16:10 Wolverhampton

Friday 10 January 2020

All16:1016:4517:1517:4518:1518:4519:15

Betway Apprentice Handicap

Off time: 16:11 | Winning time: 2m 39.16s

(8)

Herm¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-11| J: Laura Pearson⁽⁵⁾| T: P D Evans| OR: 59| CD

11/1

Won well over C&D/1m6f late last year but that came to a shuddering halt when beaten 10L here (1m6f) two weeks ago. He reportedly ran too free that day and, just 3lb above his last win, has claims if settling better.

Form: 518110-

(12)

Canadian George^t¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: Dylan Hogan| T: J Candlish| OR: 58

20/1

19-race maiden who failed to beat a rival home in two starts since returning from a break and then finished down the field over C&D two weeks ago. Plenty to prove despite his declining handicap mark.

Form: 3332/08-

(10)

Foresee⁴³

Age: 7| Weight: 9-9| J: Elisha Whittington⁽³⁾| T: A W Carroll| OR: 57| BF| CD

7/4

Had a good end to 2019 with two wins (both 1m4f) and a narrow defeat last time at Lingfield (1m2f) where the drop in trip was possibly against him. Can't be ruled out given his current heart and returning to 1m4f.

Form: 765112-

(2)

Persepone^t1¹³⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: Ben Sanderson| T: H Palmer| OR: 60WS

14/1

Bred to be better than she has shown; by Dubawi out of a half-sister to Derby winner Australia. Well beaten in all four starts, including on handicap debut at Ffos Las (1m6f) most recently, trailing home last of seven.

Form: 0447-

(11)

Dark Devil^p¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 9-9| J: Thore Hammer-Hansen| T: P Morris| OR: 57

40/1

Losing run now up 27 (since September 2017) and no signs of a revival in two starts for this yard. Very well handicapped on some of his old form but more needs to be shown before and confidence can be had.

Form: 404880-

(1)

Elena^p³⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: Tyler Saunders⁽³⁾| T: C Hills| OR: 60

15/2

Threw her chance away at Lingfield (1m2f) by going right out of the stalls and racing too keenly. That doesn't bode well on her first try beyond 1m2f but she has shown ability and could make the frame if her stamina lasts.

Form: 493545-

(3)

Howardian Hills^p¹⁹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 9-8| J: Poppy Bridgwater| T: V R A Dartnall| OR: 56| CD

10/1

Won at Kempton (1m4f) off 4lb lower in September 2018 but has been in poor form since. Never got involved in any of his three starts last year and is best watched returning from a 198-day break.

Form: 143/640-

(9)

Elsie Violet^p³⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Selma Grage⁽⁵⁾| T: R Eddery| OR: 58

12/1

Has been placed over this trip and won off 1lb lower at Yarmouth (1m2f) in June. Generally shows her best when leading and hasn't been able to do so on her last two runs. No other confirmed front-runners in this and that may help.

Form: 462566-

(5)

Wildomar⁴⁶⁵

Age: 11| Weight: 9-7| J: Toby Eley⁽³⁾| T: J Gallagher| OR: 55| CD

33/1

Five-time winner (1m4f-1m6f) who won over C&D off 1lb higher in April 2018. Only seen twice since then and off for 465 days since the latest of those. Best watched now at the age of eleven with a new yard (same ownership).

Form: 878156/

(6)

Albanderi^p1²⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: William Carver| T: A M Balding| OR: 57

14/1

€240,000 yearling whose dam was a Listed/Group 3 winner. Well-beaten on first three starts for Sir Michael Stoute before beaten 9¾L on stable/handicap debut at Chelmsford (1m2f) last time. Cheekpieces added on second run after a wind-operation.

Form: 0570-

(4)

Bubbles Arcade²²

Age: 8| Weight: 9-2| J: Amelia Glass⁽³⁾| T: Simon Earle| OR: 50

40/1

Three moderate Flat runs in 2017 after winning a bumper (2m1f) for Rod Millman. Shown nothing since then in point-to-points or over hurdles last time and so likely to struggle back on the level.

Form: 088/

(7)

Kybosh²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: Mark Crehan⁽³⁾| T: M Appleby| OR: 52| BF

5/1

Lightly-raced gelding who has ran well on his last four of his five starts (all here 1m/1m1½f). His last run may have came a little too soon after just 48 hours since his previous effort but less exposed if he stays this trip.

Form: 0/30335-

Forecasts

Foresee (7/4), Kybosh (5/1), Elena (15/2), Howardian Hills (10/1), Herm (11/1), Elsie Violet (12/1), Albanderi (14/1), Persepone (14/1), Canadian George (20/1), Wildomar (33/1), Dark Devil (40/1), Bubbles Arcade (40/1)

Both Herm and FORESEE have been in good form in recent outings with preference for latter returning to this trip after being touched off over 1m2f last time. Of the others, Kybosh is lightly-raced and has ran creditably several times at this track with just a small query of his stamina.