18:55 Wolverhampton

Monday 28 January 2019

All16:5017:2517:5518:2518:5519:2519:5520:25

Ladbrokes Home Of The Odds Boost Handicap

Off time: 18:56 | Winning time: 1m 49.41s

(11)

Smoki Smoka⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: R Kingscote| T: Tom Dascombe| OR: 69

9/1

Ordinary form posted so far and didn't show much improvement here when down the field on first start since being gelded; plenty to prove at present.

Form: 45-7

(1)

Beryl The Petal¹¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: C J McGovern⁽³⁾| T: D O'Meara| OR: 69

8/1

Holding her form well and has been placed three times here lately. Worth another try over this trip but has a bit to find. The betting can guide but the filly looks risky for a win only punt.

Form: 2424-23

(12)

Ned Mackay^b1¹⁰²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Adam J McNamara| T: H & R Charlton| OR: 69

16/1

Latest start is hard to assess as the gelding became upset in the stalls and possibly he had boiled over before the race had even begun. Wears blinkers for the first time and has a wide draw to contend with on his handicap debut.

Form: 769-

(8)

War And Glory¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: Callum Rodriguez| T: J Tate| OR: 68| C

11/2

Won on handicap debut (had Beryl The Peril in behind) at the start of this month and fared well latest. Up 1lb but still on the upgrade. Can be considered as a player in this company.

Form: 635-14

(6)

Wall Of Sapphire^p1¹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: J Fanning| T: H Palmer| OR: 68

4/1

Taken well to racing in handicaps but has a bit to find with Fayetta on a literal reading of their encounter here last month. Cheekpieces might help but improvement required.

Form: 065-2

(9)

Teresita Alvarez²⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: S W Kelly| T: J Noseda| OR: 67

5/1

Form had been progressive before the filly stumbled and fell last time out. Assuming the filly has no mental scars, she can go close if she has better fortune this time.

Form: 85533-F

(4)

Fenjal^b1²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Edward Greatrex| T: H Palmer| OR: 67

5/1

Has improved since being gelded and not beaten far here last time. Combination of a slight drop in trip and the fitting of blinkers for the first time looks interesting. Place claims at least.

Form: 58812-3

(13)

Cheap Jack¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: G Lee| T: Ronald Thompson| OR: 66

33/1

Hinted at ability in a couple of starts at Newcastle but not so good when tried in an eye shield at Southwell latest. Headgear dispensed with this time but still has a bit to prove.

Form: 923-6

(3)

Love Kisses¹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: P J McDonald| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 65

20/1

Eight race maiden whose best effort so far came on soft ground at Nottingham in November; but AW form has been poor. Big improvement required.

Form: 85366-8

(10)

Um Shama⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Laura Coughlan⁽⁷⁾| T: D Loughnane| OR: 64| CD

9/1

C&D winner latest but more to do under a 5lb higher mark; rider's claim negates that but the filly still needs to up the ante considerably.

Form: 8132-51

(2)

Royal Guild^b1¹²

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: L Morris| T: Sir Mark Prescott| OR: 61

16/1

Little worthwhile form up to press and very little improvement for the step up in trip last time out. Yard respected with runners of this type but the switch to blinkers from cheekpieces suggests the gelding may not be the most straightforward.

Form: 895-7

Non-Runners

(5)

Fayetta³

Weight: 9-9| Age: 3

T: D Loughnane J: Cameron Noble

(7)

So Hi Storm³

Weight: 9-5| Age: 3

T: K R Burke J: C Lee

Forecasts

Wall Of Sapphire (4/1), Fenjal (5/1), Teresita Alvarez (5/1), War And Glory (11/2), Beryl The Petal (8/1), Smoki Smoka (9/1), Um Shama (9/1), So Hi Storm (10/1), Fayetta (14/1), Ned Mackay (16/1), Royal Guild (16/1), Love Kisses (20/1), Cheap Jack (33/1)

A chance is taken on SO HI STORM capitalising on a potentially lenient mark and the gelding, who has taken on stiffer company than he faces here, looks a solid option. Fenjal and War And Glory have little to find to get competitive and are others worth considering, while Teresita Alvarez fell last time out and is better judged on previous performances, which give her sound place claims in this company.