16:35 Wolverhampton

Friday 4 January 2019

All16:0516:3517:1017:4518:1518:4519:1519:45

Betway Casino Handicap

Off time: 16:35 | Winning time: 2m 37.20s

(8)

Agent Gibbs¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 9-8| J: Kate Leahy⁽⁷⁾| T: J G M O'Shea| OR: 71| D

25/1

Returned to form when second over 1m4f at Kempton on penultimate start, but then finished last of 13 dropped back to 1m1½f next time when racing very wide. Back up in trip, but risky.

Form: 609020-

(11)

Star Ascending^p¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 9-7| J: J P Sullivan| T: J Candlish| OR: 70| CD

25/1

Three-time C&D winner, and scored six time in all last year. Despite that, he is quickly below his last winning mark, and could be dangerous in a change of headgear after a couple of lesser efforts at Southwell.

Form: 574475-

(3)

Tor³²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: J Fanning| T: I Jardine| OR: 70

4/1

Big chance on his turf form, and won at Hamilton in July, but record on this surface is nowhere near as solid, and he's opposable despite taking the eye over hurdles on his latest appearance.

Form: 251346-

(9)

Iftiraaq^p³⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 9-4| J: Edward Greatrex| T: D Loughnane| OR: 67WS

7/1

Not the force of old, but fared better than for some time when 1¾L second of 11 to Champarisi over C&D last time, and every chance if he can maintain that level of form, having undergone wind surgery since.

Form: 40/7602-

(10)

Para Mio^t²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: M Harley| T: S Durack| OR: 68| D

13/8

Has stepped up with every run since returning from a break/wind surgery in October, and better than the bare margin when scoring over 1m4½f at Newcastle last time, where the modest pace was against him. One to keep on side.

Form: 9/86521-

(7)

Ice Canyon^h²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: E J Walsh⁽³⁾| T: W M Brisbourne| OR: 64

8/1

Good second over C&D last time, and claims with a repeat, but he's won just once from 26 starts in this sphere, and consistency isn't his strong suit.

Form: 790042-

(1)

Epitaph^v⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: Alistair Rawlinson| T: M Appleby| OR: 63| D

7/1

Not one to rely on, as a record of one win from 37 starts would imply, and while he has a visor refitted after a respectable effort here last time, others are more convincing.

Form: 894556-

(5)

Let's Be Happy^b¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 8-13| J: K T O'Neill| T: Miss M E Rowland| OR: 62| CD

33/1

Won back-to-back races over C&D in the summer, but she hasn't been firing fully of late, and needs to find her best form if she's to have a realistic chance.

Form: 129080-

(2)

Natch¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: P Mathers| T: M J Attwater| OR: 65

25/1

Made a fair start for John Gosden, but ultimately failed to progress for that yard, and hasn't done much to encourage support since changing stables.

Form: 235408-

(4)

Qayed¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: David Probert| T: W M Brisbourne| OR: 63

14/1

Didn't go on from debut promise for David Simcock, and yet to show enough for new yard to suggest he could play a significant role here.

Form: 4/9698-

Non-Runners

(6)

Dream Magic⁴⁹

Weight: 9-3| Age: 5

T: D M Loughnane J: A Mullen

Forecasts

Para Mio (13/8), Tor (4/1), Iftiraaq (7/1), Epitaph (7/1), Ice Canyon (8/1), Qayed (14/1), Star Ascending (25/1), Agent Gibbs (25/1), Natch (25/1), Dream Magic (25/1), Let's Be Happy (33/1)

PARA MIO is open to further progress, and has put together a solid series of results, culminating in success at Newcastle last time despite the race not being run to suit. He makes easily the most appeal here, with Star Ascending and Iftiraaq the most likely to throw down a challenge on recent evidence.