20:00 Wolverhampton

Thursday 2 July 2020

All17:0017:3018:0018:3019:0019:3020:0020:3021:00

Sky Sports Racing Virgin 535 Classified Stakes (Div 2)

Off time: 20:00 | Winning time: 1m 28.98s

(8)

Billie Beane¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: George Rooke⁽⁵⁾| T: Dr J D Scargill| OR: 50

10/3

Successful at Lingfield over 1m a year ago and not beaten far despite not winning since. Weakened to finish 3L seventh on return at Chelmsford (1m) last month but may improve from that over this shorter trip.

Form: 424-567

(5)

Deeds Not Words^p¹²

Age: 9| Weight: 9-7| J: William Carson| T: R Brisland| OR: 49| C

9/2

Admirable 17-time winner for connections and still showing glimpses of ability. Held up mark when 3L fourth at Kempton (6f) last month. Eased 1lb since so has place claims.

Form: 033844

(6)

Miaella¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: Joey Haynes| T: C Banham| OR: 50

10/3

Yet to win from 14 starts but has knocked at the door on a couple of occasions, including narrow third at Chelmsford (1m) recently. Up 2lb for that so handicapper doesn't particularly want to give her a chance.

Form: 4093-03

(9)

Valentine Mist¹²

Age: 8| Weight: 9-7| J: George Wood| T: James Grassick| OR: 42

22/1

Poor 1-29 record and placed a couple of times during the winter. Not as good since the resumption of racing however and more is required based on latest 4L defeat at Kempton (1m) in June.

Form: 380389

(1)

Fluttershy²²

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: Darragh Keenan⁽³⁾| T: J Ryan| OR: 45

66/1

Very little to shout about in three starts to date, including poor 27L defeat at Kempton (1m3f) in June. Drastically down in trip for handicap debut but makes very little appeal.

Form: 78-0

(7)

Grace Plunkett^b¹³²

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: Hollie Doyle| T: R Spencer| OR: 50

7/2

Yet to win from 12 starts but had some smart form in two-year-old handicaps last term. Not as good since however including 12L defeat at Lingfield (1m) in February. Returns from absence in this.

Form: 3220-49

(3)

Mr Kodi^b¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: B Doyle| T: P D Evans| OR: 48| D

11/2

Form was modest enough previously but showed great improvement when game winner of 7f handicap at Chelmsford last month. Only up 2lb for that so has a leading chance if replicating that form.

Form: 476-471

Rule 4

Rule 4 applies to all bets - deduction 5p in the pound

Non-Runners

(4)

Mischievous Rock¹¹

Weight: 9-7| Age: 5

T: E Stanford J: Non Runner

(2)

Knockacurra¹³²

Weight: 8-13| Age: 3

T: D M Loughnane J: Kevin Lundie

Forecasts

Billie Beane (10/3), Miaella (10/3), Grace Plunkett (7/2), Deeds Not Words (9/2), Mr Kodi (11/2), Knockacurra (12/1), Mischievous Rock (20/1), Valentine Mist (22/1), Fluttershy (66/1)

A weak enough second division of this contest, MR KODI looks well-placed to make it back-to-back wins since the resumption of racing. The three-year-old held off the selection for the first division of this contest last time and his modest 2lb rise in the weights suggests he may now be one step ahead of the handicapper. The veteran Deeds not Words offers the next best form and typically runs to his mark. His ease in the weights also suggests he is now being given a chance, while the likes of Knockacurra and Grace Plunkett have previously better form than most at this venue, which should set them in good stead for this contest.