14:25 Wolverhampton

Friday 31 May 2019

All13:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:5517:30

smartvetmeds.com Online Pharmacy Handicap

Off time: 14:25 | Winning time: 1m 1.29s

(1)

Always Amazing⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: Kieren Fox| T: D Shaw| OR: 55| C

5/2

His only win remains his course win on debut as a three-year-old when with Robert Cowell; long losing run since then despite some creditable efforts. Rather predictably finished placed again last time; ought to be able to win off this mark.

Form: 385322

(4)

Awsaaf^h,t1³²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: T Hamilton| T: M Wigham| OR: 54| BF| C

9/2

Stepped forward again last time suggesting that it won't be long before he takes advantage of a much reduced mark; travelled well in a 5f 0-70. First-time tongue-tie added to his usual hood; possibility he might be better back at 6f, shortlisted.

Form: 9097-74

(8)

Tiger Lyon^h,t⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: Darragh Keenan⁽⁵⁾| T: J Butler| OR: 54| CD

9/1

C&D winner who has returned to his former trainer with his second run back since a wind op producing his best effort of the year at Chelmsford last time over 5f. Slipped well below his last winning mark but still looks short of the required standard.

Form: 607-006

(7)

Carlovian^v¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-6| J: D C Costello| T: M Walford| OR: 54| CD

20/1

C&D winner who shaped well enough after a break last time in a better grade than this over 6f on turf at Hamilton. Won twice last year but remains 2lb higher than he last won off; ought to be competitive but does have a little to find.

Form: 23035-9

(6)

Pocket Warrior^t⁷^{(ex 8)}

Age: 8| Weight: 9-5| J: A Kirby| T: P W D'Arcy| OR: 45| D

7/2

Trainer looks to have found the key him dropped back to sprinting with two quick fire wins in lowly company. 4lb higher than his last win at Bath over an extended 5f he will need a strong pace to aim at back over this bare 5f.

Form: 90-0011

(3)

Dandilion^t³³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-4| J: Nicola Currie| T: A M Hales| OR: 52| CD

11/1

Shaped well on her first run back from a wind op over 5f on the AW at Kempton but has failed to build on that run especially returned to turf of late. Finished last of ten at Wetherby on her latest start following a below-par run with a worse one.

Form: 66-2470

(5)

Ar Saoirse^b⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: Callum Shepherd| T: C Hobson| OR: 51

6/1

Maiden handicapper although there have been signs of late that he could be ready to gain that elusive first victory. His Dundalk form before joining this yard suggests he's on a decent mark if given a more sensible ride than at Chelmsford last time.

Form: 223405

(2)

Bahango^p³⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 9-3| J: S W Kelly| T: P Morris| OR: 51| CD

14/1

Flirted on a couple of occasions with the idea that he could be on the way back to the form which saw him win over C&D off a 19lb higher mark two years ago. Repeat of his penultimate run over C&D (bumped into a well-weighted one) sees him go close.

Form: 9-58526

(9)

John Joiner^v⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 9-1| J: Gavin Ashton⁽⁷⁾| T: S L Keightley| OR: 49| D

66/1

Doing very little of late to dispel the notion that his lengthy losing run is set to continue with his last two starts seeing him well held. Mark starting to become attractive if he did bounce back but little sign of him taking advantage.

Form: 4276-00

(10)

Marcella²²³

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: Cam Hardie| T: Mrs R Carr| OR: 45

50/1

On paper her third over C&D last time looks a sound enough effort but it came in a weak race and she looks to face a stiff task back in a handicap from 1lb out the weights. Would need a career best to take this; looks unlikely.

Form: 0/93703-

Non-Runners

(11)

Prominna⁵⁵

Weight: 9-6| Age: 9

T: A W Carroll J: George Downing

Forecasts

Always Amazing (5/2), Pocket Warrior (7/2), Awsaaf (9/2), Ar Saoirse (6/1), Tiger Lyon (9/1), Prominna (10/1), Dandilion (11/1), Bahango (14/1), Carlovian (20/1), Marcella (50/1), John Joiner (66/1)

The in-form horse is undoubtedly Pocket Warrior who arrives here on the back of two turf extended 5f wins finding plenty for pressure each time and appreciating the strong pace he had to aim at. Reverting to the AW off a higher mark and with over a sharp 5f may just find him out in his hat-trick bid. AWSAAF has been given some rope by the handicapper and if he can build on his fourth in a better race that this last time over this 5f trip his chance is clear; Michael Wigham has an excellent record with his horses in a first-time tongue-tie. Ah Saoirse and Always Amazing are two others who make some appeal with Prominna looking the best of the rest.