17:40 Wolverhampton

Monday 16 November 2020

All14:1014:4015:1015:4016:1016:4017:1017:40

Betway Apprentice Handicap

Off time: 17:42 | Winning time: 2m 38.12s

(1)

Mister Universum^b,t¹³

Age: 8| Weight: 9-7| J: Faye McManoman⁽³⁾| T: Mrs Marjorie Fife| OR: 63| D

250/1

Fairly useful winner at 23f over hurdles for Dan Skelton. However, showed little either Flat start for new yard this autumn, last of 12 in handicap at Redcar (14f, heavy) 13 days ago.

Form: 620/000

(6)

Restive^t¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 9-6| J: William Pyle⁽⁷⁾| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 62| D

28/1

7/2, eighth of 10 in handicap at Southwell (14.1f) 13 days ago. Struggling for form at present but mark is easing all the time at least.

Form: 27-3768

(11)

Deinonychus^h⁴⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 9-6| J: Theodore Ladd| T: M Appleby| OR: 62| D

22/1

Latest win at Haydock in July. 13/2, rare below-par effort when seventh of 9 in handicap at Nottingham (10.2f, heavy) 40 days ago. Still, no surprise to see him bounce back.

Form: 315387

(2)

Pearl Beach¹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: Pierre-Louis Jamin⁽⁵⁾| T: W J Knight| OR: 65| D

9/4

Winner at Lingfield in August. 5/1, not seen to best effect when eighth of 14 in handicap at Kempton (12f) 19 days ago, left poorly placed. Remains on a fair mark and respected.

Form: 332138

(9)

Star Of Wells^t1²⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: George Bass⁽⁵⁾| T: D Loughnane| OR: 65

8/1

Pulled up in juvenile hurdle at Lingfield (16f, good to soft, 6/1) on NH debut 25 days ago. Had previously run well when fourth over 8.6f here and he's not one to write off back on AW.

Form: 42-9004

(12)

Star Ascending^p¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 9-4| J: Ray Dawson| T: J Candlish| OR: 60| CD

18/1

5-time C&D winner. Fifteen runs since last win in 2019. Respectable seventh of 12 in handicap (33/1) at this course (9.5f) 16 days ago. Back up in trip. Entitled to be sharper here.

Form: 3-40367

(5)

Catbird Seat²⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: Megan Nicholls| T: A King| OR: 64

10/3

Lightly-raced maiden. 14/1, tenth of 13 in handicap at Doncaster (10.2f, soft) 24 days ago. Needs to settle better if he's to make a significant impact but it does remain early days.

Form: 6800

(7)

Baladio¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: Oliver Stammers⁽⁵⁾| T: J Mackie| OR: 59

11/1

Fourth of 6 in handicap (33/1) at this course (14f) 14 days ago. Handicapper continues to relinquish his grip but recent efforts have been underwhelming.

Form: 273004

(3)

Jack Ryan¹²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: Tia Phillips⁽⁷⁾| T: J Ryan| OR: 64

15/2

Fourth of 9 in juvenile hurdle at Musselburgh (15.6f, good, 9/1) on NH debut 12 days ago. Had previously been shaping up well on the level and he's not discounted up significantly in trip.

Form: 020014

(10)

Wishing Gate^t¹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: Tyler Heard⁽⁵⁾| T: W S Kittow| OR: 64

40/1

Lightly-raced maiden. Thirteenth of 14 in handicap (100/1) at Kempton (12f) 19 days ago, left poorly placed. Makes tapeta debut.

Form: 0570

(4)

Abel Tasman¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: Dylan Hogan| T: Ian Williams| OR: 58

11/2

28/1, creditable fifth of 11 in handicap at Lingfield (10f, AW) 12 days ago, never nearer. One to keep an eye on, particularly if market vibes are positive.

Form: 109005

Non-Runners

(8)

Eltham Palace⁹⁴

Weight: 9-4| Age: 3

T: D M Simcock J: Stefano Cherchi

Forecasts

Pearl Beach (9/4), Catbird Seat (10/3), Eltham Palace (9/2), Abel Tasman (11/2), Jack Ryan (15/2), Star Of Wells (8/1), Baladio (11/1), Star Ascending (18/1), Deinonychus (22/1), Restive (28/1), Wishing Gate (40/1), Mister Universum (250/1)

A winner at Lingfield in August, PEARL BEACH wasn't seen to best effect after 11 weeks off at Kempton, left poorly placed and noted keeping on without being knocked about. She earns the vote to build on that with victory. Abel Tasman, Deinonychus and Jack Ryan are others fancied to get involved.