16:10 Wolverhampton

Wednesday 15 January 2020

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

Betway Apprentice Handicap

Off time: 16:11 | Winning time: 3m 40.18s

(8)

Forth Bridge^p,t³²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: William Cox| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 82

40/1

Useful hurdler/chaser for this yard but was a decent stayer for Michael Bell previously. Not in the best form over jumps this season however so this looks like a retrieval mission.

Form: 321047/

(1)

Author's Dream^v¹⁶¹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-12| J: Pierre-Louis Jamin⁽⁵⁾| T: W J Knight| OR: 80| CD

11/1

Banged in four wins in a row in the winter of 2017/18 but hampered by injuries since that feat. Made comeback return with good fourth at Kempton (2m) in August but has been off again since.

Form: 11897/4-

(5)

Praeceps^b³³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-11| J: Toby Eley⁽⁵⁾| T: A King| OR: 79| D

20/1

2m winner on the AW for Sir Mark Prescott and two-time winner of juvenile hurdles for Alan King last jumps season. Tailed off in two jumps starts this term and returns to the flat into bid for revival.

Form: 213451/

(9)

Cotton Club⁴⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 9-11| J: Sean Davis| T: G Boughey| OR: 79| CD

40/1

C&D winner in the past with latest win coming at Bath in August. Not as good mixing flat and jumps since and last seen finishing fifth at Kempton (2m) in late November. Best opposed at present.

Form: 414825-

(10)

Dance To Paris^b²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-11| J: Elisha Whittington⁽⁵⁾| T: L Wadham| OR: 79| C

9/2

Hurdles winner who returned to good level of form with two C&D seconds before game victory over 1m6f just under a month ago. 4lb rise seems fair and likely to go well once again.

Form: 095331-

(4)

Monjeni³⁰²

Age: 7| Weight: 9-10| J: Thomas Greatrex| T: Ian Williams| OR: 78| C

50/1

Previous course winner who has also been successful over staying trip at Lingfield last year. Not as good in three attempts over hurdles since and returns from 10 month absence. Best watched.

Form: 744341/

(6)

Divine Gift^p1²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Ben Robinson| T: I Jardine| OR: 80

18/1

Left Charlie Fellowes' yard during the summer and made modest stable debut when sixth of eight at Southwell (1m4f) last month. Cheekpieces now on and drastically up in trip in bid to improve.

Form: 55/6436-

(7)

Fearless Warrior^h³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Georgia Dobie⁽⁵⁾| T: Eve Johnson Houghton| OR: 80| BF

4/1

Game winner at Kempton in November but took a backward step when seventh over 1m3f at that venue last month. Now steps markedly up in trip and will need to prove he stays.

Form: 633217-

(2)

Purdey's Gift¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: William Carver⁽³⁾| T: A M Balding| OR: 78| C

11/8

Last course win came back in October and upholding the form well since with two third-place finished, including at Lingfield (1m4f) last time. Looks in need of a stiffer test so must be considered.

Form: 6/3913-3

(3)

Wanaasah^h⁴³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: Dylan Hogan⁽³⁾| T: D Loughnane| OR: 74| C

12/1

Course winner, which came back in August. Had the run of the race but found little when fourth of at this tack (1m6f) at the beginning of December. Hood is back on which suggests she is hard to place.

Form: 123364-

Forecasts

Purdey's Gift (11/8), Fearless Warrior (4/1), Dance To Paris (9/2), Author's Dream (11/1), Wanaasah (12/1), Divine Gift (18/1), Praeceps (20/1), Cotton Club (40/1), Forth Bridge (40/1), Monjeni (50/1)

DANCE TO PARIS took the eye with her game attitude when winning at this track just under a month ago and while the handicapper has tried to give a sustainable penalty, the 5lb claim of the jockey is taking and is effect on a similar mark for her latest success. Purdey's Gift also comes into this under a fine run of form and while his stamina is unproven, his racing style suggests this should be no problem, while the likes of Praeceps and Forth Bridge have proven to be good sorts over hurdles and if that form comes across on the level they may go close.