19:15 Wolverhampton

Tuesday 10 December 2019

All15:4516:1516:4517:1517:4518:1518:4519:15

Betway Heed Your Hunch Handicap

Off time: 19:20 | Winning time: 1m 0.23s

(8)

Red Stripes^b⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 9-7| J: Seamus Cronin⁽⁵⁾| T: L Williamson| OR: 60| D

7/1

A fine servant to Lisa Williamson over the years (10-124 career); below his best since making all to beat Poeta Brasileiro by ¾L at Chelmsford (5f) in September; has been cut some slack by the handicapper.

Form: 769855

(3)

Superseded^p¹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: Dylan Hogan⁽⁵⁾| T: J Butler| OR: 59| CD

33/1

7lb lower than when edging out Scale Force by a neck over C&D in June; it's difficult to be overly positive about some of his more recent efforts; the useful 5lb claimer Dylan Hogan takes the mount.

Form: 088009

(11)

It Must Be Faith^p⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 9-6| J: Jane Elliott| T: M Appleby| OR: 59| C| D

18/1

Kept on without troubling the winner Shepherd's Purse over C&D in October; no joy since, although possibly hasn't appreciated racing on Fibresand; merits a degree of respect from a mark of 59, but the wide draw is considered to be a major negative.

Form: 672560

(9)

Qaaraat^p¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: Cam Hardie| T: A Brittain| OR: 58| D

7/1

Most determined when short-heading Be Proud at Newcastle (5f) on his penultimate start; backed that up with a solid C&D second to Three Little Birds; stablemate of Mutabaahy and a major player.

Form: 656312

(7)

Mutabaahy⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: Angus Villiers⁽⁷⁾| T: A Brittain| OR: 57| C

3/1

On a lengthy losing run (of 25), weakening quickly from the furlong pole at Newcastle (6f) on Friday evening; reverts to the minimum trip for the first time since April; a stablemate of the much more appealing Qaaraat.

Form: 655980

(6)

At Your Service³²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: Joey Haynes| T: C Banham| OR: 56

9/1

Rated 2lb lower than when winning for Paul Howling at Chelmsford (6f) in January; the name of Chelsea Banham is now on that training licence, and this 5yo made the frame at Newcastle (6f) on his penultimate start; is respected.

Form: 196035

(5)

Angel Force^p¹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: Theodore Ladd⁽³⁾| T: D C Griffiths| OR: 54| D

33/1

Yet to win on the AW (0-6) and has struggled to recapture peak form since showing her 15 rivals a clean pair of heels when landing the spoils at Redcar (5f, good) in September 2018.

Form: 086896

(1)

Sir Hector⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: William Carson| T: C Wallis| OR: 54| D

9/4

Prominent racer who doesn't tend to win all that often, so was frustratingly denied by the stewards after 'beating' Everkyllachy by a short-head over C&D last week; must figure positively in a weak race from the same mark (54).

Form: P8259D

(10)

Blackcurrent³³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: L Morris| T: A D Brown| OR: 52

20/1

Nine-race maiden; runner up on a couple of occasions on the Fibresand at Southwell (5f), including when beaten a neck by the Ruth Carr-trained Loulin (classified stakes).

Form: 90-2062

(4)

Englishman^b¹⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 8-13| J: Philip Prince| T: J M Bradley| OR: 52| D

14/1

Nowhere near the force of old on turf, yet does have some untapped potential in this kind of company on the AW; split Katherine Place and the favourite Harry's Ridge over C&D a fortnight ago; place chance.

Form: 737U62

Non-Runners

(2)

Country Rose⁵⁷

Weight: 9-7| Age: 3

T: R Harris J: David Probert

Forecasts

Sir Hector (9/4), Mutabaahy (3/1), Qaaraat (7/1), Red Stripes (7/1), At Your Service (9/1), Englishman (14/1), It Must Be Faith (18/1), Blackcurrent (20/1), Country Rose (20/1), Angel Force (33/1), Superseded (33/1)

Both Englishman and At Your Service merit respect in a moderate finale, but the form horses are undoubtedly last week's C&D 'winner' Sir Hector and the less well-drawn QAARAAT. Charlie Wallis must have been left immensely frustrated by the decision of the stewards to disqualify his horse (race awarded to Everkyllachy) and one can't help but feel that was a missed opportunity for an infrequent winner. Therefore, a strong preference is for the Antony Brittain representative who displayed battling qualities when winning at Newcastle (5f) on his penultimate start before simply bumping into a stronger rival over C&D 17 days ago.