (25/1), Thunderhooves (50/1)

In a race sorely lacking in form runners recent C&D winner BERLUSCA rather stands out from that perspective and with his handicap unchanged for that success David Loughnane's nine-year-old looks the one to be on. Light Of Air caught the eye last time out after a woeful start and if he starts better today he ought to go close. Also on the shortlist is Mr Red Clubs who loves it here and he has now been given a chance by the handicapper.