Racecards
21:00 Wolverhampton
Focus Multimedia's Christmas Handicap (Class 4)
- 10 Runners
- Distance: 1m 1f 103y
- Going: Standard
- Surface: Fibresand
- £8,500 added
- Form 747188
- Age 4
- Weight 9-4
- Official Rating 83
- Trainer N P Littmoden
- Jockey James Doyle
behind, ridden 3f out, edged left over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong
Fantasy Ride
49- Form 7152/00
- Age 4
- Weight 9-4
- Official Rating 83
slowly into stride, always behind
- Form 468460
- Age 5
- Weight 9-2
- Official Rating 81
- Trainer M Blanshard
- Jockey Tony Culhane
held up, ridden and headway over 1f out, stayed on, not reached leaders
- Form 695052
- Age 7
- Weight 9-1
- Official Rating 80
- Trainer Miss V Williams
- Jockey A Quinn
held up, headway over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, edged left inside final furlong, ran on
- Form 341-014
- Age 4
- Weight 9-1
- Official Rating 80
- Trainer W J Haggas
- Jockey Liam Jones
mid-division, ridden over 2f out, headway over 1f out, edged left well inside final furlong, ran on
- Form 4-82152
- Age 3
- Weight 9-1
- Official Rating 82
- Trainer E A L Dunlop
- Jockey S J Drowne
pulled hard, chased leaders, ridden to lead over 1f out, soon hung left, headed close home
- Form 040821
- Age 5
- Weight 8-13
- Official Rating 78
led 1f, chased leader, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
- Form 491311
- Age 4
- Weight 8-11
- Official Rating 76
- Trainer J Mackie
- Jockey Dale Gibson
mid-division, ridden and headway 2f out, badly hampered and rider lost iron 1f out, not recover
- Form 103513
- Age 5
- Weight 8-10
- Official Rating 75
chased leaders, ridden 3f out, not clear run 2f out, ran on to lead close home
- Form 302884
- Age 6
- Weight 8-9
- Official Rating 74
- Trainer K A Ryan
- Jockey Catherine Gannon
led after 1f, ridden over 2f out, headed over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
In depth
Verdict
King Of Argos rates as a speculative pick against Stargazer Jim and Kildare Sun. The selection ran well behind a decent yardstick in Cusoon and a reproduction of the form would give him every chance. Stargazer Jim finished ahead of the selection and has had plenty of chances. A tendency to pull hard has not helped matters in the past. Kildare Sun is in form but has sailed up the ratings. Atlantic Quest ran well on reappearance although he may need the handicapper to give him a hand before we see more of him in the winners' enclosure. Red Contact landed a gamble last time out and is tried over further. Front-running Wahoo Sam would have claims on some of his better form but he is becoming increasingly unreliable these days. Daring Affair has form over further and is tried again over this trip. Sew 'N' Sew Character has often been the subject of support without necessarily rewarding his backers. King Of Argos does need to find a degree of consistency that has not been apparent but could be worth a look in this wide-open affair.
Formwatch
Ninth House (USA) 8-1 (8-13) Always in rear, kept on final furlong, never dangerous, last of 8, 3l behind Orchard Supreme (9-4) at Kempton 1m hcp 0-95 (3) pol in Nov.
Sew'n'so Character (IRE) 25-1 (8-9) Always towards rear, tailed off, last of 17, well behind Scriptwriter (9-3) at York 1m 2f hcap (3) sft in Oct.
Atlantic Quest (USA) 33-1 (9-0) Slowly into stride, mid-division, headway and hung left from over 2f out, continued to hang left, one pace inside final furlong, 5th of 13, 2 1/2l behind Kildare Sun (8-10) at W'hampton 1m 1f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Nov.
Stargazer Jim (FR) 11-4jt-fav (9-3) Prominent and pulled hard, hung left over 3f out, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened, 4th of 8, 13l behind Quince (8-13) at W'hampton 1m 4f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Nov.
King of Argos 7-2jt-fav (9-2) In touch, ridden and hung left over 1f out, stayed on to go 2nd inside final furlong, not trouble winner, 2nd of 12, 2l behind Cusoon (9-3) at W'hampton 1m 1f hcp 0-80 (4) pol in Nov.
Red Contact (USA) 3-1 (8-13) Made all, ridden, hung left over 1f out, stayed on, won at Southwell 1m hcp 0-75 (5) fbs in Nov beating Kabeer (8-9) by 5l, 9 ran.
Kildare Sun (IRE) 8-1 (8-10) Mid-division, ridden over 2f out, headway well over 1f out, led well inside final furlong, driven out, won at W'hampton 1m 1f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Nov beating Vacation (8-4) by 1/2l, 13 ran.
Daring Affair 25-1 (8-12) Chased leaders, ridden over 1f out, led inside final furlong, soon headed and not quicken, 3rd of 13, 3/4l behind Kildare Sun (8-10) at W'hampton 1m 1f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Nov.