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Racecards

16:00 Wolverhampton

To Pontin's For Half Term Handicap (Class 4)

  • 5 Runners
  • Distance: 7f 32y
  • Going: Standard
  • Surface: Fibresand
  • £7,000 added
Weighed In
  • Winning Time: 1m 30.65s
  • Off Time: 16:02:24
  • 5 Ran
Go to Full Result
1
Silk -

Fathsta (IRE)

7/4

    2
    Silk -

    Grand Fleet

    Evs

      1(3)
      Silk - DARK GREEN, RED cap, DARK GREEN diamond

      Grand Fleet

      121
      Evs
      • Form 132-
      • Age 3
      • Weight 9-7
      • Official Rating 82

      led, headed 5f out, with leader, led again 2f out, soon ridden, headed inside final furlong, not quicken

      2(1)
      Silk - Royal Blue, Red star, Red sleeves, Royal Blue stars, Royal Blue cap, Red stars

      Fathsta (IRE)

      22 D
      7/4
      • Form 707611-
      • Age 3
      • Weight 9-1
      • Official Rating 76

      always prominent, raced keenly, ridden to lead inside final furlong, ran on well

      3(2)
      Silk - Purple, White star, sleeves and star on cap

      Royal Applord

      14 D
      16/1
      • Form 35204-1
      • Age 3
      • Weight 9-0
      • Official Rating 75

      held up, pushed along over 3f out, ridden over 2f out, headway over 1f out, not much room briefly inside final furlong, ran on

      4(4)
      Silk - White, Brown braces, Amber cap

      Elusive Lady (IRE)

      3 p CDC
      10/1
      • Form 2411-13
      • Age 3
      • Weight 8-13
      • Official Rating 74

      prominent, took keen hold, weakened 2f out

      5(5)
      Silk - Red, White sash, Royal Blue cap

      Spice Trade

      31 v
      8/1
      • Form 7345-
      • Age 3
      • Weight 8-11
      • Official Rating 72

      slowly into stride, recovered to join leader after 1f, led 5f out, ridden, headed 2f out, soon hung left, weakened well inside final furlong

      In depth

      Verdict

      A corking little handicap in which none can effectively be ruled out. However Fathsta has really taken to an artificial surface and gets the nod to win here at the main expense of Grand Fleet. Sylvester Kirk's colt has now won his last two starts (both at Lingfield) and whilst he needs to defy a 3lb rise in the weights, this progressive horse should again run well. Grand Fleet must be of interest as he returns from a winter break. He ran well in a decent race last time out at Catterick and this first foray onto the all-weather could be productive. Royal Applord won a weak Southwell maiden well but this is tough for a first handicap run, whilst Elusive Lady is a course and distance winner who has thrived this winter on the all-weather. Spice Trade completes the lineup but Jeremy Noseda's colt has not impressed in four runs to date (despite the application of a visor last time out - on again today). A tough little contest then, in which we will side with Fathsta.

      Formwatch

      Grand Fleet 7-2 (9-6) Close up, led over 3f out, ridden over 2f out, headed inside final furlong, kept on, 2nd of 7, 1 1/2l behind Maximus Aurelius (8-3) at Catterick 7f 2yo hcp 0-85 (4) gd in Sept.

      Fathsta (IRE) 3-1jt-fav (9-0) Took keen hold, tracked leaders, ridden to lead narrowly inside final furlong, soon pressed, ran on, held on well, won at Lingfield 6f 2yo hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Dec beating Smokey Rye (8-13) by a hd, 9 ran.

      Royal Applord 3-1fav (9-3) Raced keenly, pressed leader, led over 2f out, soon hung left, hard ridden inside final furlong, driven out, won at Southwell 7f 3yo mdn (5) fbs beating Inontime (8-9) by 1/2l, 9 ran.

      Elusive Lady (IRE) 11-1 (8-9) In touch, pushed along over 3f out, stayed on same pace final 2f, 3rd of 5, 6l behind Age of Reason (9-4) at W'hampton 1m 1f 3yo hcp (4) pol.

      Spice Trade 6-1 (9-3) Slowly into stride, soon in touch, headway over 2f out, under pressure when hung right over 1f out, 5th of 6, 4 1/2l behind Fadhb Ar Bith (9-3) at W'hampton 7f 2yo mdn (5) pol in Dec.