20:15 Wolverhampton

Tuesday 16 April 2019

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

Betway Handicap

Off time: 20:16 | Winning time: 2m 0.17s

(9)

Sir George Somers^p,t³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: L P Keniry| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 55

20/1

Off the track for well over a year before returning with four low-key/below-par runs this year on the AW. Showed some fair form when with Sir Michael Stoute in 2016; hard to recommend now even with a tongue-tie added for the first-time (on the flat).

Form: 44/0996

(5)

Cat Royale^v²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-5| J: A Kirby| T: J Butler| OR: 53| CD

13/2

Recent strike-rate is poor ending a long losing run in September at Lingfield over this trip. Just 1lb higher now he shaped as if he needed the run last time (not without some promise); likely to show more here but not one to go overboard about.

Form: 14344-8

(10)

Grasmere^t¹⁵²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: Darragh Keenan⁽⁵⁾| T: A Bailey| OR: 52

100/1

Took advantage of a healthy drop in the weights to win at Chelmsford in October over today's trip. Form fell away a little after that in two further starts (stretched by a longer trip once); something to prove returning from a fair absence.

Form: 754150-

(12)

Herm¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: Tom Marquand| T: P D Evans| OR: 51| C

15/2

Dual course winner over 7f; proved himself more than capable over this trip last time finishing off strongly (never nearer). He's now slipped 5lb below his last winning mark; still of interest despite the losing run of 13 given his consistency.

Form: 24-9364

(1)

Final Attack^p¹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 9-3| J: Gabriele Malune⁽³⁾| T: Sarah Hollinshead| OR: 51| CD

17/2

Some creditable runs since his last win around here over short (has also won over C&D). Remains just above his last winning mark but does need a soundly run race to be seen at his best; this will be his 22nd consecutive run at the track.

Form: 4-72347

(11)

Allux Boy^p¹⁷⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: Faye McManoman⁽⁵⁾| T: N Tinkler| OR: 50| CD

14/1

C&D winner when confirming some previous promise he had shown on turf to be successful here in October last year. Failed to follow up that win when last seen (pulled too hard); now back from an absence with no great record fresh; others appeal more.

Form: 522419-

(6)

Tha'ir^t⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 9-2| J: Danny Brock| T: P J McBride| OR: 50| CD

8/1

Three-time C&D winner (all wins early last year for Mick Appelby); now with his second new yard since those victories. Supported last time and offered something to work on (first run for this yard) coming from hopeless position (1m); more expected.

Form: 000-090

(2)

Voice of A Leader^h¹⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 9-2| J: Joey Haynes| T: P Howling| OR: 50| CD

11/1

Appeared to enjoy his second Fibresand run last time finishing a creditable second having edged down the weights. Previous C&D winner in headgear who despite his modest strike-rate makes some appeal off a mark 10lb lower than his last win.

Form: 4-40622

(13)

Penny Green^p⁸⁵⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: Mark Crehan⁽⁷⁾| T: C Moore| OR: 50

7/1

Lightly-raced sort who hasn't been seen since her juvenile days when with James Eustace. Now running for a new yard she has a massive absence and a new trip to deal with; hard to find anything sound to recommend her for the time being.

Form: 87086/

(7)

Splash Of Verve¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 9-1| J: F Norton| T: D Thompson| OR: 49| CD

15/2

Confirmed the promise of his previous run to win in 0-50 company at Newcastle (1m4f) in January; best performance for a while (ended long losing run). Form has gradually regressed from that win; well below-par last time.

Form: 2-14558

(8)

Eugenic⁵⁴¹

Age: 8| Weight: 9-1| J: Hayley Turner| T: Mrs Tracey Barfoot-Saunt| OR: 49

100/1

Three-time winner for Rod Millman but not seen in the winners enclosure since mid-2016 despite running with credit for the most part at a lowly level. Returns now having just had one run for this yard (October 2017); absence presents a tough ask.

Form: 542372/

(4)

First Call^p¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: David Egan| T: P Morris| OR: 48

3/1

Modest sort who remains a maiden having not looked entirely straightforward when with Ian Williams. Did run a respectable first race for this yard over 1m4f at Newcastle (in a better grade); some if not total appeal in this company.

Form: 34-0225

(3)

Born To Reason^b¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 8-12| J: D C Costello| T: K Frost| OR: 45| CD

20/1

Does have a pair of C&D wins to his name (October 2017) but it's been a barren spell since then. Not disgraced in a first-time visor when last seen (usual blinkers return now); hardly has the most convincing of profiles though.

Form: 783-554

Forecasts

First Call (3/1), Cat Royale (13/2), Penny Green (7/1), Splash Of Verve (15/2), Herm (15/2), Tha'ir (8/1), Final Attack (17/2), Voice of A Leader (11/1), Allux Boy (14/1), Born To Reason (20/1), Sir George Somers (20/1), Grasmere (100/1), Eugenic (100/1)

A low-key end to the card and hardly one that sets the pulse racing with no progressive types gracing this field. There are plenty that have shown their form over C&D though (mainly in the past) with Voice Of A Leader one who could step forward on his decent Fibresand run last time, he’s certainly well handicapped. Cat Royale is capable of more although the market is likely to tell the story with his aspirations and Tha’ir is expected to show more this time having finished with something in the tank last time over 1m. Dual course winner HERM is the one that makes most appeal having now slipped in the weights and proven himself at this trip.