17:45 Wolverhampton

Monday 25 March 2019

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

Betway Handicap

Off time: 17:48 | Winning time: 1m 13.85s

(8)

Atyaaf¹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: P Mathers| T: D Shaw| OR: 55| BF

17/2

Well supported when justifying favouritism in a Class 7 handicap at Chelmsford (5f) in February; placed off this mark next time; should handle this extra yardage on pedigree.

Form: 63-9513

(9)

Indian Affair^t,v²⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 9-7| J: David Probert| T: J M Bradley| OR: 55| CD

16/1

Veteran of 131 races; back to winning ways over C&D in late January when beating Dodgy Bob by a nose; remains feasibly treated but likely to find one or two that fraction stronger.

Form: 9-68175

(4)

Daring Guest^b,t¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: J Mitchell| T: Tom Clover| OR: 55| D

10/3

Fairly consistent in recent months, but that needs quantifying with the fact that he's not won anywhere since September 2017 (7f); finished 1¼L third to Tavener at Lingfield (6f) 12-days ago.

Form: 42-3383

(1)

Mercury^b,t⁵⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-7| J: A Kirby| T: A B Joyce| OR: 55| C| D

11/4

Finished a remote second to Billyfairplay at Dundalk (6f) in December, and hasn't necessarily shown any improvement since; trainer tends to do well with his runners in England; 10lb higher than when a Class 7 Chelmsford scorer (December 2017).

Form: 2052-56

(5)

Filbert Street^p⁵³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: E J Walsh| T: R Brotherton| OR: 54

28/1

Lightly-raced (0-5); took a very small step forward on his second start for Roy Brotherton at Southwell (5f) in January when finishing 5L fourth of ten to Warrior's Valley.

Form: 46/5-04

(7)

Krazy Paving^b²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 9-5| J: Megan Nicholls⁽⁵⁾| T: O Murphy| OR: 53| D

11/1

Notched a fourth AW win when scooting clear for today's rider Megan Nicholls at Kempton (6f) in February; 5lb higher in the weights, but commonly runs well at this track; should figure prominently in the mix.

Form: 8764-41

(13)

Thorntoun Lady²⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 9-3| J: Alistair Rawlinson| T: J S Goldie| OR: 51| CD

20/1

Just 1-22 on the AW (C&D scorer off this mark in October 2017); finished a staying on fourth to Seaforth, beaten 2½L over 7f here in early March; place shout at best.

Form: 553584

(6)

Viking Way^b¹¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Connor Murtagh⁽⁵⁾| T: Olly Williams| OR: 50

8/1

14-race maiden (0-7 on the AW); possible that the initial positive impact of blinkers is beginning to wear off; 2lb higher than when beaten ¾L by Billyfairplay over C&D in October; back from a 115-day absence.

Form: 435226-

(10)

Wild Flower¹⁴³

Age: 7| Weight: 9-2| J: Gary Mahon⁽³⁾| T: J C Fox| OR: 50| D

50/1

Infrequent winner (1-21 on the AW); caught close home when beaten ½L by Swiss Cross over 6f at Kempton in October; scarcely seen in competitive action since; possible that she's being prepared for the upcoming turf campaign.

Form: 847627-

(3)

Dodgy Bob^v²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 9-1| J: Phil Dennis| T: M Mullineaux| OR: 49| D

5/1

16-race AW maiden with agonising form figures of 3,2,2,3,3,2 since early 2019; went closest when beaten a nose by today's rival Indian Affair over C&D in late January; deserves to find a race, albeit not necessarily guaranteed to do so.

Form: 322332

(11)

Compton Abbey^t,v⁵⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: Callum Shepherd| T: Alexandra Dunn| OR: 48| D

33/1

Has generally proved disappointing since September 2018, but did show a little more sparkle (as the race progressed) when fitted with a first-time visor over 5f at Lingfield in January; this extra furlong an obvious plus, the wide draw much less so.

Form: 55800-3

(2)

Picks Pinta^b²⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 8-13| J: Robbie Walsh⁽⁷⁾| T: J Riches| OR: 47| D

22/1

Well backed and won for the first-time on the AW on his 17th start in a 6f Classified Stakes at Newcastle in February; probably still capable off this revised mark if breaking from the stalls in a more orderly fashion; not dismissed.

Form: 69-5148

Non-Runners

(12)

King Of Rooks²⁶

Weight: 9-6| Age: 6

T: H Spiller J: B A Curtis

Forecasts

Mercury (11/4), Daring Guest (10/3), Dodgy Bob (5/1), Viking Way (8/1), Atyaaf (17/2), Krazy Paving (11/1), Indian Affair (16/1), King Of Rooks (16/1), Thorntoun Lady (20/1), Picks Pinta (22/1), Filbert Street (28/1), Compton Abbey (33/1), Wild Flower (50/1)

Megan Nicholls was aboard the Olly Murphy-trained KRAZY PAVING when that 7yo gelding returned to peak form at Kempton in February, scooting clear of the runner-up Fantasy Justifier. In what is a typically ordinary Monday Class 6 6f Wolverhampton handicap, the reunited duo make most appeal. Others in with a shout include the often tardy starter Picks Pinta, the frustrating yet genuine Dodgy Bob, and the very difficult to win with Viking Way.