16:05 Wolverhampton

Wednesday 22 December 2021

All12:3013:0013:3014:0014:3015:0015:3016:05

Betway Casino Handicap (Div 2)

Off time: 16:05 | Winning time: 1m 14.48s

(8)

Patontheback²²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: D Tudhope| T: D O'Meara| OR: 55

12/1

Lightly-raced maiden. Eleventh of 14 in handicap (7/1) at Newcastle (6f) 22 days ago. Perhaps worth another chance given that he went close in a Lingfield maiden on penultimate start.

Form: 4520

(13)

Paddy Power²²

Age: 8| Weight: 9-6| J: J Garritty| T: R A Fahey| OR: 54| D

11/1

9/1, tenth of 14 in handicap at Newcastle (6f) 22 days ago. Now 1 lb below last winning mark, but others make more appeal on balance.

Form: 773530

(9)

Independent Beauty^h²²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: Jason Hart| T: L Williamson| OR: 54

12/1

Respectable fourth of 14 in handicap at Newcastle (6f, 22/1) 22 days ago, never nearer. Can give a good account, albeit without posing serious threat to principals.

Form: 347024

(7)

Sword Exceed²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 9-5| J: Darragh Keenan| T: R Brisland| OR: 53| D

7/2

Thirteen runs since last win in 2020. Fifth of 11 in handicap at Lingfield (6f, AW, 9/2) 26 days ago, not clear run. Can make presence felt.

Form: 305775

(1)

Astrophysics¹⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 9-4| J: Mollie Phillips⁽⁵⁾| T: A W Carroll| OR: 52| CD

6/1

C&D winner. Twelve runs since last win in 2020. Respectable third of 11 in handicap (14/1) at this course (5.1f) 14 days ago, left poorly placed. Enters calculations.

Form: 98-6053

(12)

Nozieres¹⁴⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: William Carson| T: A Carson| OR: 51

28/1

50/1, ninth of 12 in handicap at Yarmouth (7f, good to firm). Off 148 days and it's best to look elsewhere.

Form: 656789

(5)

Bernard Spierpoint¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: L Morris| T: C Wallis| OR: 49

6/1

Remains a maiden after 17 Flat runs. Good third of 13 in handicap (7/1) at Chelmsford City (6f) 13 days ago. Likely to find one or two too good once more.

Form: 025543

(10)

Physics^p,t²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: A Mullen| T: M J Attwater| OR: 49| D

40/1

33/1, eighth of 11 in handicap at Lingfield (6f, AW) 26 days ago. Makes tapeta debut and he's readily passed over.

Form: 008808

(6)

Surewecan^p⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 8-13| J: William Cox⁽³⁾| T: Sarah Hollinshead| OR: 47| D

12/1

Eleven runs since last win in 2020. Respectable fifth of 11 in handicap at this course (5.1f, 12/1) 4 days ago. No more than an each-way squeak.

Form: 363525

(2)

Indian Affair^t⁴⁵⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 8-13| J: Joanna Mason⁽³⁾| T: C Wallis| OR: 47| CD

50/1

Four-time C&D winner. Seventeen runs since last win in 2019. 17/2, creditable fourth of 13 in handicap at Chelmsford City (6f) when last seen 15 months ago. Entitled to come on for the run.

Form: 7/23324-

(4)

Rockesbury^b,e/s1⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 8-13| J: Hollie Doyle| T: P S McEntee| OR: 47| C| D

6/1

Course winner. Twelfth of 14 in handicap (33/1) at Southwell (7.1f) 5 days ago. Eyeshields on 1st time and blinkers back on. Looks set for another struggle.

Form: 568070

(3)

Kraka^v⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 8-12| J: Joey Haynes| T: Mrs C A Dunnett| OR: 46| C| D

9/2

Course winner. Creditable sixth of 14 in handicap at Southwell (7.1f, 25/1) 5 days ago. Visor back on. Can give a good account without posing serious threat to principals.

Form: 780656

Non-Runners

(11)

Monsieur Fantaisie¹³

Weight: 8-13| Age: 3

T: J G M O'Shea J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Monsieur Fantaisie (3/1), Sword Exceed (7/2), Kraka (9/2), Rockesbury (6/1), Astrophysics (6/1), Bernard Spierpoint (6/1), Paddy Power (11/1), Patontheback (12/1), Surewecan (12/1), Independent Beauty (12/1), Nozieres (28/1), Physics (40/1), Indian Affair (50/1)

A deserved first taste of success awaits MONSIEUR FANTAISIE, who probably would've prevailed but for encountering traffic problems at Chelmsford recently. Astrophysics has gradually returned to form since joining this yard and, if able to build on his latest effort here, he should be involved in the finish. Sword Exceed and Patontheback are others to consider.