17:20 Wolverhampton

Monday 26 December 2022

All13:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:4517:20

BetUK Over 40,000 Live Streamed Races Handicap

Off time: 17:20 | Winning time: 2m 40.93s

(7)

Phoenix Aquilus^t⁴⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-2| J: Rob Hornby| T: S Durack| OR: 77| C

7/1

Course winner. Below form twelfth of 19 in handicap hurdle at Cheltenham (16.4f, good, 16/1) 45 days ago. Fairly useful on the all weather, bit below form on last Flat outing. Not taken lightly.

Form: 21P848

(8)

Eloso⁷⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-13| J: Christian Howarth⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss Gay Kelleway| OR: 74| D

12/1

Latest win at Epsom in August. Tenth of 12 in handicap (9/1) at this C&D 70 days ago. Others more persuasive.

Form: 531150

(6)

Haku¹⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-12| J: L Morris| T: D M Loughnane| OR: 77| D

6/4

6/5, career best when winning 7-runner handicap at Kempton (12f) 10 days ago, bit in hand. Likely to go well again in a weak race.

Form: 657211

(3)

Crimson King^v¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-11| J: Frederick Larson⁽³⁾| T: M Appleby| OR: 72| CD

5/1

Unreliable sort. C&D winner. 22/1, fifth of 8 in handicap at Lingfield (12f, AW) 19 days ago, left poorly placed. Now below last winning mark.

Form: 143895

(5)

Bugle Major^b²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 9-10| J: Mr Taylor Fisher⁽⁵⁾| T: A Watson| OR: 71

5/1

Remains a maiden after 22 Flat runs. Twenty three runs since last win in 2021. 13/2, creditable third of 10 in handicap at Southwell (12.1f) 20 days ago, not ideally placed. Shortlist material.

Form: 225343

(2)

The Trader¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: Cam Hardie| T: S England| OR: 68| D

7/1

14/1, much improved when winning 10-runner novice hurdle at Southwell (15.8f, good to soft) 15 days ago, travelling strongly. Looks interesting from a fair mark back on the Flat.

Form: 7-70977

(1)

Bluenose Belle^p1²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Jonny Peate⁽⁵⁾| T: R T Phillips| OR: 68

33/1

66/1, first run since leaving Marco Botti when ninth of 11 in handicap at Kempton (12f) 26 days ago. Cheekpieces on 1st time. Not easy to make a case for.

Form: 445529

(4)

Testing Faith^h¹⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-8| J: K T O'Neill| T: Ian Williams| OR: 59

40/1

Twelfth of 13 in handicap at Southwell (8.1f, 66/1) 10 days ago. Significantly up in trip. Hood back on. Others make more appeal.

Form: 520560

Forecasts

Haku (6/4), Bugle Major (5/1), Crimson King (5/1), The Trader (7/1), Phoenix Aquilus (7/1), Eloso (12/1), Bluenose Belle (33/1), Testing Faith (40/1)

HAKU had a bit to spare when scoring at Kempton 10 days ago and, in a race where the majority have something to prove, he makes most appeal. Bugle Major ran well at Southwell last time and shouldn't be dismissed and Phoenix Aquilus isn't a forlorn hope returning to the Flat.