20:15 Wolverhampton

Saturday 24 February 2018

All17:4518:1518:4519:1519:4520:1520:4521:15

sunbets.co.uk Handicap

Off time: 20:15 | Winning time: 1m 51.9s

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Selected odds by:

(9)

Derek Duval^h,t²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: Daniel Muscutt| T: S C Williams| OR: 72| C

15/8

Second run back from wind surgery and looks fairly well treated on his old form (back down to last winning mark). Shaped well in this headgear combination for the first time when last seen and this looks easier than his last test.

Form: 57895-3

(2)

Helis²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: L P Keniry| T: M Scudamore| OR: 70

66/1

Had some useful form to his name when trained in France but hasn't shown that much in two outings for his current yard. Slow away last time and was always behind and has questions to answer here.

Form: 1130/9-0

What Usain¹⁶

Age: 13| Weight: 9-7| J: Unknown| T: M Appleby| CD

Form: 1386-63

(6)

Prancing Oscar¹⁷⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: Tom Marquand| T: B Haslam| OR: 69| CD

10/1

Very much had the run of the race when making all to win over C&D on his penultimate start back in the summer. Predictably couldn't follow up that run under less favourable circumstances when last seen and now returns from a break; may well need this.

Form: 200413-

(5)

Ronnie The Rooster²⁸⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: P Hanagan| T: J L Eyre| OR: 69| BF

10/1

Twice a Tapeta winner up at Newcastle at up to a mile he's not been seen since last May when he found a good run of form coming to an end on turf at Beverley. Now makes his stable debut after that break off a mark that is 8lb above his last winning one.

Form: 1/43227-

(4)

Steal The Scene²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 9-4| J: D C Costello| T: K Frost| OR: 67

9/4

Headgear worn on his last three outings was removed last time and that appeared to get him back to form as well as the return to a longer trip over C&D helping. Not won since November 2015 but is now operating off a substantially lower mark.

Form: 0082-39

Chosen Character²⁶

Age: 17| Weight: 9-3| J: R Kingscote| T: Tom Dascombe

Form: 28886-8

(3)

Grey Destiny⁴⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 9-2| J: Cam Hardie| T: A Brittain| OR: 65| C

8/1

Won three times here last year all over 7f and now tries a mile for the first time for a while. Ran off a career high mark last time which appeared to anchor him although it was rather worrying that he reverted to racing freely again and that hampered his overall effort.

Form: 39211-4

Freud⁶⁰

Age: 15| Weight: 9-1| J: Unknown| T: Ian Williams

Form: 40/8089-

Gala Celebration¹⁶

Age: 11| Weight: 8-11| J: Unknown| T: Ian Williams

Form: 40734-2

(8)

Gabrial The Thug^p¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 8-10| J: Connor Murtagh⁽⁵⁾| T: P Morris| OR: 59| BF| CD

66/1

In good form here in the early part of 2017 winning three times when with Ian Williams but hasn't returned in much form since moving to this yard. Might have needed the run first time after a break (had some wind surgery) but went backwards last time and looks a quirky sort.

Form: 7134-60

(10)

Critical Thinking^t¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 8-9| J: L Morris| T: D Loughnane| OR: 58| CD

9/2

Up 4lb for winning over C&D last time out having shaped well in his previous runs to record his first handicap win. Kept on well to win and showed a good attitude to win having settled better than he has before; up in grade here but looks capable of going well again.

Form: 963-231

(1)

Caledonia Laird¹²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 8-8| J: Poppy Bridgwater⁽⁷⁾| T: J Hughes| OR: 57| C

14/1

Slipping down the weights and now 2lb below his last winning mark and took a step back in the right direction last time out here over 7f. Might need a little more help yet but has won here before and not ruled out.

Form: 037905-

(7)

Blue Rocks¹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 8-3| J: Gabriele Malune⁽⁷⁾| T: L Williamson| OR: 52| C

100/1

Caused a surprise and showed improved form when winning off a break in early 2017 over 5f at this course. Now tries this trip for the first time having been well beaten over 7f here last time on his return from a long absence.

Form: 65379-9

Forecasts

Derek Duval (15/8), Steal The Scene (9/4), Critical Thinking (9/2), Grey Destiny (8/1), Ronnie The Rooster (10/1), Prancing Oscar (10/1), Caledonia Laird (14/1), Helis (66/1), Gabrial The Thug (66/1), Blue Rocks (100/1)

The first-time hood and appeared to produce a good performance from DEREK DUVAL last time and that was in a stronger race than he faces here (he looks well handicapped on his old form). Critical Thinking is another one who has been in good form although he has to go up in grade here but should still run well. Grey Destiny was in good form prior to disappointing last time and could bounce back and Caledonia Lad and Steal The Scene are two others to note with both now looking to be off good marks.