15:55 Wolverhampton

Wednesday 6 January 2021

All12:4513:1513:5014:2014:5515:2515:55

Betway Handicap

Off time: 15:55 | Winning time: 3m 5.88s

(1)

Scorched Earth¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-0| J: George Downing| T: R Dickin| OR: 67

125/1

100/1, ninth of 11 in handicap at this course (12.2f) 11 days ago.

Form: 41/2099-

(2)

Flat To The Max^p,t³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-12| J: Joey Haynes| T: S Hodgson| OR: 65

9/1

Fifteen runs since last win in 2018. 22/1 and visored for 1st time, creditable seventh of 13 in handicap at Kempton (12f) 35 days ago. Cheekpieces back on.

Form: 576757-

(4)

Thematic^p¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-12| J: L P Keniry| T: D J S Ffrench Davis| OR: 65

5/1

13/2, respectable second of 13 in handicap at this C&D 10 days ago. Has good chance on pick of form.

Form: 588732-

(7)

Nataleena³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-12| J: A Mullen| T: B Haslam| OR: 65| D

22/1

Three wins from 11 runs last year. Latest win at Ayr in July. Respectable fourth of 8 in handicap (11/2) at Newcastle (16.2f) 36 days ago.

Form: 310884-

(8)

Fleur Irlandaise²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-10| J: J Fanning| T: N P Littmoden| OR: 63| C

6/5

One win from 3 runs last year. Fairly useful winner at 21f over hurdles. Won 10-runner handicap at this course (16.6f, 13/8) 25 days ago, keeping on well. Not taken lightly.

Form: 67/771-

(9)

Its Nice Tobe Nice¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-8| J: B A Curtis| T: R Brisland| OR: 61

28/1

16/1, first run since leaving William Muir when creditable second of 8 in handicap at Lingfield (12f, AW) 18 days ago. Makes tapeta debut.

Form: 445/442-

(3)

Beauty Stone^v¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: J Mitchell| T: T Ward| OR: 62| BF| C

8/1

Course winner. Winner here in December. Creditable second of 9 in handicap at this course (12.2f, 5/2) 19 days ago, needing stiffer test.

Form: 004412-

(6)

Peerless Percy^b⁵²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: P Mulrennan| T: M Dods| OR: 57

7/2

3/1, creditable third of 11 in handicap at Southwell (12.1f) 52 days ago.

Form: 329623-

Non-Runners

(5)

Greengage⁹

Weight: 9-11| Age: 6

T: T Davidson J: Phil Dennis

Forecasts

Fleur Irlandaise (6/5), Peerless Percy (7/2), Thematic (5/1), Beauty Stone (8/1), Greengage (8/1), Flat To The Max (9/1), Nataleena (22/1), Its Nice Tobe Nice (28/1), Scorched Earth (125/1)

THEMATIC was put in his place by a thriving rival over C&D 10 days ago, but he beat the rest easily enough and holds sound claims from an unchanged mark. Last-time-out winner Fleur Irlandaise retains scope on her hurdles form in this sphere and is an obvious threat.