Racecards
15:45 Wolverhampton
Book Online At Wolverhampton-racecourse.co.uk Handicap (Class 5)
- 12 Runners
- Distance: 5f 216y
- Going: Standard
- Surface: Fibresand
- £5,500 added
- Form 8-00001
- Age 4
- Weight 9-2
- Official Rating 75
prominent, ridden to lead 2f out, challenged well inside final furlong, held on
- Form 454180
- Age 7
- Weight 9-0
- Official Rating 73
mid-division, ridden and hampered 4f out, headway and switched right over 2 ft out, stayed on to chase leaders inside final furlong
- Form 330005
- Age 6
- Weight 8-13
- Official Rating 72
- Trainer A D Brown
- Jockey S De Sousa
prominent, weakened 2f out
- Form 828557
- Age 3
- Weight 8-13
- Official Rating 52
- Trainer Peter Grayson
- Jockey R Keogh
in touch, ridden edged left 4f out, weakening when carried right over 2f out
- Form 002100
- Age 3
- Weight 8-13
- Official Rating 72
in touch, ridden 4f out, one pace
- Form 702426
- Age 3
- Weight 8-11
- Official Rating 70
in touch, ridden 2f out, kept on same pace
- Form 449905
- Age 5
- Weight 8-11
- Official Rating 70
- Trainer D G Bridgwater
- Jockey D Nolan
in rear, ridden and stayed on from over 1f out, not reach leaders
Witchry
14- Form 319823
- Age 4
- Weight 8-10
- Official Rating 69
- Trainer A G Newcombe
- Jockey L P Keniry
held up in rear, headway over 2f out, pressed winner and every chance well inside final furlong, just denied
- Form 5088-09
- Age 4
- Weight 8-6
- Official Rating 65
in rear when stumbled soon after start, never a factor
- Form 650755
- Age 8
- Weight 8-6
- Official Rating 65
- Trainer E J Alston
- Jockey J Quinn
led, ridden when headed 2f out, soon weakened
- Form 399876
- Age 3
- Weight 8-5
- Official Rating 64
- Trainer Ms Deborah J Evans
- Jockey E Ahern
prominent, weakened 2f out
- Form 261463
- Age 4
- Weight 8-4
- Official Rating 63
always in the rear
In depth
Verdict
Sovereignty is very interesting back over a sprint distance and is selected in preference to Witchry and Johnston's Diamond, while Blue Maeve is also worth noting in the betting as he returns to his most appropriate distance. The last named is a fraction high in the weights at present though and needs everything to go his way. Johnston's Diamond, on the other hand, is very well treated at present and should not be underestimated at this level. Eric Alston's charge handles the artificial surface here and, from his low draw, will be hard to keep out of the frame if he hits the gates running. Witchry is also entitled to be on the premises when the bets of his form is taken into account. However, it has to be a concern that he makes his Wolverhampton debut this afternoon and may just be better for the experience. Therefore, we prefer the claims of Sovereignty, who is a versatile performer that can usually be relied upon to give his all. It is also worth noting that he has been victorious on two of his three previous visits to Dunstall Park and, with the drop in trip not expected to pose any problems, the Dean Ivory-trained gelding looks a worthy option from the bottom of the weights.
Formwatch
Briannsta (IRE) 8-1 (9-1) Tracked leaders, ridden to lead over 1f out, challenged throughout final furlong, kept on gamely, won at W'hampton 6f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Oct beating Zarzu (8-11) by a hd, 12 ran.
Inch By Inch 25-1 (8-13) Chased leaders, ridden halfway, weakened 2f out, 12th of 14, 7l behind I'm In Love (8-12) at Lingfield 7f hcp 0-80 (4) pol in Sept.
Blue Maeve 33-1 (9-1) Led, headed 3f out, stayed prominent, one pace final furlong, 5th of 12, 3/4l behind Prince Dayjur (8-13) at W'hampton 7f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Oct.
Kings Heir (IRE) 10-1 (9-2) Led, ridden and headed over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 7th of 16, 3 1/2l behind Taranaki (8-8) at Lingfield 7f hcap (5) gd in Sept.
Charles Parnell (IRE) 10-3fav (9-1) In touch, ridden when hung left and not much room over 1f out, hampered just inside final furlong, one pace, 6th of 12, 3 1/2l behind Premier Fantasy (9-4) at W'hampton 6f hcp 0-70 (5) pol.
Witchry 14-1 (9-10) Held up stand's side, ridden 2f out, ran on to lead group inside final furlong, kept on, 3rd of 14, nk behind Trinculo (9-10) at Catterick 5f clm (6) sft in Oct.
Johnston's Diamond (IRE) 12-1 (9-0) Led early, chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, every chance 1f out, one pace inside final furlong, 5th of 12, 3l behind Premier Fantasy (9-4) at W'hampton 6f hcp 0-70 (5) pol.
Sovereignty (JPN) 7-1 (8-10) Chased leaders, ridden to lead 2f out, headed approaching final furlong, no chance with winner when lost 2nd inside final furlong, 3rd of 14, 4l behind Fateful Attraction (8-12) at Kempton 7f hcap (6) pol.