Racecards
17:55 Wolverhampton
Bet In Running - Betdaq Handicap (Class 5)
- 11 Runners
- Distance: 7f 32y
- Going: Standard
- Surface: Polytrack
- £3,600 added
- Form 64030-5
- Age 6
- Weight 9-4
- Official Rating 70
- Trainer I W McInnes
- Jockey S Donohoe
started slowly, always in rear
- Form 000754-
- Age 5
- Weight 8-13
- Official Rating 65
- Trainer E S McMahon
- Jockey Graham Gibbons
took keen hold, chased leaders, weakened final furlong
- Form 231153-
- Age 5
- Weight 8-13
- Official Rating 65
- Trainer G C Bravery
- Jockey Saleem Golam
in touch, headway and hung left over 1f out,edged left inside final furlong, ran on to lead well inside final furlong, held on
- Form 050505-
- Age 5
- Weight 8-9
- Official Rating 61
- Trainer P Salmon
- Jockey Greg Fairley
led, headed 2f out, chased leader until weakened inside final furlong
- Form 880/131-
- Age 4
- Weight 8-8
- Official Rating 60
- Trainer S C Williams
- Jockey William Carson
held up towards rear, headway to chase leaders and wide 3f out, soon driven along, no impression over 1f out, edged left final furlong
- Form 16069/9
- Age 9
- Weight 8-7
- Official Rating 59
- Trainer R J Price
- Jockey Andrea Atzeni
slowly into stride, in rear, headway on outside well over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong to take 2nd towards finish, closed on winner, just held
- Form 062-663
- Age 8
- Weight 8-5
- Official Rating 57
held up towards rear, some headway and switched left over 1f out, ridden and no impression final furlong
- Form 90105-8
- Age 4
- Weight 8-4
- Official Rating 55
- Trainer S R Bowring
- Jockey P Hanagan
chased leaders, weakened 2f out
In depth
Verdict
ORANGELEG won stylishly last time and remains capable of better so gets the confident vote here; Headache and Gracie's Gift can chase him home. Stuart Williams' charge was well supported to win over this trip at Lingfield and duly obliged, fairly romping clear of a solid if unspectacular field. That was his second win in just six starts so we can expect him to cope with an 8lb rise, one that looks perfectly fair anyway. Headache is a regular in this type of event and has been in good form over the winter. He's 11lbs higher than when winning over course and distance in January but that reflects the fact he's won since. The five-year-old was beaten off this mark last time, but that still represented solid form and a place looks on the cards. Gracie's Gift is a versatile and consistent gelding whose mark of 57 is fair. After some disappointing runs on the Fibresand, a course fourth last time signalled a return to form is close and this one merits respect along with Global Village who remains on a fair mark but has an absence to overcome. Kersivay's mark is gradually dropping to something approaching a winnable one and a course and distance seventh last time wasn't as average as it may read on paper, the horse having suffered interference. Hyde Lea Flyer drops a couple of furlongs in trip and needs a market check, Border Owl likewise, whilst Blue Charm was behind Kersivay last time and shouldn't be capable of reversing that. One horse stands out in this handicap and that is Orangeleg, who gets our strong vote.
Formwatch
Blue Charm 40-1 (9-2) Slowly into stride, soon chasing leaders, not quicken over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 5th of 7, 7l behind Smalljohn (8-12) at Wolverhampton 7f hcp 0-75 (5) pol.
Kersivay 10-3fav (8-13) In rear, effort when short of room over 1f out, never dangerous, 7th of 12, 5l behind Smalljohn (8-10) at Wolverhampton 7f hacp 0-70 (5) pol.
Headache 5-1 (9-1) Tracked leader, led 2f out, ridden and headed inside final furlong, 4th of 12, 1 3/4l behind Stanley Goodspeed (9-2) at Lingfield 7f app hcp 0-65 (6) pol.
Hyde Lea Flyer 5-2fav (8-12) Pulled hard tracking leaders, hard ridden to challenge over 2f out, soon one pace, 4th of 7, 2 1/4l behind African Cheetah (9-3) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Dec.
Global Village (IRE) 5-2fav (9-2) Held up in rear, pushed along 4f out, headway over 2f out, soon under strong pressure, kept on to take 3rd entering final furlong, no impression, 3rd of 10, 1 3/4l behind Cool Ebony (9-10) at Windsor 1m app hcp 0-70 (5) gd in Aug.
Border Owl (IRE) 20-1 (8-1) Tracked leader, pressed leader halfway, ridden to lead 2f out, headed approaching final furlong, no extra inside final furlong, 5th of 9, 3l behind Salerosa (9-5) at Southwell 1m hcp 0-75 (5) fbs in Dec.
Orangeleg 9-4fav (8-11) Held up in touch, headway over 1f out, driven to lead inside final furlong, easily, won at Lingfield 7f hcp 0-52 (6) pol in Dec beating Hart of Gold (9-0) by 2 1/4l, 11 ran.
Harare 28-1 (8-5) Tracked leader, led over 3f out, ridden over 2f out, headed well over 1f out, weakened final furlong, last of 9, 9l behind Formidable Guest (8-11) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f app hcp 0-80 (4) pol.
Gracie's Gift (IRE) 9-2 (9-1) Chased leaders, ridden along halfway, kept on under pressure inside final furlong, 3rd of 10, 4 1/2l behind Straight Face (8-13) at Wolverhampton 7f hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Jan.
Shannon Golden 20-1 (8-10) Hampered start, towards rear, not much room briefly over 3f out, never in contention, 8th of 11, 7l behind Ingleby Star (9-3) at Wolverhampton 5f hcp 0-65 (6) pol.
El Potro 20-1 (8-7) Outpaced, ran on inside final furlong, never nearer, 6th of 10, 3l behind Albero Di Giuda (8-9) at Wolverhampton 6f hcp 0-50 (7) pol in Jan.