14:35 Wolverhampton

Friday 3 January 2020

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

Play 4 To Score At Betway Handicap

Off time: 14:36 | Winning time: 2m 0.39s

(6)

Massam^p1¹⁸³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: Callum Shepherd| T: D M Simcock| OR: 85

7/1

Won twice over 1m in September 2018 when trained by Mark Johnston. Beaten long way on only start for current yard when last of five over 1m4f at Newbury in July and returns now having been gelded. Tried in first-time cheekpieces.

Form: 172/665-

(1)

Lethal Missile³⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: H Crouch| T: C G Cox| OR: 80

4/1

Progressed well in 2019 winning two 1m handicaps at Windsor in the spring. Promising effort on first run for five months when fourth over 1m at Kempton last month and should strip fitter now. Worth a try at this trip after staying on last time.

Form: 0/21124-

(4)

Jomrok¹³¹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: David Probert| T: D Loughnane| OR: 78

16/1

Well bred Mukhadram filly who is still unexposed after just four career starts for Owen Burrows last summer where showed ability. Debut here for new connections and market may indicate if she is ready to do herself justice.

Form: 2234-

(3)

Singing Sheriff³²

Age: 5| Weight: 8-12| J: L Morris| T: E Walker| OR: 76

11/4

Runs more good races than bad. Failed by just a head over 1m3f at Kempton penultimate start, then three-quarters-of-a-length third over 1m4f here last time. This trip a bare minimum but is in good heart and should give a good account of himself.

Form: D04023-

(2)

First Response^t⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 8-12| J: T Eaves| T: Mrs L Stubbs| OR: 76

15/8

Landed Newcastle 1m h'cap in October off 2lb lower mark then failed by just a neck to score over C&D last week. Similar effort would give him solid chance and is well worth considering.

Form: 651772-

(7)

International Law³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 8-9| J: Cam Hardie| T: A Brittain| OR: 73| CD

8/1

Run well over C&D last two starts, finishing close third in October then edging home by a nose last time one month ago. 2lb higher and has had time to recover from his exertions but seems to like it here and had fair claims.

Form: 606431-

Non-Runners

(5)

Long Call¹

Weight: 8-13| Age: 7

T: A W Carroll J: Elisha Whittington

Forecasts

First Response (15/8), Singing Sheriff (11/4), Lethal Missile (4/1), Long Call (6/1), Massam (7/1), International Law (8/1), Jomrok (16/1)

A tight-knit handicap in which INTERNATIONAL LAW is suggested having done well here of late. He showed a good attitude when scoring over C&D last time. First Response went close here recently and is another in decent shape, while if he copes with the drop back in trip, Singing Sherrif also enters the equation. The market should help signal if top weight Massam is expected to improve for the cheekpieces on his first run since being gelded, and Lethal Missile cannot be ruled out after running creditably last time.