17:15 Wolverhampton

Monday 17 December 2018

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

Betway Heed Your Hunch Handicap (Div 1)

Off time: 17:17 | Winning time: 1m 14.12s

(8)

Dutiful Son²⁵⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 9-8| J: E J Walsh⁽³⁾| T: Emma Owen| OR: 71| D

33/1

Prolific 6f-7f AW scorer not beaten far in most recent starts earlier this year. Returns from a lengthy absence here but does so off a now quite workable mark.

Form: 156536

(1)

Fast Track¹⁸¹

7/1

18 race losing streak stretches back to January 2017 when he won here over 6f. Had a wind op since his last race back in the summer and mark could be workable if he's ready post layoff.

Form: 435970

(7)

A Sure Welcome^p²³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: Liam Keniry| T: J L Spearing| OR: 69| BF| CD

4/1

Close second at Kempton (6f) in penultimate start and only beaten 1½L when fifth of 11 last time out here over 5f. Return to this trip makes him a leading player.

Form: 037525

(12)

Poeta Brasileiro²⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: Raul Da Silva| T: J Santos| OR: 67| D

6/1

Thrice-raced colt made all to win a 6f Kempton novice event last time out. Little more needed now but opening mark far from impossible with promise of more improvement.

Form: 631

(10)

Equally Fast^h⁴⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 9-4| J: David Probert| T: R Harris| OR: 67| C| D

14/1

Less prolific these days (one win since 2016) and last two races since a break both some way below best. Good bit more needed now and suspect 5f is preferable.

Form: 0-51300

(9)

Independence Day¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: Joey Haynes| T: P Howling| OR: 67

7/1

Two career wins both over 5f but ran on well latest over 6f at Lingfield when third of 10, his second start since a layoff. Handicap the same here so bold bid again expected.

Form: 00-1053

(3)

Oriental Relation^b²³

Age: 7| Weight: 9-3| J: Lewis Edmunds| T: J Balding| OR: 66| CD

20/1

Not won this year but latest seventh on his first run since May saw him only beaten just over 3L. Entitled to come on for that now so has place possibilities here.

Form: 800807

(5)

Our Man In Havana²⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: William Cox⁽³⁾| T: R J Price| OR: 66| CD

8/1

Got up on the line latest when winning over 5f here. Step up to 6f should suit this previous 7f winner so that can negate the 4lb rise and he therefore rates a leading contender.

Form: 676701

(4)

Mansfield²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: R Winston| T: Mrs Stella Barclay| OR: 63

9/2

Lone win came on turf and back in 2015. Entitled to improve for latest midfield return from a break but remains overall a risky proposition.

Form: 927766

(11)

The Golden Cue¹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: Toby Eley⁽⁷⁾| T: Steph Hollinshead| OR: 62

40/1

Dual 5f turf winner seemed a non-stayer over 6f in only previous try although that on heavy ground at Carlisle. Better chance here but still doubts persist.

Form: 691805

(6)

Broken Wings^b1¹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: P J McDonald| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 59

12/1

14-race maiden has been tried over trips from 5f-1m without success. First-time blinkers need to spark a revival with form otherwise seemingly regressive.

Form: 703005

(2)

Brockey Rise¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-8| J: Hollie Doyle| T: P D Evans| OR: 57| CD

16/1

7f winner here in September but beaten a total of five rivals in as many starts since. Significant improvement needed on those efforts so others preferred.

Form: 109700

Forecasts

A Sure Welcome (4/1), Mansfield (9/2), Poeta Brasileiro (6/1), Fast Track (7/1), Independence Day (7/1), Our Man In Havana (8/1), Broken Wings (12/1), Equally Fast (14/1), Brockey Rise (16/1), Oriental Relation (20/1), Dutiful Son (33/1), The Golden Cue (40/1)

An open looking contest but the vote goes to INDEPENDENCE DAY who ran on well for third latest on his second race post-layoff so he should be ready to now get back to winning ways in the near future. Also respected is recent winner Our Man In Havana who should be even better suited by this trip having won over 5f. A Sure Welcome is another going well in recent times so should also be thereabouts.