20:45 Wolverhampton

Thursday 31 July 2025

All17:4518:1518:4519:1519:4520:1520:45

Racing League Race 14 Handicap

Off time: 20:45 | Winning time: 1m 58.30s

(8)

Andaleep^p,t⁷^{(ex 4)}

Age: 9| Weight: 10-3| J: R Kingscote| T: D & C Kubler| OR: 91

6/1

Real credit to connections who posted a useful effort to end a losing run in 13-runner handicap (18/1) at Yarmouth (10.1f, good to soft) 7 days ago. Enjoyed positional advantages on the day but his consistency is hard to knock and type to give his running again under a penalty.

Form: 073231

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

(7)

Penzance⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-0| J: William Carver| T: J J Hanlon| OR: 92

20/1

Useful gelding who ran well on first run since leaving Michael Appleby when second of 3 in minor event at Gowran (9.5f, good) 5 days ago. Lines up 1 lb below the mark he defied at Chelmsford earlier this year and no surprise to see a bold showing.

Form: 558662

(9)

Silent Age³⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: Edward Greatrex| T: Ian Williams| OR: 87| CD

11/1

Steadily eased in the weights this year and he took advantage under a well-judged front-running ride at Sandown (10f) last month. Up 6 lb, ran to a similar level when third of 6 in handicap at Musselburgh (9f, good to firm) 30 days ago, well positioned.

Form: 747013

(6)

Wadacre Gomez^v1¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-8| J: Oliver Stammers| T: C Johnston| OR: 86| CD

28/1

4-time winner on AW last year (including over C&D) who ran best race for a while when runner-up behind an unexposed sort at Chelmsford (10f) in June. Not in same form either start since, latterly on turf but foolish to dismiss back on this surface with a visor now applied.

Form: 303287

(11)

Londoner^p²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-8| J: Jack Doughty| T: D & C Kubler| OR: 86

6/1

Justified good support on second start for this yard at Newcastle (10.2f) in May and has remained in top form on turf of late, second of 9 in handicap (11/2) at Ascot (10f, firm) 20 days ago, edged out late on. He's yet another good advert for this stable and respected with cheekpieces back on.

Form: 20-8122

(13)

Son Of Man²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Paddy Bradley| T: J R Boyle| OR: 85

16/1

4-y-o who was in good form on AW earlier this year, again finding only one too good at Lingfield (10f) in April. Stepped up on a lesser run without threatening when seventh of 9 in handicap at Ascot (10f, firm) 20 days ago and tricky draw to operate from here.

Form: 6-32207

(3)

Midnight Lion²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: P Mulrennan| T: J S Goldie| OR: 82

20/1

Has done really well at Newcastle since joining present yard, winning 5 times between December and March. Another solid effort there when fourth in the 19-runner Northumberland Vase in June and overdid things in front when down the field in Old Newton Cup 26 days ago. This more suitable.

Form: 311040

(4)

Fox Avatar³⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: J Mitchell| T: R Varian| OR: 81

10/3

Fair form as a 3-y-o, landing second of his 3 starts in novice company at Beverley (10f) in September. Confirmed promise of his reappearance effort at second attempt and overcame trouble-in-running when winning 8-runner handicap at Chelmsford (10f) 4 weeks ago and very much of interest again.

Form: 315-451

(12)

Bint Al Daar^t1¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: Joanna Mason| T: K Frost| OR: 80| CD

22/1

Dual C&D winner who arrives on the back of a creditable fifth of 11 in handicap at Southwell (11.1f) 18 days ago, not quicken only late on. Eased 2 lb ahead of this debut for new yard but another with a less than ideal draw to overcome in bid to supplement success in this 12 months ago.

Form: 0-42095

(5)

Immediate Effect^p1¹¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: L Morris| T: Sir Mark Prescott| OR: 87| BF| C

3/1

Laid down solid foundations in maiden/novice company and more professional when making a winning handicap debut at Southwell (1m) in June. Solid in-the-frame efforts have followed, good second of 6 in handicap at Redcar (1m) 11 days ago. Unexposed at this trip and respected as sole 3-y-o.

Form: 12-2142

(1)

Obsidian Knight⁴⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 8-10| J: Jack Nicholls⁽⁷⁾| T: T Kent| OR: 74

33/1

Won twice on Lingfield's AW in the spring. Better than the result when fifth over 1¼m at Yarmouth in May but unable to build on that when ninth of 11 in handicap at Newbury (10f, good to firm) 49 days ago. Return to all-weather can see him in a better light but others rate stronger.

Form: 611759

(10)

Up The Jazz⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-9| J: Cam Hardie| T: R A Fahey| OR: 73| CD

66/1

Ran well down in grade when runner-up at Beverley earlier this month and fared better than he had at York next time, when creditable fifth of 9 in handicap at Pontefract (10f, good) 4 days ago, not ideally placed. This is tougher again, however.

Form: 8-67275

(2)

Dancing Steve^v¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 8-8| J: Finley Marsh| T: A McGuinness| OR: 72| D

8/1

Irish raider who comes here operating firmly at the top of his game, confirming promise of recent runs when winning 5-runner handicap at Navan (10.2f, good to firm) 18 days ago, conceding first run but finding plenty to forge clear. Not underestimated from good draw despite 8 lb higher mark.

Form: 0-89221

Forecasts

Immediate Effect (3/1), Fox Avatar (10/3), Londoner (6/1), Andaleep (6/1), Dancing Steve (8/1), Silent Age (11/1), Son Of Man (16/1), Penzance (20/1), Midnight Lion (20/1), Bint Al Daar (22/1), Wadacre Gomez (28/1), Obsidian Knight (33/1), Up The Jazz (66/1)

Low-mileage 4-y-o FOX AVATAR overcame trouble in running to win in the style of one well ahead of his mark at Chelmsford 4 weeks ago and a 6 lb rise for that should see him firmly in the mix again from a handy draw in stall 4. Immediate Effect, the sole 3-y-o in the line-up, Irish raider Dancing Steve and Londoner, who is shaping up very well, are others on the shortlist in an intriguing finale.