17:35 Wolverhampton

Sunday 26 July 2020

All13:1013:4014:1514:5015:2516:0016:3517:0517:35

Sky Sports Racing HD Virgin 535 Handicap

Off time: 17:38 | Winning time: 3m 3.04s

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Selected odds by:

(1)

Herodotus¹²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: Daniel Muscutt| T: G Boughey| OR: 72

16/1

Claimed after winning at Windsor (10f) earlier in the month and then ran even better when upped to this trip at Bath last time, staying on well late to grab third. Needs to show effectiveness on this surface, but looks a leading player.

Form: 25-013

(6)

Machios²³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: David Probert| T: A M Balding| OR: 70

18/1

Has been handicapped on three runs over much shorter distances, takes a big hike up in trip for handicap debut today. Plenty of stamina on the dam's side so that should suit. Unexposed and is a danger to all.

Form: 74-6

(7)

Ray's The One^p²⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Hayley Turner| T: M L W Bell| OR: 70

12/1

Has hit the frame on all the starts so far, but no real improvement on latest start at Catterick (12f), hanging a little under pressure. Cheekpieces retained and is open to more improvement stepped up in trip, but others more persuasive.

Form: 342

(2)

Isayalittleprayer³⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Hector Crouch| T: G & J Moore| OR: 70

13/2

Almost made it home in front at Lingfield (12f) on reappearance, denied in the last few strides, but didn't back that up when most disappointing last time out. Needs to bounce back but step up in trip could suit, and she's not ruled out.

Form: 079-25

(11)

Fiveandtwenty¹²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: P J McDonald| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 69

4/1

Moderate form last year was left well behind when scoring over 12 at Ripon on handicap debut two weeks ago, and the way she finished off suggests this extra distance won't be an issue. 5lb rise for that win fine, and clear chance.

Form: 640-1

(8)

Speech Room^p1²⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: M Dwyer| T: B J Meehan| OR: 67

9/1

Handicapped on just the two starts, but a bit concerning he took aslight backwards step when upped to 12f at Newmarket last time. Obviously open to improvement but on what we have seen so far, probably needs it.

Form: 53

(5)

Go Bob Go³⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: Charles Bishop| T: Eve Johnson Houghton| OR: 66

33/1

Well held at big prices in a trio of Kempton novice races but goes into handicaps off a lowly mark, which at least offers him a more realistic chance. His brother To Be Wild was useful over 12f, so there's scope for better today.

Form: 8-65

(4)

Tamaris¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: Jason Watson| T: H & R Charlton| OR: 64

9/2

Readily held in three maidens/novices to date, and took a backwards step at Newbury last time, beaten a long way out. Being back on Tapeta may help his cause, and he's in good hands, so maybe better can be expected on handicap debut.

Form: 747

(10)

Handsome Yank³⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: Phil Dennis| T: I Furtado| OR: 62

40/1

Looks a bit more exposed than a few of these already, best effort coming over 10f at Lingfield in February when beaten ½l. May strip fitter for a recent run but no saying this step up in trip will suit, and others preferred.

Form: 80-3426

(3)

Nikolayeva^h¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: Theodore Ladd⁽³⁾| T: M Appleby| OR: 61| C

18/1

Is a full sister to the useful stayer Timoshenko, so this sort of trip ought to be well within her compass. Only beaten a neck on latest start at Ripon (12f) and looks capable of winning a race. Yard very quiet at present, though, which is a worry.

Form: 63-1462

(9)

Anno Lucis^p1³³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: L Morris| T: Sir Mark Prescott| OR: 60| BF

11/4

Has done better since stepping up to 12f in his last two starts but on satying that, his form is only modest and he was a disappointing favourite last time at Kempton. Looked lazy there, so cheekpieces tried today may help.

Form: 6688-26

Forecasts

Anno Lucis (11/4), Fiveandtwenty (4/1), Tamaris (9/2), Isayalittleprayer (13/2), Speech Room (9/1), Ray's The One (12/1), Herodotus (16/1), Nikolayeva (18/1), Machios (18/1), Go Bob Go (33/1), Handsome Yank (40/1)

In a tricky finale it may pay to stick with the progressive FIVEANDTWENTY, a good winner at Ripon and the way he battled back to win suggests this extra 2f can only be of benefit to him. Machioslooks a potential improver up in trip and may be the danger, and Go Bob Go is another with the potential for better now going handicapping getting more of a trip too.