17:20 Wolverhampton

Saturday 7 December 2019

All16:5017:2017:5018:2018:5019:2019:5020:20

Betway Live Casino Handicap

Off time: 17:22 | Winning time: 2m 0.37s

(3)

Compass Point⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: K T O'Neill| T: R Brisland| OR: 59

4/1

Won three times at Chelmsford (1m-1m2f) earlier this year; wasn't beaten far (weakened late on) when sixth to First Dance over C&D on his penultimate start; 3lb lower; one of the more likely candidates.

Form: 115866

(10)

Sweet Marmalade^p²³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Harry Russell⁽⁷⁾| T: B Ellison| OR: 59

40/1

Pulled up over hurdles at Sedgefield (2m1f, soft) three weeks ago, so it's back to the drawing board for trainer Brian Ellison; twice placed in maiden company on turf in May for previous trainer Lawrence Mullaney.

Form: 3-23850

(6)

Zayriyan^v1⁹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: Tom Marquand| T: A Stronge| OR: 57

8/1

22-race maiden (0-8 on the Flat); was caught close home when beaten in excess of 2L in a 2m maiden hurdle at Wexford in September; has since joined Ali Stronge for £14,000; wears a newly applied visor.

Form: 527070

(11)

The Eagle's Nest^t³³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: R Havlin| T: Alexandra Dunn| OR: 56

14/1

Twice an AW winner in late 2017 (for Richard Fahey & Rae Guest) so has the innate ability within; has eased markedly in the weights following a barren spell of form in 2019; wide draw a negative; stablemate of Born To Reason.

Form: 970747

(13)

Muraaqeb^p¹¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: David Probert| T: J M Bradley| OR: 55| CD

11/1

Boasts an impressive 33% AW strike-rate (6-18) although it's prudent to note that his last four wins have come at Chelmsford (1m2f); 2lb higher than when nailing Chakrii on the line there in August; is drawn widest of all in stall 13.

Form: 097121

(12)

Born To Reason^b¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: Daniel Muscutt| T: Alexandra Dunn| OR: 55| CD

5/1

Back to form with a decisive 3L win over C&D last month (beat Klipperty Klopp); faces a far trickier assignment from a wide draw (stall 12) and from a 7lb higher mark; stablemate of The Eagle's Nest.

Form: 023601

(8)

Mary Le Bow^t⁴⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 9-2| J: L Morris| T: Paul George| OR: 54| CD

14/1

Sir Percy mare (formerly with Victor Dartnell); returned from 33 months off the track with a 50-1 fourth placed finish behind Greengage over C&D in October; well-handicapped on course form from 2016; chance.

Form: 42365/4

(2)

Pike Corner Cross^t,v⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-1| J: Cameron Iles⁽⁷⁾| T: P D Evans| OR: 53| CD

6/1

His form figures at this track from late May onward read 333312; competes from the same mark (53) as when beaten 1¼L by the subsequent winner Red Gunner over C&D on his penultimate start; interesting with a 7lb claimer aboard.

Form: 031425

(5)

Sunshineandbubbles¹⁵⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-1| J: J Fanning| T: P D Evans| OR: 53| CD

8/1

6-43 on the AW; lost her way for Jennie Candlish during the course of 2019; now rated 12lb lower than when third to Perfect Refuge in a Cl 5 fillies' handicap over C&D in January; first start for the doubly represented Dave Evans.

Form: 077300

(4)

Cash N Carrie¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 8-10| J: Theodore Ladd⁽³⁾| T: M Appleby| OR: 48

7/1

Finally delivered the goods when making all in a 1m2f seller at Chelmsford on her penultimate start; beaten since when re-introduced to handicapping (Cl 6); with a much respected trainer, but others make more appeal.

Form: 043517

(1)

Final Attack^p⁴⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 8-8| J: J P Sullivan| T: Sarah Hollinshead| OR: 46| CD

14/1

Consistent (without winning too often) in low-grade C&D handicaps; close third to Mossy's Lodge (here) around this time 12 months ago, and is now rated 7lb lower; will pop up again eventually, albeit difficult to ascertain exactly when.

Form: 708307

(7)

Optima Petamus^v¹²

Age: 7| Weight: 8-7| J: Phil Dennis| T: L Bailey| OR: 45

16/1

Sole win came for Luca Cumani in 2015 (1m maiden) and he's seemingly a shell of that horse nowadays; pulled up over hurdles at Musselburgh (1m7½f) 12 days ago; far safer to look elsewhere.

Form: 046466

Non-Runners

(9)

Muzaawel²⁵⁷

Weight: 9-0| Age: 4

T: R J Smith J: Hollie Doyle

Forecasts

Compass Point (4/1), Born To Reason (5/1), Pike Corner Cross (6/1), Cash N Carrie (7/1), Sunshineandbubbles (8/1), Zayriyan (8/1), Muraaqeb (11/1), The Eagle's Nest (14/1), Mary Le Bow (14/1), Final Attack (14/1), Optima Petamus (16/1), Muzaawel (25/1), Sweet Marmalade (40/1)

A wide open contest. Born To Reason was an impressive C&D winner latest, yet he faces a more challenging assignment from a wide draw off a 7lb higher mark. Both Zayriyan and Sunshineandbubbles could feasibly fare better for a switch of trainers if adopting an outside of the box thought process, while a similar comment is applicable to the well-handicapped (but seldom seen) eight-year-old mare Mary Le Bow. Furthermore, the consistent Pike Corner Cross is almost guaranteed to give you a run for your money. However, for very small stakes we'll chance that the top-weight COMPASS POINT can find the target away from Chelmsford City for the first time.