15:50 Wolverhampton

Thursday 16 August 2018

All13:2013:5014:2014:5015:2015:5016:2016:55

sportnation.bet Home Of Rewards Handicap

  • 4YO plus  |   Class 6  |   7f 36y  |   Standard  |   11 Runners  |   Allweather  |   Weighed In
  • Off time: 15:52  |   Winning time: 1m 29.36s
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1
(7)
Horse silk
Fieldsman19
Age: 6|  Weight: 9-7| J: S Donohoe| T: D C Griffiths| OR:  65| D
7/1
Without a win since May 2016, and 0-7 on the AW, but not beaten all that far on his penultimate start (third), and dropped 3lb since his run in a Class 3 handicap at Ascot last month; more realistic assignment.
2
(10)
Horse silk
Showdance Kid17
Age: 4|  Weight: 9-7| J: William Cox(5)| T: K Frost| OR:  65| CD
12/1
Difficult to pinpoint the reason for a lacklustre showing last month, but in good shape prior to that, and just 4lb higher than when scoring by ¾L from Weloof over C&D in June.
3
(8)
Horse silk
Counter Spirit17
Age: 4|  Weight: 9-5| J: David Probert| T: I Mohammed| OR:  63| BF
7/4
Not seen much racing, but placed on both starts in handicap company, including when a close up third over C&D last month; major chance off the same mark if able to reproduce that level of form.
4
(4)
Horse silk
Sarangoo60
Age: 10|  Weight: 9-5| J: J F Egan| T: M S Saunders| OR:  63| D
25/1
Long in the tooth, but 9lb below her last winning mark (September 2016), and finished runner-up to Viola Park on her last AW start at Kempton (7f) in May.
5
(9)
Horse silk
Pushkin Museum17
Age: 7|  Weight: 9-5| J: Tim Clark(3)| T: J Butler| OR:  63| C
14/1
Knows his way around here blindfolded (four-time 6f winner), but raced keenly when finishing sixth over this trip latest, and has plenty on with Counter Spirit (third) on that evidence.
6
(5)
Horse silk
Juan Horsepowerp20
Age: 4|  Weight: 9-3| J: Danny Brock| T: Jane Chapple-Hyam| OR:  61| C
8/1
Beaten just 2L in a 6f claimer here in July (Pushkin Museum behind), and claimed from Mick Appleby for £4,000; bogged down in the Newmarket mud on stable debut, but now returns to a more suitable contest.
7
(1)
Horse silk
Secret Memoriesp,t3
Age: 4|  Weight: 9-3| J: G Brouder(7)| T: Miss K Brown| OR:  61| D
6/1
Irish raider who was a winner on quick ground at Leopardstown (7f) last month, but was unable to get home after adopting forcing tactics in a C&D fillies' handicap on Monday; not without a chance if ridden with more restraint.
8
(12)
Horse silk
African Blessingp147
Age: 5|  Weight: 9-2| J: William Carson| T: C Wallis| OR:  60| D
28/1
Bang out of form on turf since returning from a six month absence; his last win came in a Leicester seller in the summer of 2017 (for David Barron), and it's got to be a worry to see the cheekpieces now being sought.
9
(6)
Horse silk
Caledonia Laird61
Age: 7|  Weight: 9-1| J: P J McDonald| T: J Hughes| OR:  59| CDWS
10/1
Had a short break (and wind surgery) since running at Bath in June (1m, firm), but competitively handicapped if that's done the trick; fully effective at Dunstall Park (regular C&D scorer) and noteworthy to see P J McDonald booked.
10
(3)
Horse silk
Grey Destinyp7
Age: 8|  Weight: 9-1| J: Cam Hardie| T: A Brittain| OR:  59| CD
5/1
Best on the AW (4-41), and is a three-time C&D winner; sits just a couple of pounds above his last winning mark, and was narrowly denied at Newcastle last week, so should be thereabouts.
11
(2)
Horse silk
Alqalsar34
Age: 4|  Weight: 9-1| J: T Hamilton| T: J M Bradley| OR:  59
33/1
Showed initial promise for Brian Meehan as a three-year-old, but moved on in November for just £8,000; failed to beat a single rival in three starts for this trainer dropping 14lbs in the handicap as a result.

Non-Runners

12
(11)
Horse silk
Cadeaux Boxer22
Weight: 8-8|  Age: 5
T: L Carter  J: Non Runner
NR

Forecasts

Counter Spirit (7/4), Grey Destiny (5/1), Secret Memories (6/1), Fieldsman (7/1), Juan Horsepower (8/1), Caledonia Laird (10/1), Showdance Kid (12/1), Pushkin Museum (14/1), Cadeaux Boxer (16/1), Sarangoo (25/1), African Blessing (28/1), Alqalsar (33/1)

Verdict

Wolverhampton regulars Grey Destiny and Caledonia Laird are entitled to be on the premises, with the latter named particularly interesting under P J McDonald if able to show any further improvement for wind surgery (the market could prove helpful), but the least exposed runner in the race is COUNTER SPIRIT. She has made a pleasing start to life in handicap company, and has done well to avoid the unwanted attentions of the handicapper after her eye-catching staying on third to De Little Engine over C&D last month. Of the remainder, the top-weight Fieldsman should relish this marked ease in grade.
  1. Counter Spirit
  2. Fieldsman
  3. Grey Destiny

Prize Money

1st: £3,105.002nd: £924.003rd: £462.004th: £300.005th: £300.006th: £300.007th: £300.008th: £300.00

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