17:50 Wolverhampton

Saturday 29 April 2017

All17:5018:2018:5019:2019:5020:2020:50

Bank's Amber Bitter Apprentice Handicap

Off time: 17:51 | Winning time: 1m 12.96s

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Selected odds by:

(4)

Cultured Knight¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: Finley Marsh⁽⁵⁾| T: R Hughes| OR: 77

4/1

Slightly disappointing at Bath last time but may not have enjoyed the firm ground, having seemed progressive prior to that. Remains on the same mark but carries 5lb less with an apprentice in the saddle.

Form: 243-252

(9)

Dinneratmidnight^e/s¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-9| J: Ben Robinson⁽³⁾| T: R C Guest| OR: 76

9/1

Won at Pontefract a year ago but has shown little since. Performance here last time out was more like it, but that was over 5f so it's not encouraging to see him returned to 6f. Drops to below that winning mark from last year for the first time but more will still be needed.

Form: 0080-45

(3)

Curzon Line¹⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 9-9| J: Ryan Timby⁽⁵⁾| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 76

6/1

May have found his handicap limit having struggled since shooting up in the weights for an easy win at Chelmsford in November (previously won off higher than this but that was as a three year old). Usually gives his race his all, though, so he's not ruled out for a place.

Form: 17-3275

(8)

Compas Scoobie¹⁶⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Cameron Noble⁽³⁾| T: R Varian| OR: 74

11/4

Narrowly beaten last time when sent off favourite at Newcastle over the same trip, and remains on the same mark today. Only 1lb higher than when winning a maiden at Kempton on his previous racecourse appearance and is lightly raced enough to assume there is still some improvement in him.

Form: 3513-15

(7)

Slingsby^p⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: Harrison Shaw⁽⁵⁾| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 74

5/1

C&D winner (on his only previous attempt) who has a good record on this surface and is returned to his preferred 6f having never factored over a furlong further here last time out. Has his conditions here and must be feared.

Form: 003-157

(6)

Elusivity^p⁵¹

Age: 9| Weight: 9-5| J: Charlie Bennett| T: C R Dore| OR: 72

40/1

Previous run over 7f can be ignored given he hasn't been effective over that trip since he was much younger, and he seems more comfortable at this shorter distance. Runs off a high mark here but he has run well off a high weight before and a recent win at Southwell showed he retains ability.

Form: 813409

(5)

Fleckerl^p⁴⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-4| J: Katherine Begley⁽⁵⁾| T: C R Dore| OR: 71

16/1

Now 14lb lower than at the time of his most recent victory last year, but he has clearly been going the wrong way since and cannot be recommended with any confidence.

Form: 880328

(2)

Bush Warrior^v⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: Joshua Bryan⁽³⁾| T: Mrs A L M King| OR: 67

22/1

Has run some fair races in defeat in claiming company recently but still has to prove that he can go as well in handicap company. On his lowest mark for two years now but will need to utilise that fully in order to be competitive here.

Form: 8-83024

(1)

Inshaa^p¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 8-11| J: Seamus Cronin⁽⁵⁾| T: M Herrington| OR: 64

7/1

0/18 in his career but has probably run his best races on Tapeta and races off a feather-weight here. This looks as fair an opportunity as any for him but still has to prove he's capable of winning a race.

Form: 42-5393

Forecasts

Compas Scoobie (11/4), Cultured Knight (4/1), Slingsby (5/1), Curzon Line (6/1), Inshaa (7/1), Dinneratmidnight (9/1), Fleckerl (16/1), Bush Warrior (22/1), Elusivity (40/1)

The one who appeals most here is SLINGSBY, who racing over 6f on Tapeta in a field of this size has his favoured conditions today after a few recent races where things haven't been quite right for him, including when upped to 7f last time (a trip he is no longer effective over). He should go very well in a competitive-looking race, while Compas Scoobie, who looks progressive and potentially well handicapped, can give him most to think about with Cultured Knight also interesting having not handled the firm ground at Bath last time.