19:00 Wolverhampton

Friday 5 January 2024

All16:3017:0017:3018:0018:3019:0019:3020:0020:30

Always Gamble Responsibly With BetUK Handicap (Div 2)

Off time: 19:01 | Winning time: 3m 4.44s

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Selected odds by:

(8)

Defence Treaty^p,t¹⁰⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 9-9| J: T Eaves| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 54

25/1

Ninth of 11 in handicap at this course (12.2f). Off 104 days. Slipped below last winning marks but others make more appeal on recent performances.

Form: 3U8589-

(3)

Virtual Hug¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 9-8| J: Joshua Bryan| T: Mrs N S Evans| OR: 53| CD

9/2

18/1, creditable fourth of 12 in handicap at this course (12.2f) 18 days ago. Respected.

Form: 561474-

(5)

Steel Helmet²⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 9-5| J: Rossa Ryan| T: H Bethell| OR: 50| CD

7/1

C&D winner. Latest win here in June. 11/1, 13 lengths seventh of 10 to The Craftymaster in handicap at this course (16.6f) 20 days ago. Others more persuasive.

Form: 512857-

(7)

Baileys Warrior^p1,h²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 9-5| J: Gina Mangan⁽³⁾| T: D Faulkner| OR: 50

7/1

Remains a maiden after 20 Flat runs. Excellent length second of 10 to The Craftymaster in handicap at this course (16.6f, 25/1) 20 days ago. Cheekpieces on 1st time. Player if able to back that up.

Form: 450/882-

(4)

The Craftymaster²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: William Carson| T: A W Carroll| OR: 51| C

10/11

Career best when winning 10-runner handicap (15/8) at this course (16.6f) 20 days ago by length from Baileys Warrior, driven out. Expected to be bang there again.

Form: 608221-

(9)

Limelight^t²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: D C Costello| T: S Edmunds| OR: 50

20/1

Creditable fifth of 9 in handicap at this course (16.6f) 20 days ago, never nearer. Can give a good account without posing serious threat to principals.

Form: 7/64985-

(6)

The Resdev Way¹²⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 9-0| J: Joanna Mason| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 45| C| D

15/2

Course winner. Twenty runs since last win in 2022. 33/1, last of 10 in handicap at Catterick (13.9f, good). Off 128 days. First run for yard after leaving Micky Hammond. Others preferred.

Form: 597450-

(2)

Bateau Bay^p²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: Andrew Breslin⁽³⁾| T: P A Kirby| OR: 45

80/1

Tailed-off last of 10 to The Craftymaster in handicap at this course (16.6f) 20 days ago. Opposable.

Form: 99/0550-

(1)

Silver Bobbin²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-10| J: T E Whelan| T: A West| OR: 45

66/1

Thrice-raced maiden. 200/1, eighth of 12 in minor event at this course (12.2f) 27 days ago. Makes handicap debut. More needed.

Form: 608-

Forecasts

The Craftymaster (10/11), Virtual Hug (9/2), Baileys Warrior (7/1), Steel Helmet (7/1), The Resdev Way (15/2), Limelight (20/1), Defence Treaty (25/1), Silver Bobbin (66/1), Bateau Bay (80/1)

THE CRAFTYMASTER opened his account over a staying trip here last time and looks well placed to defy a 2 lb higher mark. Virtual Hug scored over C&D in November and produced another good effort last time, so looks capable of getting in the mix again, alongside Baileys Warrior, who chased the selection home on their previous meeting.