16:37 Wolverhampton

Friday 9 February 2024

All13:3214:0214:3215:0215:3216:0716:3717:07

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Off time: 16:37 | Winning time: 2m 39.25s

(10)

Caruso¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-0| J: K Shoemark| T: M L W Bell| OR: 65

11/2

Thrice-raced maiden. First run since leaving James Fanshawe when eighth of 9 in maiden at Kempton (7f, 100/1) 16 days ago, slowly away. Makes handicap debut. Must bounce back.

Form: 87/8

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(2)

Rubeus^b²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: Elisha Whittington⁽³⁾| T: S Dixon| OR: 65| CD

16/1

Won 8-runner handicap at this C&D (12/1) 20 days ago, well positioned.

Form: 1/7520-1

(12)

At Liberty²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-13| J: Alistair Rawlinson| T: M Appleby| OR: 64

12/1

11/2, creditable third of 6 in handicap at Chelmsford City (10f) 27 days ago. Up in trip. Has more to offer for this stable.

Form: 65760-3

(6)

Starfighter²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 9-12| J: Morgan Cole⁽⁵⁾| T: D M Loughnane| OR: 63| CD

33/1

C&D winner. Latest win here in September. 5/1, 3 lengths sixth of 8 to Rubeus in handicap at this C&D 20 days ago, having run of race. Others make more appeal.

Form: 4136-36

(5)

Chagall¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 9-12| J: Jonny Peate⁽³⁾| T: Jack Jones| OR: 63| D

22/1

Four wins from 17 runs last year. Seventh of 9 in handicap (11/2) at Lingfield (10f, AW) 16 days ago, needing stronger gallop. Back up in trip. Not ruled out.

Form: 6411-37

(11)

Beau Vintage^p,t²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: Connor Planas⁽³⁾| T: Tom Clover| OR: 62

22/1

Tongue strap on for 1st time, creditable 2½ lengths third of 8 to Optician in handicap (10/1) at this C&D 20 days ago, clear of rest. Cheekpieces back on.

Form: 24580-3

(4)

Vision Of Hope^h²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: George Wood| T: S Pearce| OR: 60| D

18/1

7/1, creditable third of 7 in handicap at Southwell (14.1f) 29 days ago. Not a forlorn hope.

Form: 11/397-3

(8)

Optician^t²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: Rossa Ryan| T: S Lycett| OR: 62| CD

11/8

Career best when winning 8-runner handicap (15/8) at this C&D 20 days ago. Thriving for new yard and boasts solid claims of completing the hat-trick.

Form: 64481-1

(1)

Pysanka^p²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: Billy Loughnane| T: D M Loughnane| OR: 58| CD

12/1

Didn't need to improve to win 10-runner handicap (5/1) at this C&D 25 days ago, having run of race. This could prove tougher.

Form: 0252-61

(9)

Wilkie⁵⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-5| J: Paddy Bradley⁽³⁾| T: J Butler| OR: 56

16/1

Sixteen runs since last win in 2021. Eighth of 11 in handicap at this course (9.5f, 7/1) 55 days ago, not ideally placed. Back up in trip. Becoming well treated and shouldn't be written off.

Form: 026568-

(7)

Optik^b¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: Hayley Turner| T: D M Simcock| OR: 58| CD

13/2

C&D winner. Didn't need to improve to win 9-runner minor event at Newcastle (10.2f, 10/11) 15 days ago, always holding on. Back up in trip. Has to be taken seriously.

Form: 56-4111

(3)

Basilette⁸⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: George Downing| T: J W Mullins| OR: 55

25/1

Lightly-raced maiden on Flat. Modest winner at 16f in bumpers. Creditable fourth of 10 in handicap at this C&D (12/1) 88 days ago, not knocked about.

Form: 56764-

Forecasts

Optician (11/8), Caruso (11/2), Optik (13/2), At Liberty (12/1), Pysanka (12/1), Rubeus (16/1), Wilkie (16/1), Vision Of Hope (18/1), Chagall (22/1), Beau Vintage (22/1), Basilette (25/1), Starfighter (33/1)

This is a strong race for the grade with several last-time-out winners, two of whom arrive on a sequence. The four-timer chasing OPTIK (who had a bit to spare last time) is marginally preferred to Optician, who bids to make it three from three for his current yard. Rubeus is also of interest.