December 09 / 19.30 Wolverhampton (AW)

19.30

Standard

Always Gamble Responsibly With BetUK Handicap

  • Prize money: £12988.08
  • 1m 4f 51y
  • Class 2
  • 7 runners
SKY
View Course
Always Gamble Responsibly With BetUK Handicap

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Flat AW

Surface: Tapeta

Weather: Light rain

Form: 159123 D

Last run: 32 days

W: 9st 13lb

4 yo Filly

OR: 93

Form & Verdict
Gained her third win of 2023 at Yarmouth (11.5f) in September and posted another solid effort when third of 14 in 1m5f Listed event at Lingfield last month; she can go well again back in handicap company.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12th

14

(3)

8th Jun 2024

Good

1m 3f 175y

Class 1

15:00 Haydock

Wynter Wildes

9st 2lb

J: Kieran Shoemark

T: Charlie Fellowes

soon led at steady pace, increased tempo over 3f out, soon headed

25/1

OUR TIP

Form: 024-38 D

Last run: 211 days

W: 9st 9lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 89

Form & Verdict
A fairly useful scorer on the AW but he's winless since 2021 and has been off the track since coming in a creditable eighth in the Chester Cup in May; needs to hit the ground running on his return.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

5

(5)

29th Mar 2024

Standard

1m 7f 169y

Class 3

15:15 Lingfield (AW)

Bascule

9st 10lb

J: Ethan Jones

T: Richard Hughes

Completed a four-timer over 1m4f/1m6f on Polytrack at the end of 2021; 0-14 since, but he's finished a respectable fourth at Kempton (2m) in his last two runs and is now 1lb lower than for last win; shouldn't far away.

8/1

4th

1

(3)

13th Mar 2024

Standard To Slow

1m 7f 218y

Class 4

20:30 Kempton (AW)

Bascule

10st 2lb

J: Ethan Jones

T: Richard Hughes

Completed a four-timer over 1m4f/1m6f on Polytrack at the end of 2021; 0-13 since, but was back off his last winning mark when a close fourth of 12 over C&D in January (runner-up has won since); possibilities in the returning blinkers.

3/1

4th

2

(4)

6th Jan 2024

Standard To Slow

1m 7f 218y

Class 4

19:45 Kempton (AW)

Bascule

10st 2lb

J: George Rooke

T: Richard Hughes

Winless since 2021 but his AW record is a solid one and he shaped nicely after a break when fourth of seven over an inadequate 1m4f at Wolverhampton four weeks ago; returns to a more suitable trip and high on the list.

7/2

Form: 166264 D

Last run: 16 days

W: 9st 8lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 88

Form & Verdict
Got back on track on his AW debut after nine weeks off when fourth of ten in 1m6f handicap here 16 days ago; this fairly useful turf winner needs considering.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

9

(2)

10th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 6f 0y

Class 2

15:00 Newmarket (July)

Oneforthegutter

8st 11lb

J: Edward Greatrex

T: Ian Williams

Second in this race in 2024 and won it last year (good to firm); now he has a 4lb lower mark than last year; that's having failed to finish in the first six in any of his seven races since, but at least his latest start was better than reappearance and it's not unheard of for runners from this stable to surge back to form.

14/1

8th

4

(2)

20th Jun 2026

Good

1m 5f 26y

Class 2

14:53 Ayr

Oneforthegutter

9st 6lb

J: Paul Mulrennan

T: Ian Williams

His form went the wrong way last season and he was soundly beaten on last month's return at Newmarket; however, he may have needed that run and is 2lb lower than when winning at Newmarket (1m6f, good to firm) last July; versatile ground-wise; not ruled out.

25/1

5/1

Form: 8-8502 D

Last run: 24 days

W: 9st 7lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 87

Form & Verdict
Without a victory since 2021 but he was back to some form when runner-up in 1m4f Kempton handicap 24 days ago; shortlisted.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

3

(5)

28th Sep 2024

Soft

1m 6f 1y

Class 4

17:00 Haydock

Graphite

9st 13lb

J: Luke Morris

T: T J Kent

Veteran whose last win was in August 2021; second off a career-low mark at Wolverhampton (1m6f, AW; second run since wind surgery) on penultimate start but he's lightly raced on turf these days and has not made a significant impact in this sphere for a long time.

16/1

11th

2

(8)

12th Sep 2024

Good

1m 3f 197y

Class 3

17:50 Doncaster

Graphite

9st 10lb

J: Ray Dawson

T: T J Kent

dwelt start

20/1

2nd

5

(8)

1st Aug 2024

Standard

1m 5f 219y

Class 3

20:15 Wolverhampton (AW)

Graphite

9st 6lb

J: Daniel Muscutt

T: T J Kent

Veteran who is on a three-year losing spell, has something to find on 2024 efforts and has stamina to prove back up in distance; enough reasons to oppose him.

16/1

Form: 56/37-

Last run: 432 days

W: 9st 7lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 87

Form & Verdict
A useful 1m2f winner for Sir Michael Stoute in July 2021 but very lightly raced since (changed hands for 38,000gns); he's still no forlorn hope on his yard/Tapeta debut despite a 14-month absence.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

4

28th May 2026

Good

2m 2f 140y

Class 4

18:00 Market Rasen

Wahraan

11st 4lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Jessica Bedi

Has some useful Flat form and kept on steadily from a long way off the pace to take third on hurdle debut at Wetherby (2m, soft) in November; subsequent Grade 2 defeat is easily overlooked but he has become a very awkward ride, often refusing to settle and/or hanging; comes with risk.

2/1

5th

3

(1)

22nd May 2026

Good To Soft

2m 1f 27y

Class 4

19:52 Pontefract

Wahraan

9st 3lb

J: Shay Farmer

T: Jessica Bedi

Quirky and sometimes blows the start; on a reduced mark and retains some ability but he is not the obvious solution to this puzzle.

20/1

10th

15

(6)

8th May 2026

Good

2m 2f 140y

Class 2

16:10 Chester

Wahraan

9st 2lb

J: Shay Farmer

T: Jessica Bedi

Quirky and sometimes blows the start; well handicapped judged on lots of 2024 form over 1m4f-2m, but he's seldom sparked in the same way since.

33/1

Form: 221741 D

Last run: 68 days

W: 9st 5lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 89

Form & Verdict
Progressive son of Galileo who got off to a winning start for AW in 1m4f Newcastle handicap in October; remains with few miles on the clock so he rates a big player despite a 3lb rise.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

6

(4)

11th Jul 2026

Good

1m 6f 87y

Class 4

17:32 Chester

Vaguely Royal

9st 1lb

J: Ryan Kavanagh

T: Ian Williams

Dual-purpose performer but his last Flat win was in December 2023; some creditable efforts off a falling mark on AW (2m) and turf (1m6f) this season but he was tailed off at Newbury last time and needs to bounce back after that; cheekpieces are removed and visor returns.

10/1

6th

7

(2)

1st Jun 2026

Good To Firm

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

16:35 Newbury

Vaguely Royal

8st 12lb

J: Jamie Spencer

T: Ian Williams

Third in his last three starts, but may not have achieved that much and remains without a win on the Flat since the end of 2023; others more compelling.

9/1

3rd

5

(4)

22nd May 2026

Good To Soft

2m 1f 27y

Class 4

19:52 Pontefract

Vaguely Royal

8st 10lb

J: Cam Hardie

T: Ian Williams

Comes here on the back of two third-place finishes but the latest was behind Trojan Soldier and there is no obvious reason why the placings would be reversed.

10/1

Form: 121485 CD

Last run: 87 days

W: 9st 4lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 84

Form & Verdict
C&D winner who wasn't disgraced in first-time cheekpieces when fifth of 12 at Southwell (1m4f) in September; he's not ruled out after a break.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

1

(8)

9th Sep 2024

Soft

1m 1f 207y

Class 5

17:15 Brighton

The Thunderer

10st 3lb

J: Marco Ghiani

T: Stuart Williams

switched to near side

4/1

6th

9

(1)

29th Aug 2024

Standard

1m 4f 14y

Class 4

17:45 Southwell (AW)

The Thunderer

9st 4lb

J: Luke Morris

T: Stuart Williams

Beaten half a length or less in his last two starts at Newmarket (1m2f/1m4f); has winning form on Tapeta (at Wolverhampton) and is 8lb lower than when last on the AW, but losing run up to 14; needs a bit more.

11/1

3rd

3

(6)

23rd Aug 2024

Good

1m 4f 0y

Class 4

16:30 Newmarket (July)

The Thunderer

9st 6lb

J: Sean Levey

T: Stuart Williams

Has won four middle-distance handicaps and latest was off 9lb higher at Chester (1m4f, good) last June; 0-13 since but he bounced back with a close call over 1m2f here last Friday and is a big player if he can repeat that form (due to be 2lb higher in future).

9/4

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Vaguely Royal

Telegraph:

Wynter Wildes

POSTDATA:

Oneforthegutter

RP RATINGS:

Vaguely Royal

TOPSPEED:

Vaguely Royal

NEWMARKET:

Vaguely Royal

The Times:

Vaguely Royal

The Guardian:

Vaguely Royal

Daily Mail:

Vaguely Royal

D Express:

Vaguely Royal

Daily Mirror:

Vaguely Royal

The Sun:

Vaguely Royal

Daily Record:

Vaguely Royal

The Star:

Wynter Wildes