18:15 Wolverhampton

Wednesday 30 January 2019

All16:4517:1517:4518:1518:4519:1519:4520:15

Betway Live Casino Handicap

Off time: 18:17 | Winning time: 3m 6.01s

(10)

Picture Painter²³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: Finley Marsh⁽³⁾| T: D Pipe| OR: 55| D

14/1

Winner on the Flat (for Keith Dalgleish) in May, but has proved disappointing for current connections, and tailed off over hurdles on last couple of starts. Something to prove.

Form: 7/32618-

(9)

Mac O'Polo¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: Ella McCain⁽⁷⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 55

11/1

Maiden after 14 starts when trained by Tom Dascombe. Had a breathing op prior to stable debut over 1m1½f here a coupe of weeks ago, and may build on that, but hardly convincing.

Form: 07456-8

(1)

Wally's Wisdom²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 9-6| J: Liam Jones| T: D M Loughnane| OR: 54

9/2

Often compromised by slow starts, and fared a little better having got away on terms at Kempton last time, finishing 2½L fifth of 13 to Tigerfish at Kempton. Not certain to build on that, but claims if he does put his best foot forward.

Form: 41540-5

(8)

Happy Ending²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: Rob Hornby| T: J W Mullins| OR: 55

33/1

Won at Brighton in April, and better form when placed at Chepstow in July. Below form at Lingfield in September, however, and ran even worse after a break at Kempton earlier this month.

Form: 41736-0

(7)

Chief Sittingbull^t1¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: K T O'Neill| T: A W Carroll| OR: 50

11/1

Nearer last than first in qualifying runs for this yard, and fared no better on handicap debut. Dropped 7lb for that, but still looks high in the weights, unless a tongue tie makes a marked difference.

Form: 887-9

(3)

Oenophile²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: A Mullen| T: T R Gretton| OR: 54

50/1

Maiden after nine starts under both codes. Improved on previous hurdles efforts when 21L third in a 2m hurdle at Ludlow four weeks ago, but that is still just poor form, and she is opposable back in this sphere.

Form: 96066-

(13)

Alexis Carrington^v²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: J P Spencer| T: J & S Quinn| OR: 54

13/2

Placed three times in the autumn, but she has been below form since, with a visor tried the last twice. Not disgraced at Chelmsford most recently, though, and jockey booking looks significant, so not ruled out.

Form: 22306-4

(2)

Iona Island^p,t1¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: Toby Eley⁽⁷⁾| T: Jean-Rene Auvray| OR: 48| CD

50/1

Has shown very little for her current yard, and the fitting of a tongue-tie needs to make a big difference if she's to get involved.

Form: 08/680-0

(4)

Clearance¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 8-13| J: H Crouch| T: G & J Moore| OR: 47

10/3

Long-standing maiden who wasn't disgraced from falling mark at Kempton last time, and has since had a spin over hurdles. Possible that will have done him some good, so not ruled out back in this discipline.

Form: 537354-

(6)

Oromo^t⁶⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 8-12| J: L Morris| T: K Thornton| OR: 45

9/1

Ran poorly over hurdles last time, and a record of no wins and two places from 31 runs is hardly inspiring, but he does have a number of respectable efforts in this sphere to his name, and failed to stay 2m when well backed at Newcastle in October.

Form: 995306-

(12)

Demophon¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-12| J: Nicola Currie| T: S Flook| OR: 45

14/1

Ran creditably on return from a break here last month, but has not built on that, and ran badly over 1m4f here last time. Drawn wide, which is a possible excuse, but has fared no better in that respect here.

Form: 504-480

(5)

Sea Tea Dea^t¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 8-12| J: S W Kelly| T: Katy Price| OR: 45

66/1

Not disgraced in a seller here on her penultimate start, but failed to do any better last time, and has plenty to find on balance of form.

Form: 38873-5

(11)

Falls Creek^b¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 8-8| J: David Probert| T: A M Balding| OR: 45

13/2

Showed very little in first three starts, and although she improved when fifth in a low-grade event at Kempton last time (blinkered), she was only passing beaten horses late on, and needs to prove that doesn't flatter her.

Form: 508-5

Forecasts

Clearance (10/3), Wally's Wisdom (9/2), Falls Creek (13/2), Alexis Carrington (13/2), Oromo (9/1), Chief Sittingbull (11/1), Mac O'Polo (11/1), Picture Painter (14/1), Demophon (14/1), Happy Ending (33/1), Iona Island (50/1), Oenophile (50/1), Sea Tea Dea (66/1)

None of these are entirely convincing, but CLEARANCE has more to offer than most, and a spin over hurdles recently might have done him good. He's preferred to Oromo and Alexis Carrington, the former likely to be suited by this trip on Tapeta, and the latter a little better than the result last time, and the subject of an eye-catching jockey booking.