12:55 Wolverhampton

Wednesday 15 January 2020

All12:5513:2513:5514:3015:0015:3516:10

Ladbrokes Where The Nation Plays Handicap

Off time: 12:57 | Winning time: 2m 1.65s

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Selected odds by:

(7)

Mabre¹²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: A Kirby| T: P D Evans| OR: 62

4/1

First two runs were forgettable at best but showed a considerable turnaround in form when 4L second in Southwell novice (6f) 12 days ago. High-enough opening mark but may be an improver.

Form: 08-2

(2)

Dark Phoenix^b1,t¹¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: B A Curtis| T: P & O Cole| OR: 62

5/1

Didn't do badly in novice company but fared better since switching to handicaps, getting off the mark at the fifth attempt at Kempton (1m) 11 days ago. Only up 3lb and should be thereabouts once again.

Form: 3605-1

(4)

Never Said Nothing³⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: Alistair Rawlinson| T: J G Portman| OR: 62| BF

10/1

Nine-race maiden who has been knocking at the door in this company, with two seconds in a row before 27L defeat over C&D last time. Can be forgiven as raced too freely that day and may bounce back.

Form: 828220-

(13)

Adamaris^p1⁴⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: L P Keniry| T: G O'Leary| OR: 60

3/1

Irish raider who is slowly improving with racing. Cheekpieces seemed to irk out enough improvement when second at Dundalk (1m) on latest start. Headgear is retained and form puts him right in the mix.

Form: 60562-

(6)

Good Try^p1⁴¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: David Probert| T: M L W Bell| OR: 58

25/1

Generally failing to improve in each start to date and lost place quickly when eighth of nine at Kempton (7f) last month. Cheekpieces applied to try and spark a revival.

Form: 078-

(11)

Nikolayeva^p,h³⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: L Morris| T: M Appleby| OR: 55

16/1

Was a steady improver but really took another step forward in first time cheekpieces when third in 1m claimer here last time. First run for yard since leaving Mark Prescott and given nice mark for handicap debut.

Form: 0063-

(5)

Eloquent Poet²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: S P Davis⁽³⁾| T: A McGuinness| OR: 54

28/1

Starting to show some signs of ability since switching to the AW with great effect and was fifth over C&D just 2 days ago. Yard is on good vein of form currently so may be considered.

Form: 70075-5

(1)

Arabescato³⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: Callum Shepherd| T: N P Littmoden| OR: 54

7/1

Making some strides in handicap company and made debut in this sphere with staying on sixth over C&D. Eased 2lb in the weights for that though which may allow him to make an impact in this sphere.

Form: 9086-

(9)

Calamity May¹¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: M Dwyer| T: L A Dace| OR: 52

100/1

Thrice-raced maiden who has yet to fire at all. Found novice company too hot at Lingfield (1m) last time out and looks to be best watched on handicap debut.

Form: 80-8

(3)

Dame Rapide²

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: Hollie Doyle| T: A McGuinness| OR: 50| BF

17/2

Yet to break her duck in seven starts and hung badly left when slightly disappointing in extended 1m handicap here two days ago. Will need to bounce back from that but top rider is booked for this.

Form: 90786-7

(12)

Halfacrown^t⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: Nicola Currie| T: J A Osborne| OR: 50

16/1

Had placed in three of his last four starts since switching to the AW but put up worst career performance when last of nine in C&D handicap nine days ago. Each-way claims on previous form if last run was too bad to be true.

Form: 73623-9

(8)

Dame Denali⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: William Carson| T: A Carson| OR: 49

66/1

Lightly-raced maiden who has always been a rank outsider and running accordingly to that, including sixth of eight in 1m minor event at Southwell eight days ago. Handicap debut but has a tough task.

Form: 007-6

Non-Runners

(10)

Saracen Star¹⁵

Weight: 9-3| Age: 3

T: J S Moore J: S W Kelly

Forecasts

Adamaris (3/1), Mabre (4/1), Dark Phoenix (5/1), Arabescato (7/1), Dame Rapide (17/2), Never Said Nothing (10/1), Nikolayeva (16/1), Halfacrown (16/1), Good Try (25/1), Saracen Star (25/1), Eloquent Poet (28/1), Dame Denali (66/1), Calamity May (100/1)

DARK PHOENIX represents the sole winning form in the field after his Kempton victory last time and looks well-placed to replicate another bold effort once again. The three-year-old has only gone up 3lb in the weights and with first-time blinkers on today, they could prove to sharpen him up further. A host make claims for the places, including Irish raiders Adamaris - who arrives here off the back of some improved efforts - and Eloquent Poet, whose fifth here two days ago looks better than on paper. Never Said Nothing disappointed last time out, but his previous efforts entitle him to credit if there is a strong pace in the race.