Racecards
16:10 Wolverhampton
Pontin's Wishes You A Happy Christmas Fillies' Handicap (Class 5)
- 8 Runners
- Distance: 1m 1f 103y
- Going: Standard
- Surface: Fibresand
- £4,350 added
- Form 44516-1
- Age 6
- Weight 9-4
- Official Rating 57
- Trainer P A Blockley
- Jockey G Hannon
slowly into stride, held up, headway 2f out, driven to lead over 1f out, ran on well
- Form 315442
- Age 5
- Weight 9-1
- Official Rating 67
- Trainer P Howling
- Jockey S Whitworth
took keen hold, held up, driven on wide outside to over 1f out, one pace
- Form 896264
- Age 6
- Weight 9-0
- Official Rating 66
chased leaders, hard ridden 2f out, stayed on under pressure final furlong
- Form 463226
- Age 4
- Weight 8-13
- Official Rating 65
- Trainer D Haydn Jones
- Jockey A Kirby
soon led, driven 2f out, headed over 1f out, chased winner after, unable to quicken final furlong
- Form 1-5F05
- Age 3
- Weight 8-11
- Official Rating 70
- Trainer R Hollinshead
- Jockey V Slattery
always behind, driven and struggling 4f out
- Form 022274
- Age 4
- Weight 8-11
- Official Rating 65
- Trainer J Pearce
- Jockey J-P Guillambert
in touch, pushed along 4f out, effort on inside to chase leaders over 1f out, one pace final furlong
Red Current
19- Form 138249
- Age 3
- Weight 8-8
- Official Rating 62
tracked leader to 8f out, stayed prominent, went 2nd over 2f out, driven over 1f out, weakened final furlong
- Form 00-0100
- Age 4
- Weight 8-4
- Official Rating 45
- Trainer C N Kellett
- Jockey A Elliott
tracked leader 8f out, to over 2f out, hard driven over 1f out, soon weakened
In depth
Verdict
Friends Hope gets the nod in the finale; Daring Affair and Emily's Place are also respected, while Chia can also go well but he is not the most resolute battler in a finish and is for the brave only. Emily's Place has hit the post on numerous occasions over this course and distance and deserves a change of fortune. The handicapper has dropped her 2lb after a modest effort last time, so she has a feasible chance of at least making the frame. As does Daring Affair - a capable mare at this level. She is now on a very attractive mark and, as this is her time of year, she should be kept on the right side in the coming weeks. However, Friends Hope makes a touch more appeal today. Paul Blockley's mare returned to the All Weather with a vengeance earlier this month and, as the manner of her victory at Southwell suggested she has thrived during the winter, she is taken to follow up in style here.
Formwatch
Friends Hope 9-1 (9-3) Steadied start, held up, good headway to chase leader over 2f out, shaken up to lead over 1f out, soon clear, comfortably, won at Southwell 1m 3f hcp 0-65 (6) fbs beating King's Ransom (9-6) by 5l, 9 ran.
Our Kes (IRE) 15-2 (9-2) Steadied start, held up, headway over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, no impression, 2nd of 8, 1 1/2l behind Confidentiality (9-5) at W'hampton 1m 1f hcp 0-70 (5) pol.
Daring Affair 9-2 (9-1) Held up in touch, not clear run and hampered just inside 2f out, soon switched right, stayed on same pace final furlong, 4th of 10, 2 1/2l behind Ninth House (9-4) at W'hampton 1m 1f clm (6) pol.
Chia (IRE) 5-1 (8-9) Behind, ridden over 2f out, kept on from over 1f out, never nearer, 6th of 13, 9l behind Den's Gift (9-2) at Kempton 1m hcp 0-75 (5) pol.
Stravita 28-1 (9-1) Prominent, ridden 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 5th of 7, 4l behind Confidentiality (9-12) at W'hampton 1m 1f hcp 0-70 (5) pol.
Emily's Place (IRE) 11-1 (8-12) In rear, stayed on approaching final furlong, never nearer, 4th of 11, 5l behind Lobengula (9-4) at W'hampton 1m 1f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Nov.
Red Current 5-1 (9-3) Chased leaders, ridden over 3f out, soon weakened, no chance when eased inside final furlong, last of 9, 30l behind Moment of Clarity (8-10) at W'hampton 1m 1f app hcp (6) pol.
Bahhmirage (IRE) 33-1 (8-7) Prominent, ridden over 2f out, soon beaten, last of 12, 16l behind Dudley Docker (9-5) at Haydock 1m hcp 0-70 (5) gf in Aug.