Racecards
14:50 Wolverhampton
Betdirect On 0800 211 222 Handicap (Class 5)
- 12 Runners
- Distance: 1m 141y
- Going: Standard
- Surface: Fibresand
First Show
13- Form 55412-3
- Age 4
- Weight 9-4
- Official Rating 75
held up mid-division, headway over 3f out, ridden over 2f out, weakened inside final furlong
- Form 29/1-020
- Age 4
- Weight 9-3
- Official Rating 74
led after 1f, ridden over 2f out, headed final furlong, kept on
- Form 440-073
- Age 5
- Weight 9-2
- Official Rating 73
- Trainer Miss M E Rowland
- Jockey R Winston
steadied start, soon switched left, held up, ridden over 2f out, headway over 1f out, switched left approaching final furlong, one pace
- Form 4201-11
- Age 4
- Weight 9-1
- Official Rating 72
- Trainer M Blanshard
- Jockey F Norton
chased leaders, headway 2f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong, pushed out
- Form 623482
- Age 4
- Weight 9-1
- Official Rating 72
- Trainer M J Attwater
- Jockey N Callan
in touch, ridden, headway over 2f out, led final furlong, soon headed and wandered, kept on
- Form 7-47515
- Age 7
- Weight 9-1
- Official Rating 72
- Trainer K McAuliffe
- Jockey D Holland
chased leaders, ridden, every chance over 2f out, weakened inside final furlong
- Form 451-359
- Age 4
- Weight 9-0
- Official Rating 71
- Trainer A G Newcombe
- Jockey S Whitworth
towards rear, ridden over 3f out, never dangerous
- Form 2-1
- Age 4
- Weight 8-13
- Official Rating 70
- Trainer D R C Elsworth
- Jockey J F Egan
slowly into stride, in touch, ridden over 4f out, soon weakened, eased over 2f out
- Form 10-4875
- Age 4
- Weight 8-11
- Official Rating 68
- Trainer Ernst Oertel
- Jockey Saleem Golam
chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, every chance final furlong, not quicken
True Night
11- Form 459-406
- Age 9
- Weight 8-10
- Official Rating 67
- Trainer D Nicholls
- Jockey Adrian Nicholls
led for 1f, chased leader, ridden over 3f out, weakened well over 1f out
- Form 48645U-
- Age 5
- Weight 8-9
- Official Rating 66
- Trainer Mrs A J Hamilton-Fairley
- Jockey C Catlin
took keen hold, held up behind, ridden over 2f out, headway over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong
In depth
Verdict
First Show is fancied to have benefited from his outing at Lingfield at the start of this month and gets a tentative vote over the in-form Merrymaker and the unexposed John Charles. The last named won in good style over course and distance last time out and shaped as if he is one to keep on the right side for the time being. He is also expected to be sharper for that outing and may be worth a saver if the odds permit a further play. Merrymaker has also been in great heart recently and already has a couple of c&d victories to his name. However, he is now 5lb higher in the ratings and needs to post a career best effort to maintain his winning streak. Therefore, it may be prudent to look at one of those open to further improvement; with First Show heading our shortlist at the overnight stage. Jeremy Noseda's charge had several useful types in behind him when he was third on his return to the All Weather 13 days ago and need only run to that level again to be in the shake-up in this comapnay.
Formwatch
First Show 4-1 (9-2) Tracked leaders, rider dropped rein and short of room inside final furlong, 3rd of 11, 2l behind Habshan (9-3) at Lingfield 1m hcp 0-75 (5) pol.
Ground Rules (USA) 10-3 (9-4) Prominent, ridden over 2f out, weakened well over 1f out, 10th of 11, 12l behind Following Flow (9-2) at W'hampton 1m 1f hcp 0-75 (5) pol.
Anduril 25-1 (8-7) In rear, headway on inner inside final 2f, kept on to take 3rd inside final furlong, 3rd of 7, 3l behind Mina A Salem (8-10) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp 60-92 (4) pol.
Merrymadcap (IRE) 7-2fav (9-4) In touch, ridden over 2f out, hard ridden inside final furlong, ran on to lead post, won at W'hampton 1m 1f hcp 0-70 (5) pol in Feb beating Augustine (8-9) by a shd, 12 ran.
Dragon Slayer (IRE) 11-2 (9-4) Held up in touch, ridden over 2f out, ran on, 2nd of 13, hd behind Jakarmi (8-13) at W'hampton 1m 1f hcp 0-70 (5) pol.
John Charles (IRE) 6-4fav (9-12) Held up, headway over 3f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, driven out, won at W'hampton 1m 1f mdn aut stk (5) pol in Feb beating Welcome Releaf (8-5) by 1 1/2l, 11 ran.
Libre 9-4fav (9-3) Tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, chased winner final furlong, kept on, 2nd of 10, 3/4l behind Risk Free (8-7) at W'hampton 1m 1f clm (6) pol in Feb.
Jakarmi 7-1 (8-13) Always prominent, ridden over 2f out, driven out, won at W'hampton 1m 1f hcp 0-70 (5) pol beating Dragon Slayer (9-4) by a hd, 13 ran.