January 20 / 17.30 Wolverhampton (AW)

17.30

Standard

BetUK. It’s Where The UK Bets Handicap

  • Prize money: £3140.4
  • 1m 4f 51y
  • Class 6
  • 11 runners
SKY
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BetUK. It’s Where The UK Bets Handicap

Runners: 11 runners

Type: Flat AW

Surface: Tapeta

Weather: Showers

10/1 (Won)

  • Win: £5.00
  • Place: £1.90

Form: 8/885-

Last run: 33 days

W: 9st 6lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 55

Form & Verdict
Well held in all seven starts but he was a market springer on his Kempton return (1m3f) last month and finished a respectable fifth of 13; should benefit from that run and he's one to keep an eye on at this new trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

2

15th Oct 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 29y

Class 4

14:54 Fontwell

Hawa Jumeirah

11st 2lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Helen Nelmes

Two modest Flat wins in 2025 but he's 0-7 over hurdles, beaten about 26l in handicaps on last two outings (here latest); hard to fancy.

66/1

4th

4

22nd Sep 2026

Good

2m 1f 162y

Class 5

17:07 Fontwell

Hawa Jumeirah

10st 12lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Helen Nelmes

Well held at Newton Abbot (2m2f, good to firm) last month and now 0-7 over hurdles but was third over that C&D on consecutive outings in July (good/good to firm) and has possibilities if judged on that form.

10/1

6th

10

22nd Aug 2026

Good To Firm

2m 2f 110y

Class 5

15:40 Newton Abbot

Hawa Jumeirah

10st 9lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Helen Nelmes

Dual Flat winner who has produced two encouraging placed efforts over C&D of late; has a bit to find with some of these but should be thereabouts.

10/1

10/1

  • Place: £4.10

Form: 5090-3

Last run: 14 days

W: 8st 12lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 47

Form & Verdict
Unexposed at this trip and he perked up with a fair third over C&D last time but was behind Walk The Moon in that race and he's now 0-12; needs to find more.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

1

(5)

14th Oct 2025

Standard

1m 4f 0y

Class 6

13:30 Lingfield (AW)

This Time Maybe

9st 9lb

J: George Bass

T: Mark Usher

One of his two wins was over this C&D in August; hasn't run quite so well since; could bounce back.

5/1

4th

9

(9)

22nd Sep 2025

Standard

1m 4f 51y

Class 5

20:00 Wolverhampton (AW)

This Time Maybe

9st 3lb

J: George Bass

T: Mark Usher

Two wins on AW this year, with first over C&D in April and latest at Lingfield (AW) last month; disappointing back at this track last time but he may have done too much too soon and he's capable of bouncing back; in the mix for in-form yard.

11/2

OUR TIP

3/1

  • Place: £1.60

Form: 0636-1 CD

Last run: 14 days

W: 9st 8lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 54

Form & Verdict
Recorded his fourth course win when justifying favouritism off a reduced mark over C&D (Virtual Hug second) two weeks ago; only 2lb higher than for that success and he should get a decent tow into this race; big player again.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

5

(5)

10th Mar 2026

Standard

1m 4f 51y

Class 6

18:00 Wolverhampton (AW)

Starfighter

9st 9lb

J: Billy Loughnane

T: Mark Loughnane

Now at the veteran stage but has won five times and been placed on nine occasions around here; twice finished runner-up in similar events over C&D at the start of the year and another big effort seems likely.

5/2

8th

7

(2)

25th Feb 2026

Standard

1m 4f 0y

Class 6

13:12 Lingfield (AW)

Starfighter

10st 11lb

J: Mr Jack Loughnane

T: Mark Loughnane

Six-time Tapeta winner who has finished runner-up in classified events at Wolverhampton (1m4f) in his last two starts; still looks feasibly treated back in a handicap and he's a big player if he can transfer his form back to Polytrack.

7/2

2nd

4

(6)

9th Feb 2026

Standard

1m 4f 51y

Class 6

18:30 Wolverhampton (AW)

Starfighter

9st 9lb

J: Billy Loughnane

T: Mark Loughnane

Veteran who is a five-time winner at Wolverhampton; close second, clear of remainder, in C&D classified race last time; leading claims.

5/6

Form: 0360-2

Last run: 14 days

W: 9st 1lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 47

Form & Verdict
20-race maiden under both codes but he ran his best race for some time when runner-up over C&D 14 days ago; hung right in the closing stages but he pulled clear of the third and that was a promising effort after wind surgery; shortlisted.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

(10)

26th Jul 2025

Good

1m 3f 99y

Class 6

18:45 Windsor

Walk The Moon

9st 6lb

J: William Carson

T: Tony Carroll

Kept on for third in recent selling handicap at Lingfield (11.6f, good; behind Velvet Vulcan), making the frame in his fourth consecutive Flat race, but career strike-rate now stands at 0-31.

12/1

8

(6)

8th Jul 2025

Good To Firm

1m 3f 133y

Class 6

14:55 Lingfield

Walk The Moon

9st 2lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Tony Carroll

0-24 on the Flat but he wasn't running badly in this sphere prior to finishing tailed off over hurdles three weeks ago; not ruled out from this career-low mark with Oisin Murphy taking over.

4/1

9th

6

17th Jun 2025

Good

2m 0f 70y

Class 5

17:10 Stratford

Walk The Moon

11st 3lb

J: Lilly Pinchin

T: Tony Carroll

0-24 on the Flat and 0-5 over hurdles; not seen over jumps since 38l defeat in 2m2f handicap here in October and his tendency to race too freely is always a worry.

50/1

Form: U7621- D

Last run: 31 days

W: 9st 6lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 52

Form & Verdict
Snapped a long losing run when scoring at Dundalk (1m4f, Polytrack) last month; this is tougher off his revised mark but he's won on Tapeta in the past and is unexposed at this trip; withdrawn after unseating rider and getting loose before the start here on Saturday.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

15th

12

2nd Oct 2026

Yielding To Soft

2m 4f 40y

15:41 Gowran Park

Esticky End

11st 1lb

J: Dylan Robinson

T: Tom McGuinness

Three-time Flat winner but has really come good over hurdles lately with two handicap wins at Wexford; hat-trick bid here but has a 14lb rise to contend with and seems to be very much a good ground performer.

7/1

1st

12

7th Aug 2026

Good

2m 4f 55y

19:36 Wexford

Esticky End

10st 9lb

J: Patrick M O’Brien

T: Tom McGuinness

Has done most of his winning on the Flat in Britain, and has found a new lease of life over hurdles at his local track last month, following up a good second in a 2m1f handicap hurdle in early July by getting up on the line to land a similar handicap over the same trip three weeks later; up 6lb for those two efforts is far from excessive and he can be thereabouts once more with the step up in trip unlikely to be an issue.

4/1

14/1

Form: 7354-4 D

Last run: 7 days

W: 9st 7lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 53

Form & Verdict
Record of 1-17 but he's reached the frame in three of his last four runs including an eyecatching fourth at Lingfield (1m4f) last Monday; has wide draw back on Tapeta but he remains well treated on old form and it wouldn't be a surprise if he made a serious impact.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

6

(1)

3rd Mar 2025

Standard

1m 4f 51y

Class 6

16:55 Wolverhampton (AW)

Mhajim

9st 4lb

J: Joey Haynes

T: Chelsea Banham

led

7/1

8th

7

(3)

27th Feb 2025

Standard To Slow

1m 5f 66y

Class 6

19:00 Chelmsford (AW)

Mhajim

9st 6lb

J: Joey Haynes

T: Chelsea Banham

slowly away, took keen hold, towards rear

8/1

5th

5

(6)

12th Feb 2025

Standard

1m 4f 14y

Class 6

11:55 Southwell (AW)

Mhajim

9st 6lb

J: Joey Haynes

T: Chelsea Banham

dwelt start, in rear, going okay but plenty to do 3f out, hung left but some headway from 2f out, never near to challenge

8/1

8/1

Form: 7476-2 CD

Last run: 14 days

W: 9st 6lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 52

Form & Verdict
His last three wins have been at this track and he was close second behind Starfighter over C&D two weeks ago; only 1lb higher here and another bold bid could be on the cards.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

12

(13)

13th Sep 2026

Good

1m 6f 0y

Class 2

15:15 Bath

Virtual Hug

8st 2lb

J: Kieran O’Neill

T: Nikki Evans

Two wins this year, the latter here (11.6f, good) in May; still in pretty good form but faces tough task from just out of the weights today.

25/1

6th

2

(9)

21st Aug 2026

Good

1m 3f 209y

Class 6

17:02 Ffos Las

Virtual Hug

9st 8lb

J: Kieran O’Neill

T: Nikki Evans

Two wins this year, the latter off 1lb lower at Bath (11.6f, good) in May; behind Buck Barrow when fourth over C&D (good) last month but that certainly wasn't a bad run; no surprise if he features.

10/1

4th

7

(3)

28th Jul 2026

Good

1m 3f 209y

Class 6

20:00 Ffos Las

Virtual Hug

9st 1lb

J: Ryan Kavanagh

T: Nikki Evans

Held a couple of times round his beloved Bath in 0-55 company since winning from Bobby Dassler there in the spring; usually dropped in and will want a decent test round this easier course.

8/1

33/1

Form: 6880/6 D

Last run: 14 days

W: 9st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 45

Form & Verdict
Just one win from 37 starts and he returned from a lengthy absence with a well-held sixth over C&D two weeks ago; may have needed that run but he finished 7l behind Starfighter and needs to show a lot more this time; stablemate of Walk The Moon.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

6

(1)

20th Jan 2026

Standard

1m 6f 21y

Class 6

19:30 Southwell (AW)

Abstract

9st 0lb

J: Jack Doughty

T: Tony Carroll

Had a long absence before reappearing last January and he didn't offer a great deal of encouragement in 2025.

20/1

12

(4)

13th Sep 2025

Soft

2m 1f 24y

Class 6

15:28 Bath

Abstract

9st 6lb

J: Matthew Lloyd Slater

T: Tony Carroll

Yet to add to his 1m4f AW win in March 2023 and has had several chances off lowly marks this year; difficult to enthuse over.

25/1

7

(3)

29th Aug 2025

Good To Firm

1m 3f 209y

Class 6

16:03 Ffos Las

Abstract

9st 0lb

J: Jack Doughty

T: Tony Carroll

AW winner over 1m4f in 2023 but he's been big prices and well held in 2025; major turnaround needed.

20/1

Form: 94/27- BF

Last run: 167 days

W: 9st 9lb

5 yo Filly

OR: 55

Form & Verdict
Four-time hurdle winner who is lightly raced on the Flat but flopped when favourite in a Catterick handicap (2m, good to firm) when last seen in August; probably did too much too soon in that race and now drops back in trip on her return, but others are more persuasive.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

7

18th Oct 2026

Good

2m 0f 178y

Class 3

16:20 Sedgefield

Max Of Stars

10st 6lb

J: Jamie Hamilton

T: Ollie Pears

Best effort this season when second, behind a rival who was completing a hurdles four-timer, over C&D (good) on penultimate start; reasonably interesting on that form and remains favourably treated, being 3lb below last winning mark.

10/1

7

1st Oct 2026

Good

1m 7f 182y

Class 4

16:35 Southwell

Max Of Stars

11st 5lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Ollie Pears

A three-time 2m hurdles winner last season; back on song when second of three in 2m1f handicap at Sedgefield 22 days ago; not out of things off an unchanged mark.

7/1

2nd

3

9th Sep 2026

Good

2m 0f 178y

Class 4

17:05 Sedgefield

Max Of Stars

11st 5lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Ollie Pears

3lb below last winning mark in October; only real effort of note in five runs after a wind operation was when second on the Flat in June; likely to go from the front.

4/1

40/1

Form: 5/969- CD

Last run: 188 days

W: 9st 7lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 53

Form & Verdict
Well treated on old form but he missed 2023 and finished down the field in only three runs last year; has plenty to prove after another absence and hard to know how much ability remains.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

5

(10)

1st Apr 2025

Standard

1m 4f 51y

Class 6

17:25 Wolverhampton (AW)

Avarice

9st 7lb

J: Warren Fentiman

T: John Butler

Not the most prolific (3-31) but he has winning form over C&D and with cheekpieces back on he landed a cosy success in a 0-50 classified event at Lingfield (1m4f, Polytrack) eight days ago; has more on his plate back in a handicap under a 4lb penalty, but still more appealing than most; stable also runs Disquietude.

5/2

5th

5

(10)

1st Apr 2025

Standard

1m 4f 51y

Class 6

17:25 Wolverhampton (AW)

Avarice

9st 7lb

J: Warren Fentiman

T: John Butler

Not the most prolific (3-31) but he has winning form over C&D and with cheekpieces back on he landed a cosy success in a 0-50 classified event at Lingfield (1m4f, Polytrack) eight days ago; has more on his plate back in a handicap under a 4lb penalty, but still more appealing than most; stable also runs Disquietude.

5/2

1st

1

(8)

24th Mar 2025

Standard

1m 4f 0y

Class 6

16:47 Lingfield (AW)

Avarice

9st 9lb

J: Lewis Edmunds

T: John Butler

Sole AW win at Wolverhampton in 2022 but he acts well here; it's been a long road back from nearly two years off the track but he shaped a bit better at Wolverhampton recently when not getting the best of runs; interesting and worth a market check now qualified for this level.

5/1

Form: 4658-6

Last run: 11 days

W: 9st 6lb

4 yo Filly

OR: 55

Form & Verdict
Lightly raced 4yo but she finished last in her first two handicaps and was only sixth of eight at Lingfield (1m2f) on recent stable debut; continues to drop down the weights but she needs improvement at this new trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

6

(10)

20th Jan 2025

Standard

1m 4f 51y

Class 6

17:30 Wolverhampton (AW)

Sparkling Belle

9st 6lb

J: William Carver

T: Jamie Osborne

raced wide, midfield, weakened over 1f out

20/1

11th

6

(10)

20th Jan 2025

Standard

1m 4f 51y

Class 6

17:30 Wolverhampton (AW)

Sparkling Belle

9st 6lb

J: William Carver

T: Jamie Osborne

Lightly raced 4yo but she finished last in her first two handicaps and was only sixth of eight at Lingfield (1m2f) on recent stable debut; continues to drop down the weights but she needs improvement at this new trip.

20/1

6th

1

(6)

9th Jan 2025

Standard To Slow

1m 2f 0y

Class 6

15:07 Lingfield (AW)

Sparkling Belle

9st 9lb

J: William Carver

T: Jamie Osborne

squeezed out start, towards rear, took keen hold after 2f

25/1

Non-runners

Sophosc

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £64.20
Straight Forecast £58.93
Tricast £266.47
Trifecta £323.00

Selections

The Guardian:

Esticky End

SPOTLIGHT:

Starfighter

The Times:

Walk The Moon

POSTDATA:

Sophosc

Telegraph:

Walk The Moon

D Express:

Esticky End

The Sun:

Esticky End

The Star:

Esticky End

Daily Record:

Esticky End

RP RATINGS:

Starfighter

Daily Mail:

Starfighter

Daily Mirror:

Starfighter