20:25 Wolverhampton

Friday 18 October 2019

All17:2517:5518:2518:5519:2519:5520:25

Visit The Black Country Handicap

Off time: 20:25 | Winning time: 3m 36.64s

(5)

Charlie D^p,t⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: R Kingscote| T: Tom Dascombe| OR: 84| C| D

7/4

Being kept busy and thriving on his racing. Doesn't seem to know how to run a bad race and can ensure this is a good test. Will be interesting to note the tactics as he can settle off the pace or make the running. Either way, he can be thereabouts.

Form: 211313

(6)

Toshima^t,v1⁴³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: Jim Crowley| T: R Stephens| OR: 82

14/1

Beaten in a match race over hurdles last month but fitness assured and he's also a capable performer on the Flat in this sort of grade. Should go well if taking to the Tapeta on his debut run at this course.

Form: 17-9163

(2)

Sir Prize²³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Sophie Ralston⁽⁵⁾| T: D K Ivory| OR: 77

9/2

Stamina is an issue but he's been in good form over 1m4f lately and isn't over faced for his first attempt on Tapeta; he handles the Polytrack well at Kempton so doesn't have much to fear. The rider's claim helps at the weights too.

Form: 114132

(4)

Selino^v⁵⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Daniel Muscutt| T: J R Fanshawe| OR: 85

15/8

A consistent gelding who got off the mark in good style over 1m6f (good to firm) at Redcar in August. That form reads well coming into this and he's likely to be on the premises if his 6lb higher mark isn't too much of an anchor.

Form: 22331

(1)

Vampish^b1³⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: Tom Marquand| T: P J McBride| OR: 70| BF| C

16/1

A repeat of her second in an ordinary claimer here last time wouldn't be good enough and there are doubts about her staying this trip. She's respected as a previous course winner but the balance of form leaves her with a bit to prove.

Form: 423652

(7)

Tigray²²

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: Theodore Ladd⁽⁵⁾| T: M Appleby| OR: 74

25/1

Plenty of form on the Polytrack at Dundalk when trained in Ireland but he's yet to race at this course and he's only ever won once, which was over 1m2f on Fibresand at Southwell, from an 11-race career so far. Others make more appeal.

Form: 124452

(3)

Champagne Marengo^v³⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-7| J: David Egan| T: Ian Williams| OR: 71

8/1

Won four between 1m6f and 2m on turf in the summer but they were weaker races and he was well held when tried in a higher grade the last twice. This is more his level but he has to prove the surface suits as well as bounce back from two poor runs.

Form: 111149

Forecasts

Charlie D (7/4), Selino (15/8), Sir Prize (9/2), Champagne Marengo (8/1), Toshima (14/1), Vampish (16/1), Tigray (25/1)

The consistent Charlie D is versatile as to how he races and he will have no issues in taking this up a notch if the pace isn't to his liking. However, the progressive SELINO has a lot more scope for improvement and he edges the suggestion as the one to side with on this occasion. The selection is a half-brother to an AW winner over this trip and , having already handled the Polytrack at Kempton, the switch to this new surface isn't an insurmountable barrier. Toshima and Sir Prize are best of the rest.