August 17 / 16.35 Wolverhampton (AW)

16.35

Standard

Sky Sports Racing HD Virgin 535 Handicap

  • Prize money: £3726
  • 1m 4f 51y
  • Class 6
  • 7 runners
SKY
View Course
Sky Sports Racing HD Virgin 535 Handicap

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Flat AW

Surface: Tapeta

Weather: Showers

4/1 (Won)

  • Win: £8.00
  • Place: £3.10

Form: 6-674

Last run: 15 days

W: 9st 4lb

3 yo Gelding

OR: 62

Form & Verdict
Fourth start and first in a handicap when he showed improved form at Chelmsford (upped to 1m2f, Polytrack) last time, checked in rear on the final turn and plugging on into fourth of nine; 1m4f is very plausible on that performance and he may well be capable of some further improvement.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

1

(3)

11th May 2023

Standard

1m 4f 14y

Class 5

17:43 Southwell (AW)

Glen Cove

9st 11lb

J: Callum Shepherd

T: David Simcock

Won two handicaps (one here) once upped to 1m4f on Tapeta last term; tailed off when back to turf in hat-trick bid; may be open to further progress now back on AW in this new campaign.

4/1

7th

7

(4)

10th Oct 2022

Good To Soft

1m 3f 104y

Class 4

15:30 Yarmouth

Glen Cove

9st 1lb

J: Callum Shepherd

T: David Simcock

ducked right start, towards rear, ridden and no response 4f out, well beaten when eased over 1f out (trainer's rep said gelding was unsuited by the ground and would prefer a quicker surface)

6/1

1st

6

(5)

17th Aug 2022

Standard

1m 4f 51y

Class 6

16:35 Wolverhampton (AW)

Glen Cove

9st 4lb

J: Joey Haynes

T: David Simcock

took keen hold, held up in midfield, smooth headway 3f out, went second going easily 2f out, ridden and led 1f out, edged left final 110yds, just did enough

4/1

7/1

  • Place: £2.20

Form: 5R7053

Last run: 28 days

W: 9st 3lb

5 yo Mare

OR: 52

Form & Verdict
Sole win (21 starts) came over 1m on the Kempton Polytrack last November when trained by Brian O'Rourke; had wind surgery in May and not discredited on either run for new trainer; effective here and any step back up the ladder would give her a good shout.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

6

6th Oct 2022

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

13:05 Warwick

Al Gaiya

10st 7lb

J: Charlie Hammond

T: Joe Ponting

prominent, breast girth snapped home turn, pushed along when not fluent 2 out, soon ridden and held, no extra run-in

14/1

1st

5

(8)

25th Aug 2022

Good

1m 3f 209y

Class 6

14:53 Ffos Las

Al Gaiya

9st 9lb

J: Charles Bishop

T: Joe Ponting

midfield, stumbled after 2f, pushed along and headway from over 3f out, went second 2f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, tiring inside final 110yds, just did enough

7/2

2nd

7

(4)

17th Aug 2022

Standard

1m 4f 51y

Class 6

16:35 Wolverhampton (AW)

Al Gaiya

9st 3lb

J: Kieran O’Neill

T: Joe Ponting

took keen hold, prominent, headway on outer 3f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, headed 1f out, rallying when slightly hampered final 110yds, just failed

7/1

10/11

Form: -43112 D BF

Last run: 7 days

W: 9st 9lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 58

Form & Verdict
Won at Leicester (1m4f) this summer in first-time cheekpieces and first-time visor; rich vein of form continued when second at Kempton (1m4f) in first-time blinkers; how important the first-time element in that is remains to be seen (he keeps the blinkers today) but runner-up once over C&D last August and this looks a good opportunity if he's again on song.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

7

(4)

26th Jul 2023

Good

1m 6f 0y

Class 6

16:50 Bath

Thunder Flash

9st 4lb

J: Sean Levey

T: Ian Williams

Dual winner over 1m4f at Leicester last summer; didn't really take to hurdling in the autumn and is yet to hit top gear since returned to the Flat in May but his recent Nottingham fourth (1m6f, good) was a good step back in the right direction.

10/1

4th

7

(7)

8th Jul 2023

Good To Firm

1m 6f 0y

Class 6

20:42 Nottingham

Thunder Flash

9st 5lb

J: Paddy Mathers

T: Ian Williams

Didn't really take to hurdling in the autumn and returned to the Flat with two low-key runs in May/June; others have much less to prove.

20/1

6th

7

(4)

27th Jun 2023

Good To Firm

1m 3f 0y

Class 5

17:30 Newbury

Thunder Flash

9st 5lb

J: Sean D Bowen

T: Ian Williams

Two wins over 1m4f at Leicester (good to firm/good to soft) last summer; didn't really take to hurdles in the autumn and had excuses when tailed off on last month's Doncaster return, but is still 4lb above his last winning mark so he needs to find a bit more; cheekpieces return.

11/2

OUR TIP

Form: 5-7666

Last run: 42 days

W: 10st 0lb

4 yo Filly

OR: 63

Form & Verdict
Ten-race maiden; runner-up in three of her first four starts for Ralph Beckett last year but has shown little in her four for new yard; tries a new trip but 1m3f didn't seem to do anything for her on latest start.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

1

(6)

4th Oct 2022

Soft

1m 1f 207y

Class 6

17:05 Brighton

Velvet And Steel

9st 9lb

J: Charlie Bennett

T: Patrick Chamings

took keen hold, prominent, pushed along and switched to near side 3f out, ridden and weakened from 2f out

14/1

6

(7)

12th Sep 2022

Good To Soft

1m 3f 198y

Class 5

15:30 Brighton

Velvet And Steel

9st 4lb

J: Charlie Bennett

T: Patrick Chamings

12-race maiden; runner-up in three of her first four starts for Ralph Beckett last year but has been well held in six runs for her new yard (1m-1m6f); mark continues to fall but she needs to raise her game back at this trip.

20/1

4th

3

(3)

17th Aug 2022

Standard

1m 4f 51y

Class 6

16:35 Wolverhampton (AW)

Velvet And Steel

10st 0lb

J: David Probert

T: Patrick Chamings

slowly into stride, held up in rear, ridden over 2f out, kept on and went modest fourth inside final furlong (jockey said filly reared as the stalls opened)

16/1

20/1

Form: 668-08

Last run: 18 days

W: 9st 6lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 55

Form & Verdict
Haydock maiden winner (11.6f, soft) for John Gosden as a 3yo, but 0-17 in handicaps since and has not beaten many rivals in his last five starts; last two were for new yard; flopped in 2019 on his only AW start.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

6

(1)

22nd Sep 2022

Standard

1m 6f 21y

Class 6

20:00 Southwell (AW)

Arabist

9st 2lb

J: Connor Planas

T: Patrick Morris

prominent, dropped to midfield after 2f, losing position when hampered over 3f out, soon in rear

25/1

6

(1)

13th Sep 2022

Standard

2m 0f 120y

Class 6

19:00 Wolverhampton (AW)

Arabist

9st 4lb

J: Liam Keniry

T: Patrick Morris

1-22 and nothing in four starts since returning for this yard in June to suggest his strike-rate is about to improve; still to truly prove his stamina too.

20/1

7th

6

(4)

29th Aug 2022

Standard

1m 4f 14y

Class 6

14:45 Southwell (AW)

Arabist

9st 9lb

J: David Nolan

T: Patrick Morris

prominent, dropped to midfield after 3f, headway over 3f out, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out

50/1

Form: 144319 CD

Last run: 53 days

W: 10st 3lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 66

Form & Verdict
Eight-time AW winner, most recently when digging deep to beat three rivals over C&D in April; tongue tied first time when last of nine at Newcastle in June on his only start since, which is a nagging concern, but he's won three of his last four visits to this track.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

7

19th Mar 2023

Soft

2m 3f 61y

Class 5

15:00 Carlisle

Lopes Dancer

10st 9lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Harriet Bethell

Prolific Flat-racer with nine wins to his name, eight on the AW; still unexposed over hurdles and it wasn't a bad handicap debut at Huntingdon two months ago (2m3f, good to soft).

13/2

17

26th Jan 2023

Soft

2m 3f 154y

Class 5

14:00 Wetherby

Lopes Dancer

10st 8lb

J: Philip Armson

T: Harriet Bethell

Flat Flat-racer with nine wins on his CV; still unexposed over hurdles but was just a respectable fifth on recent handicap debut at Huntingdon (2m3f, good to soft) and younger rivals are more persuasive here.

20/1

5th

15

13th Jan 2023

Good To Soft

2m 3f 137y

Class 5

13:00 Huntingdon

Lopes Dancer

10st 2lb

J: Philip Armson

T: Harriet Bethell

Nine Flat wins (eight on AW); made a belated return to hurdling (0-3) in November and latest fourth was in a claimer; others appeal more.

33/1

Form: 1-5847

Last run: 71 days

W: 10st 3lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 66

Form & Verdict
Last summer yielded three wins over hurdles and one on Flat; fair effort from the front on his latest AW start and runner-up twice over hurdles since; not discounted.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

11th Sep 2024

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

17:10 Worcester

Manor Park

11st 9lb

J: Mr Robbie David

T: Daisy Hitchins

Yet to score for his current yard and he comes here on the back of a below-par fifth of eight in 2m handicap at Newton Abbot 20 days ago; cheekpieces go back on with more required.

25/1

5th

3

22nd Aug 2024

Good

2m 0f 167y

Class 4

15:20 Newton Abbot

Manor Park

11st 10lb

J: Harry Reed

T: Daisy Hitchins

in touch with leaders, went third 3 out, weakened after 2 out

14/1

Non-runners

Manor Park

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £32.70
Straight Forecast £31.49
Trifecta £57.70

Selections

RP Ratings:

Thunder Flash

SPOTLIGHT:

Glen Cove

NEWMARKET:

Glen Cove

The Times:

Glen Cove

Daily Express:

Glen Cove

The Star:

Glen Cove

POSTDATA:

Thunder Flash

Telegraph:

Thunder Flash

The Guardian:

Thunder Flash

Daily Mail:

Thunder Flash

Daily Mirror:

Thunder Flash

The Sun:

Thunder Flash

Daily Record:

Thunder Flash