20:00 Wolverhampton

Monday 24 January 2022

All16:3017:0017:3018:0018:3019:0019:3020:00

Betway Handicap

Off time: 20:00 | Winning time: 2m 40.45s

(8)

Avarice²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: R Kingscote| T: J Butler| OR: 60

7/2

Thirteen runs since last win in 2020. Tenth of 14 in handicap at Southwell (8.1f, 18/1) 26 days ago. Significantly back up in trip and opposable once more, for all that his mark continues to slide.

Form: 380050-

(2)

King Charles^b¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: Jordan Williams⁽⁷⁾| T: B J Llewellyn| OR: 60| D

28/1

Fifth of 8 in handicap (18/1) at this C&D 19 days ago, slowly away. Others make greater appeal for win purposes.

Form: 01/460-5

(3)

Al Gaiya^t¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: R Havlin| T: Brian O'Rourke| OR: 58

12/1

Winner at Kempton in November. Good second of 13 in handicap at Southwell (12.1f, 11/1) 15 days ago. 2 lb rise fair enough and should be in the mix.

Form: 38103-2

(6)

Scarborough Castle³³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: Callum Shepherd| T: D M Simcock| OR: 58| C| D

6/5

Course winner. Three wins from 6 runs last year. 3/1, career best when winning 14-runner handicap at Southwell (12.1f) 33 days ago, responding well. Another bold show anticipated.

Form: 361141-

(1)

County Wicklow^p,t1¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: Dylan Hogan| T: M Botti| OR: 60

12/1

Ungenuine type. Creditable third of 7 in handicap (11/1) at Kempton (12f) 16 days ago, not clear run. Tongue strap on 1st time. Others preferred.

Form: 80964-3

(4)

Many Words²⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: Hayley Turner| T: A W Carroll| OR: 57

33/1

40/1, fourth of 6 in juvenile hurdle at Fontwell (17.7f, heavy) 29 days ago. Fair performer in this sphere, but likely to find one or two too good all the same. Yard also saddles Hooves Like Jagger.

Form: 0/80437-

(5)

Hooves Like Jagger¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: Hollie Doyle| T: A W Carroll| OR: 56| D

8/1

Latest win at Brighton in September. 9/2, respectable seventh of 12 in handicap at this course (14f) 19 days ago, finishing with running left. Each-way squeak.

Form: 31204-7

(9)

Selecto²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 8-13| J: Joanna Mason⁽³⁾| T: Mrs Stella Barclay| OR: 52| D

11/2

3/1, won 14-runner minor event at Newcastle (12.4f) 20 days ago, keeping on well. Remains on a plausible mark back in handicap company and should make a bold bid to complete the hat-trick.

Form: 35841-1

(7)

Wildmountainthyme¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 8-7| J: Laura Coughlan⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs Stella Barclay| OR: 45

200/1

Tenth of 13 in handicap at Southwell (12.1f, 125/1) 15 days ago. Yard saddles a far stronger candidate in the shape of Selecto.

Form: 0063/0-0

Forecasts

Scarborough Castle (6/5), Avarice (7/2), Selecto (11/2), Hooves Like Jagger (8/1), County Wicklow (12/1), Al Gaiya (12/1), King Charles (28/1), Many Words (33/1), Wildmountainthyme (200/1)

SELECTO made it 2-2 for this yard/jockey and on tapeta when landing a classified race at Newcastle earlier this month. The 5-y-o remains unexposed at this trip and is taken to enhance his winning run. Next on the list is Scarborough Castle, who has won 3 of his last 4 starts and a 3 lb rise for his most recent success at Southwell is fair enough. Al Gaiya also enters calculations.