Racecards
16:20 Wolverhampton
Pontin's - Book Early Handicap (Class 5)
- 9 Runners
- Distance: 5f 20y
- Going: Standard
- Surface: Fibresand
- £7,000 added
- Form 32-1121
- Age 5
- Weight 9-4
- Official Rating 75
- Trainer J R Weymes
- Jockey W Buick
pushed along to chase leaders, kept on final furlong
- Form 222-223
- Age 5
- Weight 9-4
- Official Rating 75
- Trainer Stef Higgins
- Jockey P Hanagan
held up towards rear, not clear run over 3f out, ridden over 2f out, kept on inside final furlong
- Form 8/93-077
- Age 6
- Weight 9-4
- Official Rating 75
led, ridden and headed over 2f out, soon weakened
- Form 5431
- Age 4
- Weight 9-2
- Official Rating 73
slowly into stride, in rear, ridden and headway over 2f out, one pace final furlong
- Form 1311-74
- Age 7
- Weight 9-1
- Official Rating 72
- Trainer C R Dore
- Jockey Liam Jones
in touch on outer, one pace and hung left final furlong
- Form 499-618
- Age 5
- Weight 9-1
- Official Rating 72
- Trainer A J McCabe
- Jockey J Fanning
behind, outpaced when hampered well over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong
- Form 7248-75
- Age 5
- Weight 8-9
- Official Rating 66
- Trainer Miss J R Tooth
- Jockey P Fitzsimons
chased leader, led over 2f out, stayed on well
- Form 7180-08
- Age 5
- Weight 8-7
- Official Rating 64
- Trainer E J Alston
- Jockey D Allan
chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, faded inside final furlong
Verdict
Almaty Express rarely runs a bad race and he looks the most solid option here with Financial Times and Desert Master the main dangers. The selection won over this course and distance last time when narrowly getting the better of Nusoor. He is a real course specialist and from a fair draw he should take plenty of beating. Financial Times finished third behind our selection here last time when a beaten favourite and although he has a pull in the weights today, Almaty Express won despite being drawn in the car park last time. Desert Master is lightly-raced but he tackles this trip for the first time and on that basis he is probably best watched. Justalord has a good draw and he could be dangerous at a big price if he gets a flyer from the stalls, but Almaty Express comes here in good form and he can win again.
Formwatch
Almaty Express 9-2 (8-4) Made all, ridden over 1f out, ran on, won at W'hampton 5f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Feb beating Nusoor (8-10) by 3/4l, 12 ran.
Law Maker 33-1 (8-12) Behind stands side, never dangerous, 19th of 21, 16l behind Ten Shun (8-10) at Ayr 5f hcp 0-70 (5) gs in Sept.
Financial Times (USA) 15-8fav (9-2) Hampered start, not clear run 3f out, switched right, wide entering straight, headway over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong, 3rd of 12, 2 1/2l behind Almaty Express (8-4) at W'hampton 5f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Feb.
Signor Panettiere 33-1 (9-4) Led over 3f, faded, 7th of 10, 9l behind Canadian Danehill (9-4) at Southwell 5f hcp 0-75 (5) fbs.
Desert Master 9-2 (9-13) Soon prominent, went 2nd over 2f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, edged left inside final furlong, driven out, won at W'hampton 6f mdn stk (5) pol in Feb beating Daytona (8-12) by 1/2l, 13 ran.
Desert Opal 12-1 (9-0) Chased leaders, weakened approaching final furlong, 4th of 9, 1 1/2l behind Figaro Flyer (9-1) at W'hampton 5f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Jan.
Cornus 8-1 (8-13) Always towards rear, ridden over 2f out, never a factor, 8th of 10, 4l behind Cool Sands (8-1) at Kempton 6f hcp 0-75 (5) pol.
Fizzlephut (IRE) 33-1 (8-9) Chased leaders, ridden 2f out, one pace, 5th of 9, 1 1/2l behind Figaro Flyer (9-1) at W'hampton 5f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Jan.
Coconut Moon 8-1 (8-8) Went right start, chased leaders, ridden and edged right 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 8th of 12, 3 1/2l behind Almaty Express (8-4) at W'hampton 5f hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Feb.
Justalord 100-1 (8-5) Chased leaders, ridden halfway, soon weakened, 13th of 14, 25l behind Dhaular Dhar (8-10) at Catterick 5f hcp 0-100 (2) sft in Oct.