12:50 Wolverhampton

Sunday 19 January 2020

All12:5013:2514:0014:3515:1015:4016:10

Betway Casino Apprentice Handicap

Off time: 12:50 | Winning time: 3m 1.78s

(1)

Iconic Belle¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-2| J: Nick Barratt-Atkin⁽⁷⁾| T: P A Kirby| OR: 76

20/1

Hasn't won on Flat since August 2018 but went close over C&D prior to Xmas when beaten ¾L. Only third back over C&D last time, 6½L behind the winner. Evidently in good heart and likely to give another good show but place claims at best.

Form: 72392-3

(10)

Wanaasah^h⁴^{(ex 5)}

Age: 4| Weight: 10-1| J: Dylan Hogan| T: D Loughnane| OR: 74| C

6/4

Given a canny ride by this pilot here on Wednesday (2m½f) when making all to win by 5½L. Will struggle to repeat those tactics again but should be involved with form figures of 325141 at this venue and confidence high after that recent win.

Form: 23364-1

(11)

Conkering Hero^b⁵¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-0| J: Levi Williams⁽⁵⁾| T: J Tuite| OR: 74| C| D

33/1

Landed a quick double at Chelmsford (1m5½f/1m6f) in September but struggled over 2m in three outings since. Only dropped 2lb for those defeats and may need further help from the handicapper before he can be competitive again.

Form: 711806-

(9)

Metatrons Cube¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: Poppy Bridgwater| T: S-J Davies| OR: 70

100/1

In the doldrums over hurdles in recent months and a return to the Flat after 14 months last time was no better, finishing ninth of 12 here (1m1½f). Steps up in trip and 4lb below his only winning mark but needs to bounce back to get involved.

Form: 21460/9

(7)

Nelson River⁵⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: Elisha Whittington⁽³⁾| T: A W Carroll| OR: 70| C

7/4

Decent hurdler who was fourth in 2019 Grade 1 Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham Festival. Last Flat start came when second in Pontefract 1m4f in 2018. Should stay and is interesting up in trip. Has won here is fit from jumping exploits.

Form: 07/912-8

(5)

Blazon^p,t¹⁷⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 9-9| J: Ben Sanderson| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 69| C

14/1

All career wins have been on the AW, including twice this time last year (here/Kempton). Well beaten over hurdles when last seen in July but is now only 3lb above his last win and has gone well fresh before. Tongue-tie added to usual cheekepieces.

Form: 111545-

(2)

Grenadier Guard^v1¹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: Andrew Breslin| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 72

14/1

Heavy ground winner at Haydock in June on his second career start but lost his way since and often races lazily. Visor now added and he has the ability if the headgear works but has been well beaten on both starts since 120 day break.

Form: 23744-5

(6)

Chantecler⁴⁸³

Age: 9| Weight: 9-8| J: George Rooke⁽³⁾| T: R A Teal| OR: 68| C

100/1

Won over hurdles at Newton Abbot in August 2018. but this is his first Flat start since April 2018. His only Flat win came at this venue but that was over five years ago and is best watched starting out for a new yard after 483-day absence.

Form: 532949/

(3)

Tigray^v1¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: Mark Crehan⁽³⁾| T: M Appleby| OR: 69

25/1

Only win came at Southwell (1m4f) in April off 1lb lower but has been mostly disappointing since then. Beaten 28L there last time (2m½f) and his usual cheekpieces are now replaced with a visor. Fairly handicapped if putting his best foot forward.

Form: 52473-4

(8)

Mouriyani¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: Laura Coughlan⁽³⁾| T: T Ward| OR: 69

12/1

Won Dundalk maiden (1m2½f) in March and, only his second run for this yard, ran his best race since when fourth at Kempton (1m4f), beaten 2¾L. Still lightly raced and is open to further improvement stepping up in trip.

Form: 18050-4

(4)

Willkommen^b²³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: Morgan Cole⁽⁵⁾| T: M Botti| OR: 65| C

16/1

Off the mark in good style here (1m4f) back in May but went up 9lb for that and has looked in grip of the handicapper since then, including over C&D the last twice. Needs to settle better too and is vulnerable off this mark.

Form: 932146-

Forecasts

Wanaasah (6/4), Nelson River (7/4), Mouriyani (12/1), Grenadier Guard (14/1), Blazon (14/1), Willkommen (16/1), Iconic Belle (20/1), Tigray (25/1), Conkering Hero (33/1), Chantecler (100/1), Metatrons Cube (100/1)

Having been dining at the top table, and with credit, over hurdles over the last 18 months, NELSON RIVER looks fairly handicapped back on the Flat and stepping up in trip. It's easy to forgive his last Flat run at Kempton after a break. Wanaasah may well have been flattered to win so easily here on Wednesday but she is obviously good heart and has shown here best form at this track whilst Mouriyani returned to somewhere near his best last time and is lightly raced enough to be open to more improvement.