18:15 Wolverhampton

Saturday 22 April 2017

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

FCL Global Forwarding Handicap

Off time: 18:16 | Winning time: 1m 13.53s

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Selected odds by:

(7)

Hamish Mcgonagain^p¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: D A Parkes⁽⁵⁾| T: J Gask| OR: 71

10/1

Seems to be held by the handicapper having been put up in the weights following two decisive victories in January, with one of those coming over today's C&D. Has only been dropped 1lb for his last run and so will need to find some improvement here.

Form: 145830

(5)

Viva Verglas²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: L Morris| T: D M Loughnane| OR: 70

13/2

Has been running some impressive races at Southwell recently, including back-to-back victories, and though that can prove to be a specialist track he has also won on Tapeta in the past. Will need to put in a better performance than when well beaten in selling company here in February, though.

Form: 114427

(3)

Semana Santa³¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Rob Hornby| T: T D Barron| OR: 70

9/2

Finished a close second in a Newcastle claimer last time, and his one victory was in a weak maiden over today's C&D. Will need to find something more to get competitive here, but that's not out of the question.

Form: 3-6D526

(10)

Dark Side Dream⁵¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: S De Sousa| T: C A Dwyer| OR: 70

15/8

Hasn't won since April 2015 but has been running some nice races in defeat recently, including when not beaten far last time over shorter at Newcastle, having been sent off favourite. This represents a big step down in class, and he is just as effective over the longer trip.

Form: 5-32351

(1)

Spirit Of Zebedee^v²²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: D C Costello| T: J & S Quinn| OR: 67

4/1

Has been running consistently well so far this year, looking a real improver having not always shown his best last year. It may be that a synthetic surface is key to him, as that is where he has shown much of his best form, and the trip and his handicap mark should be fine for him.

Form: 4565-21

(2)

Indian Affair^b,t³³

Age: 7| Weight: 8-10| J: David Probert| T: J M Bradley| OR: 59

9/1

Truly exposed contestant here who is currently on a 21-race losing streak. Difficult to see that ending here even though he's been dropped 1lb from an unspectacular run at Kempton last time out.

Form: 569482

(6)

Dandilion^t¹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 8-8| J: K T O'Neill| T: A M Hales| OR: 57

10/1

Makes only her second attempt at 6f having shaped as if the next furlong would help on several of her most recent starts. Her only win to date has come at this course, which is a bonus, but she must put a very poor performance last time out behind her in order to have a say.

Form: 317952

(4)

Secret Clause⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-7| J: Jane Elliott⁽⁷⁾| T: D Shaw| OR: 53

50/1

Lost his way since scoring at Nottingham last May and though now substantially lower on ratings he races from 3lb out of the handicap here and has it all to do in this company.

Form: 400-008

Non-Runners

(9)

Higher Court¹⁰

Weight: 9-8| Age: 9

T: Emma Owen J: T P Queally

(8)

Tasaaboq³

Weight: 8-7| Age: 6

T: P S McEntee J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Dark Side Dream (15/8), Spirit Of Zebedee (4/1), Semana Santa (9/2), Higher Court (5/1), Viva Verglas (13/2), Indian Affair (9/1), Hamish Mcgonagain (10/1), Dandilion (10/1), Tasaaboq (10/1), Secret Clause (50/1)

This can go to the consistent SPIRIT OF ZEBEDEE, who us yet to run a bad race so far this year and has clearly improved compared to some of his runs last year. He seems to have relished the switch to all-weather tracks and he looks to still be on a workable mark despite two recent victories. Ideally he may prefer a more obvious pace-setter than any of his rivals are likely to prove to be, but he has shown that he can make the running if needs be. Dark Side Dream has been running well in defeat recently and can prove the main danger, ahead of former C&D scorer Semana Santa.