16:50 Wolverhampton

Monday 29 March 2021

All16:5017:2017:5018:2018:5019:2019:5020:20

Bombardier Apprentice Handicap

Off time: 16:50 | Winning time: 1m 27.45s

(4)

Gobi Sunset¹⁶⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: Jonny Peate⁽⁷⁾| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 77

12/1

66/1 and blinkered first time, last of 15 in handicap at Chelmsford (7f) when last seen in October. Good yard perseveres, though, and he returns off a career-low mark.

Form: 1/93790-

(9)

Spring Romance²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-10| J: Rhys Clutterbuck⁽⁵⁾| T: M Appleby| OR: 77| C| D

3/1

Course winner. Four wins from 14 runs last year. Latest win at Chelmsford City in March. Respectable third of 10 in handicap (10/1) at this course (6.1f) 2 days ago.

Form: 521883

(2)

Born To Destroy^p1³³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Angus Villiers⁽³⁾| T: R Spencer| OR: 74

12/1

20/1 and blinkered first time, good fourth of 11 in handicap at Kempton (6f) 33 days ago, well positioned. Makes tapeta debut. Cheekpieces the headgear of choice this time.

Form: 9D3/5-44

(8)

Molly Mai¹⁰¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: Benoit D L Sayette⁽⁷⁾| T: P J McBride| OR: 70| CD

9/1

C&D winner in November. Presumably failed to take to fibresand when last of 7 at Southwell the following month and very interesting with Benoit de la Sayette up on return.

Form: 221917-

(3)

Alix James^t¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: Mark Crehan⁽³⁾| T: G Boughey| OR: 70| D

5/1

12/1, eighth of 10 in handicap at Kempton (7f) 12 days ago but his 6f course prior to that was respectable. Still early days with this yard.

Form: 4508-48

(7)

Portugueseprincess^p¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: Joanna Mason⁽³⁾| T: A Watson| OR: 70

10/1

Thirteen runs since last win in 2020. Below-form third of 4 in claimer at Newcastle (6f, 7/2) 13 days ago. Bounce back needed.

Form: 8-83473

(5)

Critical Thinking^v¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 9-2| J: Laura Pearson⁽³⁾| T: D Loughnane| OR: 69| CD

6/1

Six-time C&D winner and been knocking on door here of late, including runner-up last time. Likely to be bang there again.

Form: 222542

(1)

Greek Kodiac^t¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: Alex Jary⁽⁷⁾| T: M L W Bell| OR: 69| D

10/3

Two wins from 6 runs last year. Latest win at Newcastle in December. 9/2, good second of 5 in handicap at Newcastle (7f) 13 days ago. Not taken lightly.

Form: 01-3322

(6)

Jack Ryan^b¹¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-9| J: Tia Phillips⁽⁷⁾| T: J Ryan| OR: 62| D

50/1

Winner at Yarmouth in October but struggled on Flat/over hurdles towards end of 2020. Break needs to have revived him.

Form: 001470-

Forecasts

Spring Romance (3/1), Greek Kodiac (10/3), Alix James (5/1), Critical Thinking (6/1), Molly Mai (9/1), Portugueseprincess (10/1), Gobi Sunset (12/1), Born To Destroy (12/1), Jack Ryan (50/1)

The booking of Benoit de la Sayette for MOLLY MAI suggests she'll be ready to roll after a break so she's taken to deny course specialist Critical Thinking. Greek Kodiac looks best of the rest.