Wolverhampton (eve) 16/1/09

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Re: Wolverhampton (eve) 16/1/09 7.20 Wolverhampton I've been championing Teasing's cause for quite a while now but she keeps letting me down so today she's drinking in the last chance saloon. Trainer Jeff Pearce stepped her up to a mile and a quarter back in November and she continues to run with credit over this trip, even though all of her wins have come over 7f or shorter. She found only Vine Street too good when second at Great Leighs on the 11th December, but there is no shame in that given Michael Jarvis' horse was unexposed and was open to plenty of improvement. The visor was ditched when she finished 5th over 10f here on her next run, but when it was re-applied at Lingfield in a claimer on the 3rd of January, she put in a brilliant effort, fighting tooth and nail with Slip only to finish a neck off the winner, despite the fact she was 5 lbs wrong with that rival. Her last run came last Saturday in a Lingfield handicap and again she ran with promise. Perhaps she was ridden a little too far off the pace and Jerry O'Dwyer had to switch her out wide as they turned for home, but she appeared to have plenty of juice left in the tank come the finish so I don't think stamina is an issue at all. She's won at the track before, handles the surface without question, and looks to be running off a reasonable weight now dropped down into claiming company. I hope she can be ridden a little bit more prominently, and the fact she competes in a smaller field today could also be a help. EW. 8.20 Wolverhampton Princess Valerina had been threatening to strike for a while before landing a course and distance handicap on her last start. She took advantage of the fact Dvinsky and Distinctly Game jostled for the lead and picked them up late on to win with plenty in hand. A 5 lbs raise in the handicap for that win seems fair, and racing in the same grade, with Tom Queally again booked, she looks to have a solid chance. 9.20 Wolverhampton Spectait made his move quite early over course and distance 9 days ago but the field failed to reel him in and as a result Jonjo turns him out here under a penalty aiming to cash in before the handicapper reacts. He could still have a chanced based on his old form as he won a decent Goodwood handicap off 95 a couple of years ago and has won on the AW off 84 at Kempton in the past. Today he's rated 84 but he has been in good form since switching back to the AW, perhaps needing the run when 4th at a massive price at Lingfield and then perhaps not finding the Southwell surface to his liking when well beaten by Nightjar two runs ago.