16:25 Wolverhampton

Saturday 9 March 2019

All13:3014:0514:4015:1515:5016:2517:00

Betway Heed Your Hunch Handicap

Off time: 16:27 | Winning time: 1m 12.28s

(6)

Corinthia Knight⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Edward Greatrex| T: A Watson| OR: 105| C| D

13/2

8-17 on the AW, has won here although very best form has come over 5f at Lingfield. Has moved nicely back into form the last twice over that C&D and remains on last winning mark. No problem with trip and likely to go close.

Form: 18-5832

(1)

George Bowen^v¹⁴⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 9-5| J: P Hanagan| T: R A Fahey| OR: 103| CD

8/1

Only had the two AW starts and a C&D winner back in 2015. Returns on first run since October on quite a high mark, at 3lb above last win and needed a few runs to get going on last two campaigns.

Form: 615090-

(7)

Merhoob¹²

Age: 7| Weight: 9-2| J: L Morris| T: J Ryan| OR: 100| CD

11/2

Ran on well for a strong win and a career-best over this C&D last month. Another 6lb rise to overcome but in the form of his life and likely to go be involved again on the basis of latest two improved efforts.

Form: 51-2621

(2)

Alsvinder^t²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: A Kirby| T: D O'Meara| OR: 98| C| D

10/1

Winner over 5f here back in 2017 but has won two of his last three over this trip at Lingfield. Latest victory over Merhoob was done in gutsy style and excuses when anticipating the start previously at Chelmsford. 2lb rise no issue and can go close

Form: 502-191

(5)

Raucous^p,t¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: Tom Marquand| T: R M H Cowell| OR: 98| D

9/1

Returned from a 213-days absence with two close efforts behind Alsvinder at Lingfield and Merhoob over this C&D latest. Down 1lb and every chance of going close once again.

Form: 1322-43

(8)

Foolaad^t³⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 8-13| J: Lewis Edmunds| T: S R Bowring| OR: 97| D

14/1

Has proven more effective on the fibresand of late and disappointing on it on latest run last month. Has never won off a mark this high on an AW surface and others preferred.

Form: 016-224

(10)

Zylan^p¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 8-9| J: Hollie Doyle| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 93| D

22/1

Tends to be best in the early part of the campaign and returned from a 174-days absence with an easy win over this trip at Southwell. Below-par previous visit here and best on the fibresand. 7lb rise and wide draw makes life tough.

Form: 12800-1

(9)

El Hombre¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 8-8| J: J Fanning| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 92| CD

13/2

Ended a losing run of over a year when winning over this C&D in December. Ran a good second to a similar standard here again last start but plenty on to reverse the form with the winner Merhoob.

Form: 3313-82

(4)

Desert Doctor²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-8| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: E Walker| OR: 92| BF| C| D

7/2

Twice a winner over 5f here and 5-11 overall on the AW. Last two wins have come over this distance. Well matched with a few of these from his latest close fifth behind Alsvinder and while it may be tough to reverse the form he holds place hopes.

Form: 092-515

(3)

Shamshon¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 8-6| J: Nicola Currie| T: S C Williams| OR: 90| BF| CD

7/1

In great form winning three of his last five and continues to hold his form well. Up 5lb since his win over this C&D two starts back but has won off the mark previously and was running on strongly over 5f here latest. Likely to be involved again.

Form: 16-1212

Forecasts

Desert Doctor (7/2), Merhoob (11/2), El Hombre (13/2), Corinthia Knight (13/2), Shamshon (7/1), George Bowen (8/1), Raucous (9/1), Alsvinder (10/1), Foolaad (14/1), Zylan (22/1)

A number of these clash on a regular basis with little between them and that's likely to make things tight in the market. There was a lot to like about the defeat of Merhoob by Alsvinder last time and both should be in the finish again. Even at the age of eight SHAMSHON is back on an upward curve and in reliable form and gets a narrow verdict over Corinthia Knight who looks primed to add to an already impressive AW strike-rate.