14:05 Wolverhampton

Friday 3 January 2020

All12:3013:0013:3014:0514:3515:1015:4516:20

Betway Handicap

Off time: 14:05 | Winning time: 3m 3.42s

(3)

Temur Khan¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-2| J: David Probert| T: A W Carroll| OR: 77

25/1

Land two 1m4f handicaps at Southwell last January but after fair subsequent run at Chelmsford has finished last in each of last four starts, including at Southwell last month. Eased 3lb but seems to be struggling.

Form: 149758-

(1)

Flat To The Max¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-1| J: D C Costello| T: T J FitzGerald| OR: 76

8/1

Ex-Irish gelding who has won on Flat and over hurdles. Joined current yard from Gordon Elliott three weeks ago and made good start when solid third after being denied clear run over C&D. Decent chance if able to back that up.

Form: 540473-

(5)

Iconic Belle¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-1| J: Nick Barratt-Atkin⁽⁷⁾| T: P A Kirby| OR: 76

10/1

Hasn't won on Flat since August 2018 but went close over C&D prior to Xmas when beaten less than a length at massive odds of 80/1. Seemed happier than over hurdles so not out of question she may be in the mix again despite 2lb rise.

Form: 6/72392-

(4)

Clap Your Hands⁸^{(ex 6)}

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: Poppy Bridgwater⁽⁵⁾| T: D M Simcock| OR: 71| C

8/15

Signs of ability prior to winning Chelmsford 1m5f maiden last month. Followed up by nine lengths here on handicap bow over 1m4f on Boxing Day and on that evidence appears well in under just 5lb penalty (set to go up 8lb). Big chance if he stays.

Form: 544211-

(6)

Wemyss Point^p²⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 9-9| J: Phil Dennis| T: P A Kirby| OR: 70

16/1

Stable companion of Iconic Belle. Has won three Wetherby hurdles and only Flat win came over marathon 2m5f at Pontefract in April 2018. Shaped with some promise on first start since wind surgery and eight months off before tiring here last month.

Form: 98/318-8

(7)

Nafaayes^p²²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-1| J: J Mitchell| T: Jean-Rene Auvray| OR: 62| BF

6/1

Both wins have come over 2m, most recently at Chester in July off this mark. Close second at Lingfield in November prior to modest hurdles run last time. May find trip on sharp side.

Form: 314703-

Non-Runners

(2)

Nelson River³⁴

Weight: 9-9| Age: 5

T: A W Carroll J: George Downing

Forecasts

Clap Your Hands (8/15), Nafaayes (6/1), Nelson River (13/2), Flat To The Max (8/1), Iconic Belle (10/1), Wemyss Point (16/1), Temur Khan (25/1)

CLAP YOUR HANDS is a confident choice in an interesting staying handicap. He absolutely bolted up over 1m4f here last week and is well in under his penalty, and with his good young rider's 5lb allowance negating that. If recovered from that Boxing Day romp he should go in again. Talented hurdler Nelson River is a fascinating contender and remains unexposed on the Flat. Any market move for him would well worth noting, while ex-Irish Flat To The Max showed promise here on his first British outing and also enters the equation. It's hard to know whether Iconic Belle's recent shock 80/1 second was a flash in the pan.