17:00 Wolverhampton

Saturday 9 March 2019

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

Betway Best For Cheltenham Festival Offers Handicap

Off time: 17:00 | Winning time: 1m 59.68s

(6)

Fayez¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: D Nolan| T: D O'Meara| OR: 85| CD

15/2

Has fallen 1lb below last winning mark at Chelmsford last September and has gone close a couple of times since. Bit disappointing last twice and has been on the go for a while.

Form: 654-254

(8)

Battalion²¹⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 9-7| J: D C Costello| T: J A Osborne| OR: 85

25/1

Classy performer at his best but losing run now stretches back to December 2016 and all four AW wins have come at Lingfield. Has form fresh and down in grade on first run since August but had become disappointing last year.

Form: 085054-

(4)

Dommersen⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-5| J: Ben Sanderson⁽⁵⁾| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 83| BF| CD

15/8

Has been running to a consistent level of good form with four narrow seconds and a win from his last five. Feasibly handicapped on his old form for John Gosden and while he needs to be delivered late he had too much to do behind Thawry latest.

Form: 6-22212

(3)

Winged Spur⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: J Fanning| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 81

9/1

Remains 6lb higher than winning mark at Redcar in October and recent Newcastle return continued a below-par run of AW efforts. First try here but questions remain.

Form: 44418-5

(2)

This Girl^p1⁴⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: R Kingscote| T: Tom Dascombe| OR: 77

4/1

Won a Haydock maiden on debut and while she has failed to really progress in five starts since, she continues to race to a consistent standard. Ran well from out of the handicap here at the end of January and every chance down in grade.

Form: 1/334-35

(1)

Mr Minerals^t⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-12| J: Rossa Ryan| T: Alexandra Dunn| OR: 76| C

10/1

Bought out of the Richard Hughes yard for 5,000gns and went close over 7f here on stable debut and then a touch below that but not disgraced at Newcastle. Probably better suited by this track but step up in trip raises a question.

Form: 5926-34

(5)

Thawry⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-8| J: Cam Hardie| T: A Brittain| OR: 72

10/3

Broke through on start 14 when just holding off Dommersen in a thrilling finish over 1m2f at Newcastle. Only up 2lb and remains consistent so looks likely to be involved again for a stable in good heart.

Form: 29-4541

(7)

Tommy Hallinan⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-7| J: Barry McHugh| T: Mrs Marjorie Fife| OR: 70

33/1

Left Paul Nicholls for £4,500 in November and finished a well-beaten last on stable debut at Newcastle last month. Drop in trip a plus but remains best watched.

Form: 23231/6

Forecasts

Dommersen (15/8), Thawry (10/3), This Girl (4/1), Fayez (15/2), Winged Spur (9/1), Mr Minerals (10/1), Battalion (25/1), Tommy Hallinan (33/1)

Thawry is reliable and may kick on now he has his first success, however he’ll have to do more to hold off DOMMERSEN who just got far too far back in their previous clash. It’s a fascinating rematch while This Girl was well-backed in a stronger race last time and there’s not a lot between the trio.