17:15 Wolverhampton

Monday 25 March 2019

All17:1517:4518:1518:4519:1519:45

Betway Live Casino Handicap

Off time: 17:16 | Winning time: 2m 41.23s

(2)

Clearance⁴⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: A Kirby| T: G & J Moore| OR: 55| C

13/8

Arrives seeking a hat-trick following back-to-back wins here (1m6f) and at Kempton (1m3f); 5lb above his last winning mark, yet tough to beat with Adam Kirby taking the mount.

Form: 7354-11

(6)

Scottsdale^p²¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-6| J: T P Queally| T: P Winks| OR: 55

50/1

Seven-race maiden on the Flat, although did manage to win a couple of bumpers for Brian Ellison in the summer of 2017; making his first start since August 2018; AW debut.

Form: 736369-

(7)

Kirtling^t¹²³

Age: 8| Weight: 9-6| J: J Mitchell| T: Andi Brown| OR: 55| BF| D

6/1

Hasn't stood masses of racing in recent years but looks to be very competitively handicapped on his two Tapeta wins at Newcastle (1m4f+) in late 2016; solid effort when last in action at Newcastle (third) four-months ago; player.

Form: 8/08543-

(11)

Yasir¹⁵

Age: 11| Weight: 9-5| J: D C Costello| T: Mrs S Leech| OR: 54| CD

25/1

Veteran who is part of the fixtures and fittings at Dunstall Park; competes off the same mark as when getting up late to beat Ice Canyon by a head over C&D in December.

Form: 331-494

(8)

Ember's Glow²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: E J Walsh| T: D M Loughnane| OR: 54| CD

8/1

6lb higher than when readily accounting for Your Band over C&D in December; won again in a similar manner at Kempton (1m4f) the following month; capable of making another positive impression.

Form: 31-2176

(3)

Lady Of York^t1⁶¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: Joey Haynes| T: P Howling| OR: 54| D

33/1

Always handy when scoring by 2L at Kempton (1m4f) in April 2018; fairly modest overall since leaving the care of Alan Bailey; hopes pinned on the newly applied tongue-tie working the oracle on first Wolverhampton start.

Form: 5/219-70

(1)

Di's Gift^p,h¹¹

Age: 10| Weight: 9-5| J: Alistair Rawlinson| T: M Appleby| OR: 54| D

16/1

1m4f Southwell winner in March 2018; has raced exclusively at that Nottinghamshire track this winter and it remains to be seen if he can bounce back to his best for the change of scenery.

Form: 4633-64

(5)

Givepeaceachance¹¹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: Scott McCullagh⁽⁷⁾| T: D J Coakley| OR: 55

17/2

Cost 100,000gns as a yearling; hasn't exactly hinted that there's necessarily a great deal of ability lurking within (0-3); that said, she starts of life in handicaps from a lowly perch, and is deserving of more time.

Form: 005-

(10)

Mac O'Polo^p⁵⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: P Mulrennan| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 53

50/1

16-race maiden (0-7 on the AW); yet to threaten to recapture his 'peak' form for previous trainer Tom Dascombe and plunging down the handicap accordingly; no signs that wind surgery has proved beneficial.

Form: 7456-80

(12)

Qayed^p³³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: S W Kelly| T: W M Brisbourne| OR: 53

16/1

Eight-race maiden; only very minimal signs of promise in his last five starts at this track (1m1f-1m6f); has fallen 10lb in the handicap since the turn of the year.

Form: 698-057

(4)

Nice To Sea^p²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: David Probert| T: O Murphy| OR: 51| BF

9/2

Ex-Irish mare who has upped her game considerably since joining Olly Murphy; placed on her last couple of starts over C&D, including when a beaten 9/4f (second) last month.

Form: 606/032

(9)

Hussar Ballad³⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 9-2| J: Cam Hardie| T: A Brittain| OR: 51| CD

12/1

Hasn't won since October 2017 and has toiled more latterly (including in claimers); if he is to find another suitable winning opportunity, it will almost certainly be at this track, albeit it's difficult to remain enthusiastic at present.

Form: 0504-47

Forecasts

Clearance (13/8), Nice To Sea (9/2), Kirtling (6/1), Ember's Glow (8/1), Givepeaceachance (17/2), Hussar Ballad (12/1), Di's Gift (16/1), Qayed (16/1), Yasir (25/1), Lady Of York (33/1), Mac O'Polo (50/1), Scottsdale (50/1)

A low-grade opener which unfortunately rather sets the tone for the remainder of the card. Kirtling doesn't stand masses of racing but is very competitively handicapped on winning form from 2016 (Newcastle) and rates as the major danger to the hat-trick seeking top-weight CLEARANCE. The selection is 5lb above his last winning mark and has Adam Kirby taking over in the saddle from an apprentice. Others to consider for the places include Nice To Sea and Ember's Glow.