15:00 Wolverhampton

Wednesday 15 January 2020

All12:5513:2513:5514:3015:0015:3516:10

Betway Selling Handicap

Off time: 15:02 | Winning time: 1m 14.58s

(7)

Atwaar⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: Faye McManoman⁽⁵⁾| T: C Smith| OR: 54| BF| D

14/1

Notched two wins in a row at Southwell and Chelmsford in November and looked in good form before below-par fifth at Southwell (6f) eight days ago. Could be high enough in the weights now.

Form: 53112-5

(6)

Falcao^p⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 9-12| J: Dylan Hogan⁽⁵⁾| T: J Butler| OR: 54| D

11/1

Sole win came at Southwell in April 2019 but running okay without troubling the judge of late, including fourth of 10 at Southwell eight days ago. Cheekpieces re-fitted to get more out of him.

Form: 16446-4

(3)

Bold Decision¹⁸⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: Hollie Doyle| T: A W Carroll| OR: 54

3/1

Lightly-raced sort who has been described as 'never a factor' in final two starts for John Joseph Murphy in Ireland, including last of 10 at Killarney in August. Not seen since and on form needs more but has powerful jockey on board.

Form: 0050-

(11)

Brockey Rise^b²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-11| J: A Kirby| T: P D Evans| OR: 53| CD

6/1

Yielded three wins from 19 runs during 2019 but 13 runs since that last success. Only modest when seventh in C&D handicap just under a month ago and blinkers now turned to for a bounce back.

Form: 020287-

(5)

Tawaafoq^h¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-10| J: Finley Marsh⁽³⁾| T: A Wintle| OR: 52| D

14/1

Latest win came at Bath in August but finishing down the rear of the field as of late, including when unable to sustain effort at Lingfield (6f) over two weeks ago. Others make more appeal.

Form: 138979-

(9)

Billyoakes^p⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 9-9| J: Ben Robinson| T: Ollie Pears| OR: 51| C| D

5/2

Course winner in the past and took career tally of wins to seven when landing apprentice handicap here last week. Dangerously off the same mark in this contest and looks the leading contender.

Form: 57554-1

(1)

Distant Applause^b1⁵³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: Rob Hornby| T: D J S Ffrench Davis| OR: 51| D

25/1

Was in relatively good form last winter but sustained injuries since then. Made comeback from 10 months off when last of 12 over C&D in November and will need to have come on for that.

Form: 061/250-

(4)

Poppy May⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-6| J: Barry McHugh| T: J G Given| OR: 48| D

14/1

Inconsistent sort. Only ninth of 10 when missing the break completely at Chelmsford (6f) 4 days ago and makes very little in her case for victory.

Form: 68783-9

(13)

Jacob's Pillow^p¹²

Age: 9| Weight: 9-6| J: Phil Dennis| T: Rebecca Bastiman| OR: 48| D

33/1

Last win came eighteen runs ago in 2018, despite some placed efforts. Below form when fifth of 11 over 5f here last time and needs some great improvement to be competitive in this.

Form: 42350-5

(12)

Swiper^b,t⁴⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: S W Kelly| T: J G M O'Shea| OR: 48

66/1

Ran a career-best when fourth at Lingfield two starts ago but took a step in the wrong direction when seventh at that venue (7f) in November. Not seen since and reverts back to sprinting trips.

Form: 067047-

(2)

Someone Exciting³⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 9-4| J: Harrison Shaw⁽³⁾| T: D Thompson| OR: 46| D

28/1

Five-time winner but not at best over last couple of starts, including when seventh of 14 in classified event at Newcastle (5f) at the start of December. Back up in trip with a bit to prove now.

Form: 508497-

(8)

Tiger Balm⁶⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: J Mitchell| T: G Boughey| OR: 55

14/1

Thrice-raced maiden and wasn't knocked about when only 10th of 13 at Chelmsford (6f) at the start of November. On handicap debut off nice mark and the least exposed in the field.

Form: 760-

Non-Runners

(10)

Murqaab⁹

Weight: 9-5| Age: 4

T: J Balding J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Billyoakes (5/2), Bold Decision (3/1), Brockey Rise (6/1), Murqaab (8/1), Falcao (11/1), Atwaar (14/1), Poppy May (14/1), Tawaafoq (14/1), Tiger Balm (14/1), Distant Applause (25/1), Someone Exciting (28/1), Jacob's Pillow (33/1), Swiper (66/1)

BILLYOAKES comes into this race off the back of a victory over 7f here last week (went a strong pace). He's just as effective at this trip as well and with escaping a penalty in this contest, any replication of his previous effort should see him go very close. While Bold Decision has a less-than-impressive form book to date, his trainer recruited a similar sort recently and struck with him immediately so is dangerous to ignore on that notion, while the likes of Tiger Balm is also very unexposed handicapping and may have improvement where others may not.