17:15 Wolverhampton

Monday 2 March 2020

All16:4517:1517:4518:1518:4519:1519:45

Betway Casino Handicap (Div 2)

Off time: 17:16 | Winning time: 2m 0.98s

(3)

Traveller^t,v¹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 9-9| J: Cam Hardie| T: A Brittain| OR: 61| CD

5/1

Won two of his last three starts with both victories coming over this C&D. Battled to a short-head victory last time out and holds strong claims racing off a 2lb higher mark in this event.

Form: 539-191

(2)

Al Thoorayah¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: J P Spencer| T: D M Simcock| OR: 59

9/1

Well held in two handicap starts since joining this yard most recently when 15L last of eight over 7f at Southwell last month. Others make more appeal upped in trip.

Form: 358/78

(8)

Cheeky Rascal^v⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: Tom Marquand| T: T Ward| OR: 59

7/4

Running well in defeat of late including when runner-up over this C&D a week ago. Slight drop in trip appeared to suit that day and he is of interest racing off a 1lb lower mark on this occasion.

Form: 302-442

(1)

Amor Fati¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: A Kirby| T: P D Evans| OR: 56| CD

5/1

C&D winner put a couple of disappointing efforts behind him when going down by a short-head to Traveller over this C&D last time out. One to note with a top jockey booked to ride.

Form: 0-83992

(9)

Decoration Of War^p,t⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: Alistair Rawlinson| T: M Appleby| OR: 56| BF| CD

13/2

Dual winner over an extended 1m here in 2018 and finished a decent 6½L fourth in a 1m2f handicap at Chelmsford last week. Wide draw to overcome if he is to take this race.

Form: 904664

(4)

Cormier¹¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: T Eaves| T: B Ellison| OR: 54

7/1

Well beaten 20L last of eight in a first time hood (absent here) in a 1m4f handicap at Southwell in early November. Absent since and drops markedly in trip on debut for this yard.

Form: 776078-

(7)

Lyrical Ballad^b1¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: S W Kelly| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 49

25/1

Nine race maiden registered a fair effort when sixth in a 7f handicap at Kempton last month. Stamina to prove with blinkers tried for the first time stepping up in distance.

Form: 450-476

(6)

Gold Standard³⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-8| J: Elisha Whittington⁽⁷⁾| T: A W Carroll| OR: 46

28/1

Eight race maiden finished last of six in a Grade 2 four-year-old hurdle at Cheltenham (2m1f, soft) on stable debut in January. Probably best watched on return to the Flat.

Form: 007/000-

(5)

Valentine Mist²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 8-7| J: Sophie Ralston⁽⁵⁾| T: James Grassick| OR: 45

40/1

Disappointing in two starts since finishing third over this C&D in January. Races off a 2lb lower mark here and market support would be notable in this event.

Form: 033-380

Forecasts

Cheeky Rascal (7/4), Amor Fati (5/1), Traveller (5/1), Decoration Of War (13/2), Cormier (7/1), Al Thoorayah (9/1), Lyrical Ballad (25/1), Gold Standard (28/1), Valentine Mist (40/1)

TRAVELLER has been in great form of late and he is taken to record a third win in his last four starts with victory in this competitive handicap. The selection is closely matched with Amor Fati on their running last time out and they can fill the first two positions here while third place can go the way of Cheeky Rascal who finished runner-up here recently.