18:55 Wolverhampton

Monday 25 February 2019

All17:2517:5518:2518:5519:2519:55

Betway Heed Your Hunch Handicap

Off time: 18:57 | Winning time: 1m 12.20s

(7)

Sir Thomas Gresham²³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: M Dwyer| T: Tim Pinfield| OR: 100| D

3/1

Started his career winning twice on turf and progressed again when third in a conditions event on AW debut. Got caught out racing on a strong pace in the Listed Cleves Stakes and respected with more to offer in handicaps.

Form: 113-5

(2)

Gulliver^p,t⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: A Kirby| T: D O'Meara| OR: 99| BF| CD

5/1

Racing to a consistent level without winning since leaving Hugo Palmer. Ran on strongly when only beaten a neck and just behind Merhoob at Lingfield and a similar performance is expected again off this competitive mark.

Form: 022-343

(4)

Raucous^p,t⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-6| J: Oisin Murphy| T: R M H Cowell| OR: 99| BF| D

9/2

Only beaten a half length when one place behind Merhoob and Gulliver at Lingfield on return from a 213-days absence. Plenty of promise in that return but does have a strong record fresh and this is his course debut.

Form: 51322-4

(6)

Giogiobbo^b⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-5| J: Joshua Bryan⁽³⁾| T: N P Littmoden| OR: 98| D

50/1

Accumulated some impressive career statistics in Italy and France (10-27), including a better than 50% AW strike-rate (9-16). However has struggled to make an impression in two starts on these shores and this is another tough ask.

Form: 0116-58

(5)

Merhoob⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-1| J: L Morris| T: J Ryan| OR: 94| BF| D

10/1

Only beaten a nose when finishing just in front of Gulliver at Lingfield and like his rival continues to put in consistent performances. Best AW form has come elsewhere so not certain to confirm places but should be competitive again.

Form: 951-262

(1)

El Hombre⁴⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 8-13| J: Callum Rodriguez| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 92| BF| CD

5/1

Ended a losing run of over a year when winning over this C&D in December but held in the same grade off revised mark on next two starts. Down 1lb but up in class and has always struggled in this company previously.

Form: 03313-8

(9)

Reflektor⁴⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 8-12| J: B A Curtis| T: Tom Dascombe| OR: 91| CD

16/1

Front-runner who has plenty of speed and won this last year off 1lb higher. Should be fitter for two runs back and could run an improved race, however widest draw is going to make life tough early.

Form: 11547-4

(8)

Atletico⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 8-11| J: E J Walsh| T: P D Evans| OR: 90| CD

16/1

Finished a head second to Reflektor in this race last year and now 10lb lower. Bit unlucky when a close sixth at Lingfield last start but that is still well below his form from this time last year. Others look stronger candidates.

Form: 54-0896

(3)

Reckless Endeavour²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 8-4| J: J Fanning| T: T D Barron| OR: 83| D

4/1

Now 13lb lower than last win but appears to be on the downgrade and third last time over 7f at Newcastle came in much lesser company. Plenty more required back in this grade and others preferred.

Form: 0907-53

Forecasts

Sir Thomas Gresham (3/1), Reckless Endeavour (4/1), Raucous (9/2), El Hombre (5/1), Gulliver (5/1), Merhoob (10/1), Atletico (16/1), Reflektor (16/1), Giogiobbo (50/1)

A typically competitive affair in this high grade where Reflektor has likely been aimed to peak here but will have more on from this draw to repeat last year's success. Sir Thomas Gresham steps back from Listed company, has plenty more improvement in him and has to be feared on handicap debut. There's little between Merhoob, Raucous and GULLIVER from their last run but the latter is taken to come out on top this time after being forced wide to deliver his challenge in the tight finish and he remains very reliable.