Flat Racing 24th Feb

[chris34]

3.00 Wolverhampton Just the 6 runners in this handicap but not a bad standard for a Monday. Top Cop has returned from a short break recently and although showing plenty of speed he hasn’t been seeing his races out and doesn’t look a winner waiting to happen. The drop in trip might be worth a try but risky. Shawkantango has been plying his trade in claimers this winter and running well as should be expected, should find things tougher back in handicaps and never won off a mark this high. Bapak Bangsawan is consistent but looks somewhat held by the handicapper at present although the return of Spencer is eye catching. Both Bradley runners Solenm and Island Legend look out of sorts at present despite both being well handicapped. Your Gifted isn’t entirely straightforward but yard are in much better form recently and he has shaped as a winner waiting to happen in recent runs often denied clear runs recently none more so than last time out, Turner takes over today. She is running 4lb out of the handicap today but is just so well handicapped to ignore having won off a 30lb higher mark at her best and yard had a desperate year last year but doing much better at present. A smaller field should suit a few of these should kick on which will suit and less horses to get in trouble behind today. 2pt win Your Gifted 11/2 bet365 4.00 Wolverhampton Fantasy King is a bit of an unknown quantity having been doing well over hurdles when last seen in October had gone off the boil on the flat previous to that but back on a good mark, also may find this trip on the sharp these days. English Summer is more than capable especially in these small fields but been badly out of shapes recently including last time out in a claimer. Doldrums appears to come with obvious risks attached, she clearly has ability but it totally depends which Doldrums turns up on the day and form is very patchy at present and looks plenty short enough. Lineman might not be fully exposed and returned from a break last time out with an improved effort but needs to find more to be beating All The Winds who finished in front of Lineman last time out. Gabrial The Boss is unproven over this trip and has enough to prove. All The Winds looks ready to strike again, he looked a tad unlucky last time out when finishing well when the winner led from the front and kicked on and got away. He has dropped to 3lb below his last winning mark and if getting the pace to chase and not losing the front end should go close. 2pt win All The Winds 7/2 Boyles 6.00 Wolverhampton Tough competitive handicap and Reggie Bond looks very short price, he bolted up last time out over CD to break his maiden tag. That was his first time in blinkers so they have to work again. He had John Potts behind him last time out who duly bolted up next time out in an Amateur Handicap. John Potts is 3lb better off today but unlikely to be enough to turn it around if the blinkers do work again. Angel Cake is another that I would have been interested in had she been a bigger price but she looks very short. She hasn’t been beaten too far recent and has dropped to last winning mark but yet to strike as winner waiting and price hugely off putting. Polar Forest is consistent usually but remains a maiden and the eye shields swapped for blinkers for the first time and they need to bring about a lot more. Do More Business another consistent sort at present but is held by John Potts on latest running and looks high enough in the handicap at present. Stanlow looks the value option having won his last 2 starts, the way he goes about his business he wins a shade cosily without extending and therefore handicapper might be struggling to get hold of him, latest 3lb rise looks more than fair and clearly thriving and going the right way at present and dangerous to dismiss if coping with the slight drop in trip. 2pt win Stanlow 11/2 bet365

[richard-westwood]

Re: Flat Racing 24th Feb 3.00 wolv your gifted 98.99 shawkatango 98.33 top cop 98.12 not a good little race from a punting point of view .........and one has dropped out (solemn).......I prob ordinarily would leave this but your gifted ran a cracker here 2 races ago recording a 98.99 but last time got into all sorts of trouble and still recorded a 98.01 so looks to running very fast at present and more than capable of winning a race like this soon ..........7/2 looks a fair bet in tricky race your gifted 2pts win 7/2 bet365