December 30 / 17.15 Wolverhampton (AW)

17.15

Standard

Bet £10 Get £40 At BetMGM Handicap

  • Prize money: £5129.32
  • 1m 0f 142y
  • Class 4
  • 8 runners
SKY
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Runners: 8 runners

Type: Flat AW

Surface: Tapeta

Weather: Rain

7/2 (Won)

  • Win: £12.30
  • Place: £3.10

Form: 275568

Last run: 38 days

W: 9st 7lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 78

Form & Verdict
Met a bit of trouble when never a threat on last month's first outing for new connections; regular tongue-tie back on (still without the blinkers he often wore for the Coles); solid overall record on AW and down to a mark in the 70s for the first time; not discounted.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

12

(9)

30th Mar 2026

Standard

1m 1f 104y

Class 4

18:30 Wolverhampton (AW)

Ernies Valentine

8st 10lb

J: Phoebe Edwards

T: Ross Burdon

Seven wins on the AW; consistent in the main and ran okay over the 8.6f here ten days ago, leaving the impression that this longer trip is worth another go.

14/1

4th

3

(5)

20th Mar 2026

Standard

1m 0f 142y

Class 5

18:30 Wolverhampton (AW)

Ernies Valentine

9st 8lb

J: Jack Mitchell

T: Ross Burdon

Seven times an AW winner, twice over C&D; back to his last winning mark and Jack Mitchell takes over from a 7lb claimer; one to take seriously.

4/1

8th

8

(1)

10th Mar 2026

Standard

1m 0f 13y

Class 5

17:08 Southwell (AW)

Ernies Valentine

9st 7lb

J: Phoebe Edwards

T: Ross Burdon

Reliable sort who comes here on the back of a solid fifth of 12 in 7f handicap here 18 days ago; he ought to be in the shake-up once more.

5/1

OUR TIP

4/1

  • Place: £1.90

Form: 765993

Last run: 21 days

W: 9st 13lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 84

Form & Verdict
Winless since his debut but he did make a sound start for new trainer Kevin Frost when third over 7f here three weeks ago, albeit looking a bit awkward under pressure; back up in trip; ought to be competitive.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

7

(5)

31st May 2026

Good

1m 0f 75y

Class 5

17:25 Nottingham

Bass Player

8st 9lb

J: William Pyle

T: Kevin & Lauren Frost

Ended 2025 with two good runs but he has been well short of that level in two runs this year, a wind op before the latest making no difference; tongue tie returns; risky despite his reduced mark.

20/1

11th

9

(8)

8th May 2026

Good To Soft

1m 1f 170y

Class 5

19:45 Ripon

Bass Player

8st 11lb

J: William Pyle

T: Kevin Frost

First win was on turf (7f) and last two have been on Tapeta (8.6f); reached the frame in two starts at Wolverhampton in December but he had a major blip there the following month; had another wind operation since and needs a major revival after four months off.

12/1

3/1

  • Place: £1.80

Form: 3-8903

Last run: 23 days

W: 9st 6lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 79

Form & Verdict
Looked a fair prospect when winning twice as a 2yo, including on AW (Polytrack); down the field on his first three outings this year but more positive signs when stepped up to 1m2f at Chelmsford last time, keeping on for third in a warm race (first and second won since); given a chance to build on that promise.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12th

13

(10)

1st Aug 2024

Yielding

1m 4f 0y

17:40 Galway

True Statesman

9st 12lb

J: Ronan Whelan

T: Adrian McGuinness

Won twice at two for the Johnstons in 2022; winless since and hard to fancy on recent efforts (cheekpieces back on for visor here).

20/1

8th

8

(6)

19th Jul 2024

Good

1m 2f 140y

18:52 Down Royal

True Statesman

9st 4lb

J: Adam Caffrey

T: Adrian McGuinness

led, headed over 2f out, soon weakened

8/1

11th

4

(9)

12th Jul 2024

Standard

1m 4f 0y

17:25 Dundalk (AW)

True Statesman

9st 11lb

J: Ronan Whelan

T: Adrian McGuinness

Won twice at two for the Johnstons; winless since and has become hard to predict; last month's close fourth at Leopardstown gives him a chance.

10/1

13/2

Form: 218558 CD

Last run: 25 days

W: 9st 12lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 85

Form & Verdict
A three-time winner (including over C&D) in the first half of 2023 and caught the eye over 7f here on his return from a break in November; racing keenly and a wide trip provide possible excuses for a lesser effort over this C&D since; down another 2lb and no shock were he to bounce back.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

(4)

24th Aug 2025

Good To Firm

1m 1f 207y

Class 4

14:05 Beverley

Gincident

9st 13lb

J: Jason Hart

T: James Owen

Narrowly beat Individualism when winning over C&D off 2lb lower in June (good to firm); excuses for two lesser runs since (soft ground; too free); contender.

6/1

2

(9)

10th Aug 2025

Good

1m 2f 100y

Class 4

15:45 Haydock

Gincident

10st 1lb

J: Elizabeth Gale

T: James Owen

Soft ground provides an excuse for below-par effort last time; solid record (1333121) otherwise for current stable and gained the most recent success, at Beverley (1m2f, good to firm), in game fashion; remains of interest.

6/1

9th

8

(12)

24th Jul 2025

Soft

1m 2f 23y

Class 2

20:40 Yarmouth

Gincident

8st 11lb

J: Darragh Keenan

T: James Owen

In very good form since being upped to 1m2f, which continued when he won at Beverley (1m2f, good to firm) last month; it's a long time since he ran well on slow ground but he's in the mix if the surface isn't an issue.

13/2

Form: 178127 CD

Last run: 19 days

W: 9st 7lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 78

Form & Verdict
Four wins here, the latest over this trip off 1lb lower in February; in good form from his lower turf mark during the summer and entitled to come on for a recent outing at Chelmsford; enters the reckoning.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

1

(10)

25th Oct 2024

Standard

1m 0f 142y

Class 5

18:15 Wolverhampton (AW)

Gavi Di Gavi

9st 12lb

J: Oscar Palmer

T: Alan King

in rear

20/1

13th

12

(8)

17th May 2024

Good To Soft

1m 0f 0y

Class 5

14:00 Newbury

Gavi Di Gavi

9st 5lb

J: Millie Wonnacott

T: Alan King

Seven-time AW winner but he's finished a well-held seventh at Kempton in last two starts; on much lower mark back on turf and he's just 1-11 in this sphere; that win was a narrow success off 4lb lower; others preferred.

12/1

Form: 242484 D

Last run: 14 days

W: 9st 10lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 81

Form & Verdict
Bold bid when a close second to progressive filly at Kempton (1m) in October but only respectable efforts in his three outings since; losing run goes back over a year now.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

1

(4)

7th Aug 2024

Good To Firm

1m 0f 6y

Class 4

15:40 Pontefract

Larado

9st 9lb

J: Alistair Rawlinson

T: Michael Appleby

Three-time turf winner who is just 1lb higher than when winning at Lingfield (1m, AW) in February; hasn't been in the same form since and returns from a break today, but drops back down in grade and is not ruled out.

9/1

10th

12

(7)

4th May 2024

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 3

17:50 Newmarket

Larado

9st 3lb

J: Alistair Rawlinson

T: Michael Appleby

Often front-runs; Lingfield AW in February ended his losing run and he was 33-1 when well held there in a Class 2 latest outing (rare start with this visor, instead of usual blinkers); second at Epsom last August showed some turf ability remained, but he's 2lb higher today and not the percentage call.

33/1

Form: 117774 CD

Last run: 8 days

W: 9st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 71

Form & Verdict
Ended losing run with wins at Southwell (1m) and over C&D in the autumn, but the handicapper has been in charge since and others preferred in a higher grade than he needs to contest.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11

(15)

29th Jul 2025

Good

1m 1f 207y

Class 6

14:10 Beverley

Light Up Our Stars

10st 8lb

J: Mr Frederick Tett

T: Scott Dixon

Multiple winner who is running well and went down narrowly over the extended 1m here two months ago; thereabouts.

9/2

6

(2)

24th May 2025

Good To Firm

1m 0f 100y

Class 6

17:00 Beverley

Light Up Our Stars

9st 4lb

J: Taryn Langley

T: Scott Dixon

In a good run of form right now and finished much the best over 1m at Yarmouth last week (under Taryn Langley); clear claims off 3lb higher.

9/4

Form: 536408

Last run: 21 days

W: 10st 2lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 87

Form & Verdict
Record of 5-27 on AW and is on a dangerous mark in this sphere but well beaten back on AW the last twice and he's managed just one win in the last two years.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

3

28th Sep 2024

Good

2m 2f 140y

Class 5

17:45 Market Rasen

United Front

11st 11lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Fergal O’Brien

midfield, went remote third 4th, prominent when ridden before 2 out, lost position approaching last, mistake and weakened last

3/1

2nd

4

31st Aug 2024

Good

2m 0f 167y

Class 5

17:05 Newton Abbot

United Front

11st 11lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Fergal O’Brien

Not beaten far on any of his three hurdling starts for Fergal O'Brien this season and, given he was very useful on the Flat at his best, could quite plausibly turn out to be well treated for this handicap hurdle debut.

5/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £71.10
Straight Forecast £56.45
Tricast £254.15
Trifecta £376.00

Selections

TOPSPEED:

Larado

The Guardian:

Light Up Our Stars

SPOTLIGHT:

True Statesman

D Express:

Ernie's Valentine

Daily Record:

Bass Player

RP RATINGS:

United Front

The Star:

Gavi Di Gavi

The Times:

True Statesman

POSTDATA:

Larado

Telegraph:

Larado

Daily Mail:

Light Up Our Stars

Daily Mirror:

Light Up Our Stars