19:30 Wolverhampton

Friday 20 December 2019

All17:0017:3018:0018:3019:0019:3020:0020:30

Betway Handicap

Off time: 19:34 | Winning time: 59.75s

(6)

Corinthia Knight⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: L Morris| T: A Watson| OR: 105| CD

8/1

11-time winner twice successful over C&D in the past. Ran well again over C&D two back before as often is the case struggling over 6f latest. Likely to bounce back and go well despite this restrictive handicap mark.

Form: 134627

(3)

Royal Birth^t¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 9-2| J: Jason Watson| T: S C Williams| OR: 100| CD

6/1

2013 C&D win one of eight AW scores and not run a bad race since notching a September Chelmsford double. Ran well here two starts back so as is always the case he is one for the shortlist.

Form: 125534

(4)

Junius Brutus⁴⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-8| J: Rob Hornby| T: R M Beckett| OR: 92| D

8/1

Winless this year but was Group placed at two and his latest second over 6f at Kempton was a race filled with promise for a return to 5f as he was far too keen and paid the price. Genuine contender now over the minimum trip.

Form: 290872

(9)

El Hombre¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 8-7| J: S A Gray| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 91| C| D

13/2

Five of his six wins over 6f so 5f clearly his second favourite trip. Winless in 2019 but placed in four of his eight races so remained competitive. Latest run at Newcastle encouraging but again that was over 6f.

Form: 433043

(5)

The Daley Express⁴⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 8-5| J: K T O'Neill| T: R Harris| OR: 89| CD

18/1

C&D class 4 winner in September ran well next at York in an uber-competitive sprint before disappointing back here. Still a few doubts at this level.

Form: 244147

(1)

Acclaim The Nation^p⁷^{(ex 5)}

Age: 6| Weight: 8-5| J: Phil Dennis| T: E J Alston| OR: 84| CD

4/1

Winner here in January ran a series of good races subsequently so 5f Chelmsford win last time well deserved. 4lb rise for that but runs today under a 6lb penalty so this a tall order.

Form: 034341

(2)

Lomu¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 8-3| J: A Mullen| T: I Jardine| OR: 87| CD

7/2

Showed nothing in five 2019 starts for Keith Dalgleish but sprung a 16/1 surprise when scooting clear by 3L over C&D on stable debut. 8lb rise demands a career best but certainly can't be ignored after last effort.

Form: 400571

(7)

Savalas⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-2| J: Cam Hardie| T: R M H Cowell| OR: 84| BF| CD

9/2

Four-time winner for Kevin Ryan on a long losing run now but his recent head second to Acclaim The Nation at Chelmsford was a solid effort and he's 3lb better off today.

Form: 050552

Non-Runners

(8)

Stake Acclaim¹¹

Weight: 9-5| Age: 7

T: D K Ivory J: A Kirby

Forecasts

Lomu (7/2), Acclaim The Nation (4/1), Savalas (9/2), Stake Acclaim (9/2), Royal Birth (6/1), El Hombre (13/2), Junius Brutus (8/1), Corinthia Knight (8/1), The Daley Express (18/1)

Virtually all of these have claims to an ultra-competitive sprint and to some degree the run of the race will likely determine the outcome. Classy STAKE ACCLAIM is versatile tactically and he looks the safest bet under AW maestro Adam Kirby after running well at Lingfield last time. Junior Brutus flashed terrific speed over 6f latest and perhaps a return to 5f can help him regain the winning thread; he was a classy two-year-old. The emphatic C&D win of Lomu latest means he mustn't be ignored either despite a 8lb hike.