20:30 Wolverhampton

Saturday 3 April 2021

All16:4917:2017:5518:3019:0019:3020:0020:30

Sky Sports Racing HD Virgin 535 Handicap

Off time: 20:30 | Winning time: 1m 49.35s

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Selected odds by:

(1)

Rectory Road¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: Darragh Keenan| T: Alice Haynes| OR: 65

4/1

Not the most reliable of propositions yet, from his reduced mark, he returned to form when runner-up over 9.5f here last month. Not dismissed out of hand provided he keeps the slow starts at bay.

Form: 9-56302

(3)

International Law^p¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-7| J: Cam Hardie| T: A Brittain| OR: 65| CD

6/1

5-time course winner. 2/1, won 8-runner handicap at this course (9.5f) 19 days ago by 2¼ lengths from Rectory Road. No surprise to seehim give another good account.

Form: 847531

(8)

Weloof²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 9-7| J: A Kirby| T: J Butler| OR: 65| CD

4/1

C&D winner. 11/2, improved on recent efforts to win 12-runner handicap at Lingfield (8f, AW) 24 days ago, well ridden. 7 lb higher now but he's a definite player with a repeat here.

Form: 0085-81

(9)

Sky Lake^p⁷⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: Daniel Muscutt| T: K P De Foy| OR: 64

9/1

14/1, good second of 12 in handicap at Lingfield (8f, AW) 77 days ago, conceding first run. Has since switched yards and she's not discounted from this sort of mark.

Form: 70773-2

(5)

Pope Gregory^p¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: R Kingscote| T: J W Unett| OR: 62| CD

11/4

Career best when winning 9-runner handicap over C&D 14 days ago, arguably deserving extra credit having made her challenge wider/further back than the other principals. Claims again under Kingscote.

Form: 1147-21

(6)

Olivers Pursuit^b,e/s²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: George Bass⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss Gay Kelleway| OR: 62| CD

18/1

Ended last year with back-to-back C&D victories and arrives here on the back of a creditable fourth of 8 in a C&D 26 days ago. However, revised mark does demand that little bit more.

Form: 711-594

(10)

Kumasi^h¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: K Shoemark| T: R Stephens| OR: 61

20/1

Hooded for 1st time, first run since leaving Archie Watson when fifth of 8 in handicap at this C&D (33/1) 14 days ago, left poorly placed. However, he's not one to go overboard about.

Form: 74-0735

(2)

Mercurist^t²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: S M Levey| T: B R Millman| OR: 58| BF| CD

13/2

C&D winner. Latest win at Lingfield in February. Bit below form 8 lengths sixth of 12 to Weloof in handicap at Lingfield (8f, AW, 15/8) 24 days ago, unsuited by way race developed. Not taken lightly.

Form: 421616

(7)

Seaforth²⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 8-13| J: Angus Villiers⁽⁵⁾| T: A Wintle| OR: 57| CD

50/1

4-time course winner. Three wins from 12 runs last year. 13¼ lengths eleventh of 12 to Weloof in handicap (40/1) at Lingfield (8f, AW) 24 days ago. Others more persuasive.

Form: 4186-60

(4)

Raajihah^p1,t1²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-8| J: Joanna Mason⁽⁵⁾| T: K Bishop| OR: 52

40/1

Hooded for 1st time, respectable sixth of 10 in handicap (50/1) at Kempton (8f) 24 days ago. Tongue strap on 1st time, cheekpieces on 1st time. Has work to do.

Form: 5-5666

Forecasts

Pope Gregory (11/4), Weloof (4/1), Rectory Road (4/1), International Law (6/1), Mercurist (13/2), Sky Lake (9/1), Olivers Pursuit (18/1), Kumasi (20/1), Raajihah (40/1), Seaforth (50/1)

POPE GREGORY has made a solid start for his new yard, doing well to come out on top having challenged wider than the other principals when successful over C&D 2 weeks ago. He gets the narrow vote to continue the good work, with easy Lingfield scorer Weloof, International Law and Rectory Road heading up the dangers.