18:00 Wolverhampton

Saturday 13 April 2019

All18:0018:3019:0019:3020:0020:30

Betway Amateur Riders' Handicap

Off time: 18:02 | Winning time: 1m 14.50s

(8)

Steelriver³^{(ex 4)}

Age: 9| Weight: 11-1| J: Mr Patrick Millman| T: M Herrington| OR: 67| CD

3/1

Had to produce a performance to match today's rating to land an above-average claimer on Wednesday. Has a top amateur on board and stable took this last year. Poorly handicapped with Rockley Point on Newcastle running but has clearly improved since.

Form: 213531

(5)

Bernie's Boy^p⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Mr Simon Walker| T: P S McEntee| OR: 70| CD

11/2

Frontrunner with a helpful draw and a top amateur on board. Had six races in 25 days at the turn of the year and that may account for his last two efforts. Has had six weeks off and threatens to be dangerous off this mark.

Form: 425277

(1)

Gottardo²⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Miss Sophie Smith⁽⁵⁾| T: E A L Dunlop| OR: 70| D

9/2

Landed a gamble under this rider on yard debut at Chelmsford. Scored under hands and heels riding and appeared to have a lot more in hand than the margin suggests. Escapes with a 1lb rise so should be in the mix once more.

Form: 34248-1

(6)

The Groove³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: Mr P Thomas⁽⁷⁾| T: P D Evans| OR: 69| CD

4/1

Back on his favoured surface but he looks held by Steelriver and has a less experienced rider on board.

Form: 311253

(2)

Bobby Joe Leg^b⁴⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-9| J: Miss Emily Bullock⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs R Carr| OR: 65| CD

6/1

A two-time AW winner (from 18 starts); has found a reasonably consistent seam of form on Tapeta at Newcastle (6f-7f) in the early months of 2019; wasn't totally disgraced when finishing fifth here a month ago.

Form: 7-52235

(7)

Royal Connoisseur¹⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-9| J: Mr E Cagney⁽⁷⁾| T: R A Fahey| OR: 65| CD

28/1

All seven wins have come over 6f, the latest here in July. Has his fair share of weight and and a rider making his first racecourse appearance.

Form: 18228-8

(11)

Dotted Swiss^b²⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-8| J: Miss Brodie Hampson| T: A Watson| OR: 64| D

14/1

Looks nicely weighted judged on last summer's form but she is proving a challenging project for her new yard. Looks held by a couple judged on her latest effort and poorly drawn.

Form: 80-3547

(4)

Fiery Breath^h²²

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: George Eddery⁽⁵⁾| T: R Eddery| OR: 63

11/1

Scored off a mark of 65 last year over 7f at Lingfield. Produced his most encouraging run since at the same venue three weeks when running on to take second over 6f. Would prefer an extra furlong and this represents a step up in class.

Form: 0067-02

(10)

Searanger²²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-6| J: Mr Andrew McBride⁽⁷⁾| T: R Menzies| OR: 62| CD

33/1

Scored here in 2017 and will be better for his comeback run. Best form has come in class 6 races off lower marks, so plenty to prove this time.

Form: 32329-7

(13)

Rockley Point^b³²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-4| J: Abbie McCain| T: K Scott| OR: 60| D

33/1

Beat Steelriver at Newcastle in February and meets him on 12lb better terms here. Has the early speed to overcome a wide draw as well as an able pilot. Latest effort can be excused on account of the surface so plenty to like.

Form: 1271-10

(12)

Caribbean Spring¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-3| J: Miss Rosie Margarson⁽⁵⁾| T: G G Margarson| OR: 59| C

16/1

All his wins have come over further but he shaped well in a similar event at Chelmsford over this trip in February when possibly needing the run. Should reverse form with The Groove, but others still make more appeal.

Form: 5512-35

(9)

Terri Rules⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-2| J: Mr R Birkett| T: Miss J Feilden| OR: 58

50/1

All four wins have come over 5f and, although very nicely weighted, it is hard to see staying this far from a wide draw. Has had issues leaving the stalls lately and that adds to the risk.

Form: 1758-48

Non-Runners

(3)

Krazy Paving¹⁹

Weight: 10-0| Age: 7

T: O Murphy J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Steelriver (3/1), The Groove (4/1), Gottardo (9/2), Bernie's Boy (11/2), Bobby Joe Leg (6/1), Krazy Paving (6/1), Fiery Breath (11/1), Dotted Swiss (14/1), Caribbean Spring (16/1), Royal Connoisseur (28/1), Searanger (33/1), Rockley Point (33/1), Terri Rules (50/1)

A pretty open heat to open proceedings and many of these are experienced around here. Steelriver arrives in excellent shape but he faces a stiff task in reversing recent Newcastle form with Rockley Point who beat him a neck and reopposes on 12lb better terms. Gottardo had a bit more in hand when scoring at Chelmsford than the handicapper has adjudged so that makes him a contender. BERNIE'S BOY comes into the reckoning with the booking of Simon Walker a big positive for this well-drawn frontrunner. His last two runs indicated he needed a break, but after six weeks off he returns on a very nice weight and could take some pegging back