19:30 Wolverhampton

Friday 23 February 2024

All16:5517:3018:0018:3019:0019:3020:0020:30

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Off time: 19:30 | Winning time: 3m 5.99s

(9)

Bella Bluesky^t¹¹^{(ex 4)}

Age: 8| Weight: 9-11| J: Jason Hart| T: Ewan Whillans| OR: 53| C

2/1

Career best when winning 10-runner minor event at this course (12.2f, 2/1) 11 days ago. Going the right way and shapes as if she'll get this far, so capable of following up under a penalty.

Form: 0/5911

(1)

Lady Valentine^b,t1²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: L Morris| T: M Appleby| OR: 55

50/1

Thirteen runs since last win in 2021. Blinkered for 1st time, sixth of 7 in handicap (12/1) at Kempton (11f) 20 days ago. Tongue tied for the first time and will benefit from the step back up in trip.

Form: 23/0-776

(6)

Lawmans Blis⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 9-9| J: D Swift| T: I Furtado| OR: 55| C

5/1

Course winner. Latest win here in September. 8/1, first run since leaving Jennie Candlish when good second of 10 in handicap at Southwell (11.1f) 8 days ago, having run of race. Back up in trip. On a fair mark and looks a big player.

Form: 57150-2

(7)

Taxiing^t1¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: Jordan Williams⁽⁵⁾| T: P D Evans| OR: 57| CD

12/1

C&D winner. Winner here in January. Eighth of 12 in handicap at Lingfield (13f, AW, 10/1) 18 days ago. Tongue strap on 1st time. Still not fully exposed over this sort of distance.

Form: 005-218

(4)

Virtual Hug²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 9-8| J: Joshua Bryan| T: Mrs N S Evans| OR: 54| CD

11/2

Didn't need to improve to win 12-runner handicap (5/1) at this course (12.2f) 20 days ago, well positioned. Should give another good account.

Form: 74-3441

(11)

Black Smoke^b,t¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 9-7| J: Alec Voikhansky⁽⁵⁾| T: D M Loughnane| OR: 53

14/1

Eleventh of 12 in handicap (28/1) at Lingfield (13f, AW) 18 days ago. Others make more appeal.

Form: 653-240

(2)

Heatherdown Hero^p,h⁴³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: Hollie Doyle| T: R Menzies| OR: 53| D

4/1

One win from 28 Flat runs. Fifth of 8 in handicap at Southwell (14.1f, 9/2) 43 days ago, well positioned. Hood back on. Not dismissed.

Form: 9633-95

(12)

Gentle Fire^p1³⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 9-1| J: Joe Leavy⁽⁷⁾| T: H J Evans| OR: 47| CD

40/1

C&D winner. 25/1, eighth of 10 in handicap at this course (16.6f) 34 days ago. Cheekpieces on 1st time.

Form: 2747-88

(3)

Crystal Guard^p¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 8-13| J: J Fanning| T: I Jardine| OR: 45| C

15/2

Course winner. Thirteen runs since last win in 2023. Good fourth of 8 in handicap at this C&D (4/1) 17 days ago. Can make presence felt.

Form: 893-274

(5)

Midnight Shimmer³⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 8-13| J: Callum Hutchinson⁽³⁾| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 45

20/1

Lightly-raced maiden. 3½ lengths fifth of 10 to Taxiing in handicap (80/1) at this C&D 38 days ago. Must improve.

Form: 908/5

Non-Runners

(8)

Freestyle¹³

Weight: 9-6| Age: 6

T: Alexandra Dunn J: William Cox

(10)

Princess Nieve²⁰

Weight: 8-13| Age: 5

T: P Morris J: Jack Enright

Forecasts

Bella Bluesky (2/1), Heatherdown Hero (4/1), Lawmans Blis (5/1), Virtual Hug (11/2), Crystal Guard (15/2), Taxiing (12/1), Black Smoke (14/1), Midnight Shimmer (20/1), Princess Nieve (33/1), Gentle Fire (40/1), Lady Valentine (50/1), Freestyle (50/1)

BELLA BLUESKY hasn't had much racing on the Flat and has looked progressive since upped in trip, so she's preferred to fellow last-time-out winner Virtual Hug. Lawmans Blis made a positive start for a new stable last time, so he can also feature under another positive ride.