17:45 Wolverhampton

Friday 29 January 2021

All16:4517:1517:4518:1518:4519:1519:4520:15

Betway Handicap

Off time: 17:45 | Winning time: 3m 38.87s

(3)

Hermocrates^b¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-12| J: P J McDonald| T: J Mackie| OR: 69| C

5/2

Course winner. Creditable second of 8 in handicap (11/4) at Newcastle (16.2f) 14 days ago. This consistent 5-y-o should be on the premises once more.

Form: 7222-22

(1)

Fleur Irlandaise²³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-11| J: J Fanning| T: N P Littmoden| OR: 68| CD

7/4

Fairly useful winner at 21f over hurdles. 6/5, career best when winning 8-runner handicap at this course (14f) 23 days ago, well positioned. Expected to be bang there.

Form: 67/771-1

(4)

Nebuchadnezzar²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-10| J: Thore Hammer-Hansen⁽³⁾| T: A King| OR: 67| BF

13/2

Creditable third of 7 in handicap (2/1) at Lingfield (15.8f, AW) 25 days ago, needing stronger gallop. Makes tapeta debut. Kozier is presumably the stable first-string.

Form: 4434/4-3

(2)

Kozier^p1¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 9-8| J: Hollie Doyle| T: A King| OR: 65

9/2

Good third of 13 in handicap at Kempton (16f, 11/1) 16 days ago. Cheekpieces on 1st time and he should give another good account.

Form: 521/75-3

(8)

Stylish Dancer⁶⁶⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-5| J: S W Kelly| T: J L Spearing| OR: 62| BF| D

150/1

Last of 8 in handicap hurdle at Ludlow (21.2f, good to firm, 33/1) when last seen 22 months ago. Latest effort in this sphere was poor, too, and she's best watched on debut for new yard.

Form: 672238/

(5)

The Rutland Rebel³³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: Billy Garritty⁽⁵⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 62

16/1

Bit below form fourth of 13 in handicap at this course (14f, 80/1) 33 days ago and likely to come up short once again.

Form: 0610/64-

(6)

Star Dreamer¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: S Donohoe| T: C Fellowes| OR: 64

14/1

Lightly-raced maiden. Very good third of 8 in handicap at Newcastle (12.4f, 9/1) 17 days ago. Shapes as though this significant step up in trip will suit and she's one to consider.

Form: 755-3

(7)

Uncle Bernie^p²⁴

Age: 11| Weight: 9-0| J: R Kingscote| T: Sarah Hollinshead| OR: 57| CD

20/1

Unreliable type. 4-time C&D winner. 3/1, won 10-runner handicap at Lingfield (15.8f, AW) 24 days ago, going clear. 5 lb rise fair, but there are no guarantees that he'll be in the same form.

Form: 78136-1

Forecasts

Fleur Irlandaise (7/4), Hermocrates (5/2), Kozier (9/2), Nebuchadnezzar (13/2), Star Dreamer (14/1), The Rutland Rebel (16/1), Uncle Bernie (20/1), Stylish Dancer (150/1)

While cases can be made for the majority of these, FLEUR IRLANDAISE's claims are the most compelling. Indeed, she appeared to have a bit left up her sleeve when making it 2-2 here earlier in the month and a 5 lb rise looks manageable. Hermocrates earns top marks for consistency and should be in the thick of things, while Kozier and the low-mileage 4-y-o Star Dreamer also enter calculations.