16:20 Wolverhampton

Friday 16 August 2019

All13:4014:1014:4515:1515:5016:2016:50

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Off time: 16:22 | Winning time: 2m 0.13s

(6)

My Dear Friend^b1²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: Josephine Gordon| T: R M Beckett| OR: 76

10/1

Improved for switch to handicaps/AW this year, winning by a short head at Kempton in February over a mile. Two poor turf runs last month however and needs to bounce back in first-time blinkers.

Form: 37-2198

(1)

Characteristic²⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: R Havlin| T: Tom Clover| OR: 75

8/1

Improving with racing and ran well to finish a neck second in a 7f novice event at Kempton in April after being gelded. Last month's Chelmsford handicap bow less inspiring but could have more to come upped in distance.

Form: 73-28

(9)

Kuwait Station^b1¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: S A Gray| T: D O'Meara| OR: 74

12/1

Hasn't progressed in handicaps, losing all nine starts having won twice in novice company. Mark is sliding all the while and will be competitive but remains vulnerable. First-time blinkers added.

Form: 354354

(8)

Little India⁴²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Harrison Shaw⁽⁵⁾| T: K R Burke| OR: 73

5/1

Respectable runs last two starts when placed at Doncaster and Haydock and has been raised 1lb for length second last time out. Should have something to offer and has already handled artificial surface.

Form: 20-4332

(2)

Alma Linda^p⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: L Morris| T: Sir Mark Prescott| OR: 73| BF

5/2

Invincible Spirit filly scored over a mile at Chelmsford early this month and perhaps wasn't suited cutting the running out back there since. Can bounce back with longer trip to suit.

Form: 4-5613

(3)

Shrewdness⁵¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Tom Marquand| T: W J Haggas| OR: 73| BF

11/4

Daughter of Lawman, has made the frame in three turf runs this summer in novice/maiden company. Interesting contender on AW/handicap bow and should have a say.

Form: 0-232

(5)

Prairie Spy¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: F Norton| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 73

9/1

Dual sprint winner as a juvenile last year (first two runs), progress has stalled in handicaps over longer trips and nothing too inspiring on form recently. Best efforts in 2019 have been on AW tracks and this mark appeals as a workable one.

Form: 437577

(4)

Fenjal^b¹²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: R Winston| T: Miss Gay Kelleway| OR: 70| CD

16/1

Landed two AW handicaps at around a mile last year for Hugo Palmer but out of form on Flat for this trainer early in summer and back in the yard now after showing little in hurdles race at Market Rasen this month. Not badly treated on best form.

Form: 2-31067

(7)

Al Daayen¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-3| J: J Quinn| T: C Allen| OR: 57| CD

20/1

Showed clear improvement to win over C&D in novice company last month, though readily brushed aside in Lingfield turf handicap since. Needs career-best for this.

Form: 364018

Forecasts

Alma Linda (5/2), Shrewdness (11/4), Little India (5/1), Characteristic (8/1), Prairie Spy (9/1), My Dear Friend (10/1), Kuwait Station (12/1), Fenjal (16/1), Al Daayen (20/1)

She must be forgiven some tame efforts on the turf recently but it could be the PRAIRIE SPY's preference is for the artificial surfaces. She ran well in better contests than this one earlier in the year and might be worth chancing over this longer trip from what could be a lenient mark now back on the AW. Alma Linda couldn't follow up her Chelmsford success when trying to make the running there six days ago but should have more to give and will likely see Little India going on this time, with Karl Burke's filly also on the shortlist. Handicap debutante Shrewdness is worth monitoring in the betting for confidence.