18:30 Wolverhampton

Thursday 26 October 2023

All16:2517:0017:3018:0018:3019:0019:3020:0020:30

Stay Golden With BetMGM Safer Gambling Handicap

Off time: 18:32 | Winning time: 1m 48.89s

(4)

Headingley^p⁴⁴⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-0| J: B A Curtis| T: D O'Meara| OR: 75

7/1

Fourteen runs since last win in 2021. Visored for 1st time, last of 6 in handicap at Pontefract (10f, good, 5/1), weakening quickly. 8 lb higher back on the AW and 14-month absence to overcome, too.

Form: 005P56-

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

(9)

He's A Gentleman^v²³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: Oisin Murphy| T: H Palmer| OR: 73| CD

2/1

Won 10-runner handicap (10/3) at this C&D 23 days ago, keeping on well. Big player up 2 lb with Oisin Murphy again in the hot-seat.

Form: 842231

(5)

Nikki's Girl²³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: Saffie Osborne| T: E A L Dunlop| OR: 71| CD

5/1

C&D winner. Latest win here in August. 12/1, tenth of 11 in handicap at this C&D 23 days ago, slowly away. May have needed that run following a 9-week break and she's worth considering.

Form: 8-73710

(6)

Lion Tamer^h,t²²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: Callum Shepherd| T: M Hunt| OR: 74

11/1

Lightly-raced maiden. 50/1, first run since leaving John & Thady Gosden when ninth of 10 in handicap at Kempton (8f) 22 days ago. Makes tapeta debut and improvement needed.

Form: 2-5249

(12)

Light Up Our Stars^h²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 9-8| J: L Morris| T: S Dixon| OR: 69| CD

9/2

C&D winner. Won 10-runner handicap (7/2) at Southwell (8.1f) 28 days ago, keeping on well. This is more demanding up 4 lb, but couldn't rule out all the same.

Form: 634551

(1)

Operatic Artist^t³⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Rob Hornby| T: Ollie Sangster| OR: 70

40/1

14/1, first run since leaving Joseph Patrick O'Brien when tenth of 11 in handicap at Lingfield (10f, AW) 30 days ago. Needs to get back on track now switched to tapeta.

Form: 5-43500

(3)

Firm Handshake⁶³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: Ben Sanderson⁽³⁾| T: K Frost| OR: 69

22/1

Lightly-raced maiden. 22/1, respectable sixth of 11 in maiden at Leopardstown (8f, good) 63 days ago. First run for yard after leaving W. McCreery and will need to take a step forward if he's to make a winning handicap debut.

Form: 37456

(2)

Locked N' Loaded²¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: Alistair Rawlinson| T: A W Carroll| OR: 63| BF| CD

18/1

C&D winner. Thirteen runs since last win in 2022. 5/2, fifth of 6 in handicap at this course (7.2f). Off 7 months and steps back up in trip. Will be a threat if ready to roll.

Form: 2-08825

(10)

Havana Goldrush^b⁴³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: Liam Keniry| T: J S Moore| OR: 61| CD

11/2

C&D winner. Creditable fifth of 11 in handicap (7/1) at Bath (8f, good to firm) 43 days ago. Now 3 lb below last winning mark and each-way chance.

Form: 583465

Non-Runners

(8)

Masqool²⁴

Weight: 9-10| Age: 5

T: H J Evans J: D C Costello

(7)

Distinguished Lady²

Weight: 9-10| Age: 3

T: Darryll Holland J: Non Runner

(11)

Showmedemoney¹³

Weight: 9-10| Age: 4

T: I Jardine J: William Pyle

Forecasts

He's A Gentleman (2/1), Light Up Our Stars (9/2), Nikki's Girl (5/1), Havana Goldrush (11/2), Headingley (7/1), Distinguished Lady (7/1), Showmedemoney (8/1), Lion Tamer (11/1), Masqool (12/1), Locked N' Loaded (18/1), Firm Handshake (22/1), Operatic Artist (40/1)

The obvious starting point is HE'S A GENTLEMAN, who snapped a losing run with Oisin Murphy doing the steering over C&D earlier this month and he looks capable of defying a 2 lb rise in the weights. Nikki's Girl's latest effort is probably best excused and she looks dangerous, while Light Up Our Stars and Masqool are also shortlisted.