17:30 Wolverhampton

Monday 20 January 2025

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

BetUK. It's Where The UK Bets Handicap

Off time: 17:30 | Winning time: 2m 40.35s

(2)

Max Of Stars¹⁶⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: P Mulrennan| T: Ollie Pears| OR: 55| BF

8/1

Fair winning hurdler. Seventh of 9 in handicap at Catterick (15.9f, good to firm, 15/8) on Flat return, doing too much too soon. Off 167 days. Down in trip. Looks competitive on form.

Form: 7794/27-

(8)

Starfighter¹⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 9-8| J: Edward Greatrex| T: D M Loughnane| OR: 54| CD

9/2

3-time C&D winner. Won 9-runner handicap at this C&D (3/1) 14 days ago by ½ length from Virtual Hug. Merits consideration.

Form: 00636-1

(9)

Avarice¹⁸⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 9-7| J: George Buckell⁽³⁾| T: J Butler| OR: 53| CD

40/1

C&D winner. 80/1, ninth of 14 in handicap at Kempton (11f), merely passing beaten rivals. Off 6 months.

Form: 205/969-

(12)

Mhajim^h⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: Joey Haynes| T: C Banham| OR: 53| D

17/2

Unreliable individual. Fourteen runs since last win in 2022. Fourth of 7 in handicap at Lingfield (12f, AW, 12/1) 7 days ago, slowly away. Has work to do.

Form: 67354-4

(10)

Sparkling Belle¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: William Carver| T: J A Osborne| OR: 55

33/1

66/1, first run since leaving Jane Chapple-Hyam when sixth of 8 in handicap at Lingfield (10f, AW) 11 days ago. Up in trip. Makes tapeta debut. Others more persuasive.

Form: 54658-6

(3)

Esticky End³¹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-6| J: J Cleary⁽⁵⁾| T: Tom McGuinness| OR: 52| D

7/2

Unreliable sort. Improved on recent efforts to win 14-runner handicap (16/1) at Dundalk (12f) 31 days ago. Expected to be bang there.

Form: 0U7621-

(7)

Hawa Jumeirah³³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: Raul Da Silva| T: I Mohammed| OR: 55

4/1

Fifth of 13 in handicap at Kempton (11f, 8/1) 33 days ago, doing too much too soon. Makes tapeta debut. Must improve.

Form: 688/885-

(11)

Virtual Hug¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 9-6| J: Hollie Doyle| T: Mrs N S Evans| OR: 52| CD

10/1

C&D winner. Eleven runs since last win in 2024. Creditable ½-length second of 9 to Starfighter in handicap at this C&D (8/1) 14 days ago.

Form: 57476-2

(4)

Walk The Moon¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: Jack Doughty⁽³⁾| T: A W Carroll| OR: 47

6/1

Good second of 8 in handicap (22/1) at this C&D 14 days ago. Can give a good account.

Form: 60360-2

(6)

Abstract¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 9-0| J: N Callan| T: A W Carroll| OR: 45| D

50/1

One win from 32 Flat runs. 7¼ lengths sixth of 9 to Starfighter in handicap (66/1) at this C&D 14 days ago, not knocked about.

Form: 66880/6

(5)

This Time Maybe¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: Nicola Currie| T: M D I Usher| OR: 47

14/1

33/1, third of 8 in handicap at this C&D 14 days ago.

Form: 85090-3

Non-Runners

(1)

Sophosc²

Weight: 9-9| Age: 9

T: Ian Williams J: L Morris

Forecasts

Esticky End (7/2), Hawa Jumeirah (4/1), Starfighter (9/2), Walk The Moon (6/1), Max Of Stars (8/1), Mhajim (17/2), Virtual Hug (10/1), Sophosc (10/1), This Time Maybe (14/1), Sparkling Belle (33/1), Avarice (40/1), Abstract (50/1)

ESTICKY END ended his losing run at Dundalk under this rider last month, showing none of the quirks that have held him back in the past stepped up to this longer trip, and is preferred to Max of Stars, who remains well treated in this sphere on hurdles form. Starfighter recorded a third C&D win 2 weeks ago and is another to consider.