20:15 Wolverhampton

Tuesday 12 March 2019

All17:4518:1518:4519:1519:4520:15

Betway Best For Cheltenham Festival Betting Handicap

Off time: 20:16 | Winning time: 1m 59.11s

(7)

Lovely Approach¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: Tom Marquand| T: H Palmer| OR: 76

5/2

New Approach colt out of a dam who won UAE 1000 Guineas. Split horses rated 92 and 78 on debut so makes some appeal off this mark. Not knocked about by this rider on recent return to action after a year off and represents a yard that do well here.

Form: 20-3

(11)

Mearing^p¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Jamie Gormley⁽³⁾| T: I Jardine| OR: 73

14/1

In fine fettle at the end of the last turf season, winning handicaps at Carlisle and Chester on soft ground at around this trip. Has a modest AW record and possible that he is being prepared for a big run in the early weeks of the turf season.

Form: 31213-4

(8)

Stormy Blues^p,t⁴¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: David Probert| T: N J Hawke| OR: 73

7/1

10-race maiden for whom cheekpieces and a drop in trip prompted a big run last time. The third has won since and the winner has gone close off a higher mark so the form has credibility.

Form: 020/652

(12)

Beatbybeatbybeat^v¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-6| J: William Cox⁽³⁾| T: A Brittain| OR: 72| CD

25/1

Scored over C&D in lower grade last August. Would have needed latest run which was over an inadequate distance, but for now he looks poorly handicapped in comparison to others and the draw is unhelpful.

Form: 23221-5

(9)

Ambient¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: R Kingscote| T: Jane Chapple-Hyam| OR: 72

6/1

22-race maiden who has been producing consistent enough performances lately to say he should be thereabouts again. However, he is a tricky ride and others appeal more for win purposes.

Form: 24-5353

(2)

Rubensian³⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 9-4| J: Dylan Hogan⁽⁵⁾| T: D M Simcock| OR: 70| C

12/1

Landed back to back races in 2016 but has drawn a blank in 16 starts since. On a good mark and rider good value for his claim, but he remains a difficult looking ride.

Form: 20482-4

(3)

Manfadh^h1²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: S W Kelly| T: W M Brisbourne| OR: 69| CD

10/1

Sprang a 40/1 surprise, despite being hard to settle, on stable debut before his exuberance got the better of him last time. Hood employed this time.

Form: 507-17

(10)

Captain Pugwash^v1²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: L P Keniry| T: Stef Keniry| OR: 68

33/1

Trainer has done well with some wayward performers but appears to have her work cut out with this character. Visor tried this time but best watched until promising more.

Form: 1560-89

(6)

The Eagle's Nest^h,t¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: Rossa Ryan| T: Alexandra Dunn| OR: 68

25/1

Dual AW winner who has been placed on both occasions he has raced at this venue. Mark has dipped below 70 for the first time but last month's stable debut did not promise much.

Form: 48536-9

(5)

Badenscoth¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: F Norton| T: D K Ivory| OR: 67

6/1

Lurking on an attractive mark at present and his latest effort was more encouraging. Stable have gone seven weeks without a winner and this will be his first venture beyond a mile. Probably one to monitor in the market.

Form: 0/77-084

(4)

Rockwood^v¹²

Age: 8| Weight: 8-13| J: Barry McHugh| T: Karen McLintock| OR: 65| CD

8/1

Usually manages to win at least one race a year with his 2018 success resulting in a 9L romp at Musselburgh off the same mark as today. Has won here three times, including twice at this trip, but he did fail to fulfil market expectations last time.

Form: 6375-44

(1)

Seek The Moon¹²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: P J McDonald| T: Jedd O'Keeffe| OR: 63

10/1

Low mileage maiden has shown some promise whilst also looking in need of some help from the handicapper. Gets some respite here and now a question of how ready she is after a break. Jockey booking looks positive so worth a market check.

Form: 9/53327-

Non-Runners

(13)

Bollihope²⁶

Weight: 9-0| Age: 7

T: S L Keightley J: Jason Hart

Forecasts

Lovely Approach (5/2), Badenscoth (6/1), Ambient (6/1), Stormy Blues (7/1), Rockwood (8/1), Bollihope (8/1), Manfadh (10/1), Seek The Moon (10/1), Rubensian (12/1), Mearing (14/1), The Eagle's Nest (25/1), Beatbybeatbybeat (25/1), Captain Pugwash (33/1)

LOVELY APPROACH may top the weights but looks the one to follow given a classic pedigree and a debut run that suggests he is potentially well-handicapped in this. He has clearly had some problems but there were positives to take from his comeback run and he should offer more over this trip. Badenscloth and Rockwood are nicely weighted at present but Stormy Blues looks the main threat with the form of his latest outing being advertised since.