20:00 Wolverhampton

Friday 6 March 2020

All17:3018:0018:3019:0019:3020:0020:30

Betway Handicap

Off time: 20:00 | Winning time: 2m 59.25s

(7)

Charlie D^p,t⁶^{(ex 5)}

Age: 5| Weight: 10-1| J: L Morris| T: Tom Dascombe| OR: 82| C| D

2/1

Dual course winner (1m4f); carries a 5lb penalty for last week's Southwell win (1m6f) - made all and kept on strongly to beat Harbour Front by 2½L; almost certain to be feared by all.

Form: 3132-41

(3)

Fearless Warrior^h³⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: Josephine Gordon| T: Eve Johnson Houghton| OR: 80

9/4

Potentially a fraction high in the weights (from a mark of 80) and arguably strongest over 1m4f; that said; ran well when a close third to All Yours & Carnwennan (second at Newcastle last week) at Kempton (2m) 34 days ago.

Form: 3217-23

(8)

Blue Medici⁶⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-6| J: Hollie Doyle| T: D M Loughnane| OR: 78| C

6/1

Lightly raced on the AW (1-4); 4lb higher than when beating Natty Night by a reasonably comfortable 1¼L here (1m4f) in November; steps beyond that distance for the first time in a 20-race career; stablemate of Running Cloud.

Form: 106319-

(4)

Glan Y Gors^t¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 8-13| J: C Lee| T: D Thompson| OR: 71

12/1

Returned fresh from a 155-day absence when winning for the fourth time at Newcastle (1m4½f) on his most recent start - beat Archive by ¾L; plenty more required from a 2lb higher mark in a stronger race (Cl 4).

Form: 80408-1

(5)

Running Cloud^h³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 8-13| J: D C Costello| T: D M Loughnane| OR: 71| CD

16/1

Both career wins have come at this track; somewhat surprisingly popped up at odds of 25-1 over C&D on his penultimate start; proved that was no fluke with another solid display here next time; stablemate of Blue Medici.

Form: 569-715

(2)

Hooflepuff^b²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-10| J: B A Curtis| T: B Ellison| OR: 70| C

4/1

Wolverhampton regular; wore blinkers for the first time when scoring over 1m4f here four weeks ago - finished well to beat Central City by 1¼L; more to do off a 4lb higher mark; contender if staying the extra two furlongs.

Form: 414-621

Non-Runners

(6)

Never Surrender³⁴

Weight: 9-2| Age: 6

T: J Butler J: Darragh Keenan

(1)

Zabeel Star¹⁴

Weight: 8-9| Age: 8

T: Karen McLintock J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Charlie D (2/1), Fearless Warrior (9/4), Hooflepuff (4/1), Blue Medici (6/1), Zabeel Star (7/1), Glan Y Gors (12/1), Never Surrender (14/1), Running Cloud (16/1)

Hooflepuff kept a positive spell of form going when scoring in first-time blinkers here (1m4f) four weeks ago, and would rate as a definite contender on the assumption that his stamina reserves hold (no obvious reason as to why they shouldn't). Zabeel Star (jumpers' bumper) and Glan Y Gors (Class 5) are both recent Newcastle winners with a fraction more on their respective plates. Therefore, the most logical selection is last week's impressive Southwell scorer CHARLIE D. Tom Dascombe's charge carries a 5lb penalty for that success but with previous Wolverhampton winning form (1m4f) on his CV, he's almost certain to be feared by all and sundry.