19:10 Wolverhampton

Wednesday 5 February 2020

All17:0517:4018:1018:4019:1019:4020:10

Bombardier 'March To Your Own Drum' Handicap

Off time: 19:10 | Winning time: 1m 26.28s

(7)

Reeves²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Sean Davis⁽³⁾| T: R M H Cowell| OR: 95| C| D

5/2

Proved to be a revelation since switching to AW. Denied the improving Power Link by a short-head to take his record on the AW to 4-4 last month. Up another 2lbs but extremely difficult to rule out given he keeps pulling it out the bag.

Form: 57111-1

(6)

Calder Prince^p¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 9-4| J: Jane Elliott| T: Tom Dascombe| OR: 92| C| D

4/1

Hard to knock his consistency of late, and he followed up his solid effort over 1m here two starts ago to run another solid race in defeat when third at Chelmsford (6f; standard). Tries another different trip, but looks a solid place contender.

Form: 61242-3

(8)

Ghaith^e/s²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: Thomas Greatrex⁽³⁾| T: D Loughnane| OR: 91| CD

2/1

No choice but to be pitched into this grade after recording a pair of bloodless wins over C&D since switched to this yard. Risen a remarkable 19lb since the first of those two wins, but given his unexposed profile he cannot be entirely ruled out.

Form: 43231-1

(5)

Young Fire^v⁶⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: Shane Gray| T: D O'Meara| OR: 88| D

6/1

Bumped into the progressive Power Link over C&D in this grade when signing off 2019. That form has been franked, with the winner finishing runner-up on three separate occasions in competitive handicaps. Interesting to see if market supports him.

Form: 816692-

(3)

Bungee Jump¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: Dylan Hogan⁽³⁾| T: G Harris| OR: 88| D

50/1

Tried to lead on her seasonal reappearance when running in accordance with market expectations (33-1) at Kempton (7f; standard to slow) last month. Victory prior to that was in a weaker contest, and his mark had dropped to a handy one.

Form: 95631-7

(4)

Gallipoli³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 8-8| J: Connor Murtagh⁽³⁾| T: R A Fahey| OR: 82| D

16/1

Modest strike rate on the AW (1-14), and has failed to run a promising sort of race for about nine months now. Mark is steadily beginning to fall (4lb below last winning mark), but unlikely he will suddenly take advantage of that.

Form: 06770-6

(1)

Donncha⁴⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 8-8| J: Ben Robinson| T: S Spencer| OR: 82| D

33/1

Vastly more in-form contenders to choose from, and he is impossible to fancy given how poorly he ran on his return from a short break when 10th at Newcastle (7f; standard) last month. Not won since June 2015.

Form: 822690-

(2)

That Is The Spirit¹⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 8-7| J: Theodore Ladd⁽³⁾| T: M Appleby| OR: 79| D

20/1

Built upon what was a quiet return from a short break when runner-up in this grade at Kempton (7f; standard to slow) last month. Remains 5lbs above his last winning mark, but it would be a surprise if he didn't play even a minor role.

Form: 1325-62

Forecasts

Ghaith (2/1), Reeves (5/2), Calder Prince (4/1), Young Fire (6/1), Gallipoli (16/1), That Is The Spirit (20/1), Donncha (33/1), Bungee Jump (50/1)

REEVES is required to defy another career-high mark as he bids to record a five-timer and maintain his unbeaten record on the AW (4-4) in the process. However, that hasn't been a problem for him on either of his last two starts and the form of his most recent victory makes him the one to beat. The revitalised Ghaith is interesting as he is upped in grade after posting a pair of facile wins on the AW since joining David Loughnane, and it is difficult to have Calder Prince out of the placings given his consistent profile. One of the more unknown quantities in the field is Young Fire given how his latest piece of form ties in closely with that of the selection.