19:00 Wolverhampton

Sunday 7 January 2024

All17:0017:3018:0018:3019:0019:3020:0020:30

Bet 10 Get 40 At BetMGM Handicap

Off time: 19:01 | Winning time: 1m 27.74s

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Selected odds by:

(6)

Smoky Mountain¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: Daniel Muscutt| T: C Fellowes| OR: 78| BF| CD

11/10

Lightly-raced C&D winner. 3/1, very good second of 10 in handicap at this C&D 16 days ago, headway when not clear run from early in straight and running on. Appeals as being on a handy mark and very much one for the shortlist.

Form: 42212-

(10)

Al Marmar^t³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: Marco Ghiani| T: S C Williams| OR: 78

16/1

Ended time with Andrew Balding badly out of sorts but eased plenty in weights and big step back in right direction on second start for new yard when fifth of 13 in handicap at Chelmsford (7f) 31 days ago. One to keep an eye on.

Form: 003005-

(11)

Society Lion^t⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 9-5| J: Hollie Doyle| T: E A L Dunlop| OR: 77| C| D

18/1

Course winner. Latest win at Windsor in July. 10/1, creditable fourth of 10 in handicap at Lingfield (6f, AW) 7 days ago, ridden 2f out and one paced. Draw could have been kinder.

Form: 193074-

(1)

Jahidin^p1¹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: C Lee| T: K R Burke| OR: 77| D

20/1

Two wins from 6 runs last year. Latest win at Newcastle in December. 4/1, ninth of 10 in handicap at Newcastle (7.1f) 10 days ago, weakening final 1f. Application of first-time cheekpieces may well have positive effect here.

Form: 124519-

(2)

Rogue Thunder^h³¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: Billy Loughnane| T: Tom Clover| OR: 77| D

13/2

Off the mark in maiden company (following wind op) at Chelmsford (7f) in November. Poorly drawn and failed to settle having raced wide when twelfth of 13 in handicap back there (7f) 31 days ago but he's certainly not one to give up on.

Form: 44410-

(12)

Rock Opera⁴⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: O J Orr| T: R A Fahey| OR: 77| C

12/1

Bounced back to best to win 12-runner handicap (12/1) at this course (6.1f) 45 days ago, helped by being held up in strongly-run race. 3 lb higher mark shouldn't prevent him going well again but will need things to pan out perfectly from widest draw.

Form: 2/44061-

(8)

Beltane³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: Alistair Rawlinson| T: M Appleby| OR: 77

33/1

18/1, respectable seventh of 13 in handicap at Chelmsford City (7f) 31 days ago, keeping on to be nearest at the finish. Eased 1 lb subsequently and entitled to be sharper with that under his belt.

Form: 321667-

(5)

Kalganov^p²²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: Phil Dennis| T: M Dods| OR: 77| D

25/1

Three wins from 15 runs last year. Latest win at Newcastle in December. 13/2, tenth of 12 in handicap at Newcastle (7.1f) 22 days ago, slowly away.

Form: 107510-

(7)

Poetic Force⁸⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 9-5| J: Molly Gunn⁽⁷⁾| T: A W Carroll| OR: 77| C| D

50/1

5-time course winner. Latest win at Brighton (7f) in August. Respectable third of 7 in handicap at Brighton (8f, heavy, 14/1) 80 days ago, headed 1f out, no extra last ½f. May find a few too good back from a break.

Form: 301263-

(4)

Shoot To Kill⁴³

Age: 7| Weight: 9-4| J: Finley Marsh| T: R Brisland| OR: 76| CD

9/1

Course winner. Latest win at Lingfield in September. Eighth of 9 in handicap (13/2) back at that venue (10f, AW) 43 days ago. Bounce back anticipated returned to this trip.

Form: 451338-

(3)

Dutch Kingdom^b,t¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: Jack Enright⁽⁷⁾| T: Darryll Holland| OR: 76| C| D

17/2

Landed back-to-back handicaps here/Lingfield late last year and again ran well despite proving keen early when fifth in a C&D handicap 16 days ago, headed last ½f. Fancied to remain competitive.

Form: 606115-

(9)

Alethiometer³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: Jason Hart| T: J & S Quinn| OR: 76| D

15/2

First run since leaving Michael Dods when good nose second of 12 to Jahidin in handicap at Newcastle (7.1f, 25/1) 30 days ago, edged out post but nicely clear of remainder. Essentially went the right way last year and she's respected.

Form: 563722-

Forecasts

Smoky Mountain (11/10), Rogue Thunder (13/2), Alethiometer (15/2), Dutch Kingdom (17/2), Shoot To Kill (9/1), Rock Opera (12/1), Al Marmar (16/1), Society Lion (18/1), Jahidin (20/1), Kalganov (25/1), Beltane (33/1), Poetic Force (50/1)

SMOKY MOUNTAIN arrives easily one of the least exposed and marked himself down as one to be interested in from this sort of mark when runner-up on his handicap debut over C&D 16 days ago, headway when not clear run entering straight and running on. He gets the vote to confirm the promise of that run, with Jahidin, equipped with first-time cheekpieces and Alethiometer heading the dangers. Al Marmar is another to keep an eye on.