17:00 Wolverhampton

Tuesday 3 January 2023

All17:0017:3018:0018:3019:0019:3020:0020:30

BetUK's Acca Club 5 Free Bet Apprentice Handicap

Off time: 17:01 | Winning time: 2m 1.13s

(6)

You're Hired³³

Age: 10| Weight: 10-2| J: Oliver Stammers| T: Mrs A J Perrett| OR: 85

11/1

18/1, creditable fifth of 9 in handicap at Chelmsford (1¼m) 33 days ago. Has work to do.

Form: 056055-

(9)

Dembe³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-1| J: Billy Loughnane⁽⁷⁾| T: B R Johnson| OR: 84| C

11/4

Course winner. Four wins from 8 runs last year. Off 6 months, good third of 12 in handicap (66/1) at Kempton (1m) 34 days ago. Player if he can build on that now.

Form: 111593-

(3)

Queen Of Ipanema^t¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-13| J: A J Farragher| T: G Boughey| OR: 83| CD

4/1

Big improver since switched to handicaps/equipped with tongue tie, scoring 5 times in a row (including C&D) between late-October and mid-December. Winning run ended in Class 2 last time but may resume progression with sights lowered.

Form: 111115-

(2)

Young Fire^v¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 9-10| J: Mark Winn⁽³⁾| T: D O'Meara| OR: 79| C| D

5/1

Course winner. Twenty seven runs since last win in 2021. 9/2, creditable third of 10 in handicap at Southwell (1m) 14 days ago, needing stronger gallop. Should go well from a career-low mark.

Form: 449443-

(5)

Tiger Beetle¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: Rhys Clutterbuck| T: M G Rimell| OR: 78| CD

7/2

33/1, career best when winning 11-runner C&D handicap 13 days ago, just holding on. Ought to remain competitive up 4 lb

Form: 33/3581-

(8)

Dutch Admiral⁴⁴⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-8| J: Deon Le Roux⁽⁷⁾| T: D G Bridgwater| OR: 77

100/1

Lightly-raced maiden on Flat. Modest hurdle winner. Tenth of 12 in handicap hurdle at Stratford (19f) in October 2021. Absent since. Could only consider if backed.

Form: 0442/

(1)

Angel On High³³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-8| J: Mollie Phillips| T: A Wintle| OR: 77

33/1

Eleven runs since last win in 2020. 14/1, respectable second of 9 in handicap at Kempton (11f) back in February. Off since. First run for yard after leaving Harry Dunlop. Betting should guide.

Form: 6263/42-

(7)

Mafia Power^b¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: Mr Taylor Fisher⁽⁵⁾| T: A Watson| OR: 71| CD

9/2

C&D winner in October. 13/2, creditable 1¼ lengths third of 11 to Tiger Beetle in handicap at this C&D 13 days ago.

Form: 412233-

Non-Runners

(4)

Light Up Our Stars¹⁴

Weight: 9-4| Age: 7

T: S Dixon J: Elisha Whittington

Forecasts

Dembe (11/4), Tiger Beetle (7/2), Queen Of Ipanema (4/1), Mafia Power (9/2), Young Fire (5/1), Light Up Our Stars (10/1), You're Hired (11/1), Angel On High (33/1), Dutch Admiral (100/1)

YOUNG FIRE isn't the easiest to win with but he's more than capable of defying this sort of mark and gets a tentative vote ahead of Queen of Ipanema who came unstuck at Class 2 level last time but should play a leading role back in a lower grade. Light Up Our Stars completes the shortlist.