Racecards
21:20 Wolverhampton
Horseracing Free Bets At bookmakers.co.uk Handicap (Class 5)
- 9 Runners
- Distance: 1m 141y
- Going: Standard
- Surface: Polytrack
- £4,000 added
- Winner: £2,588
- 2nd: £770
- 3rd: £385
- 4th: £192
- Form 0990-26
- Age 4
- Weight 9-7
- Official Rating 74
took keen hold, held up in last pair, reminders 4f out, ridden and stayed on same pace inside final furlong
- Form 30-4589
- Age 8
- Weight 9-6
- Official Rating 73
- Trainer C & M Johnston
- Jockey J Fanning
tracked leader for 2f, handy, went 2nd again well over 2f out, every chance 2f out, ridden over 1f out, stayed on same pace inside final furlong
- Form 106-355
- Age 7
- Weight 9-6
- Official Rating 73
- Trainer Paul Green
- Jockey F Norton
took keen hold, in touch, not much room on inside over 7f out, headway on inside 2f out, ridden over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
- Form 318-322
- Age 7
- Weight 9-5
- Official Rating 72
- Trainer R Hollinshead
- Jockey Robert Tart
held up, not clear run on inside 2f out, headway over 1f out, ridden and hung left inside final furlong, ran on to lead near finish
- Form 4688-11
- Age 4
- Weight 9-4
- Official Rating 71
took keen hold, chased leaders, headway over 2f out, led over 1f out, ridden inside final furlong, headed near finish
Matraash (USA)
820- Form 600695/
- Age 7
- Weight 9-2
- Official Rating 69
- Trainer D M Loughnane
- Jockey L Morris
held up, some headway over 2f out, never dangerous
- Form 5534-55
- Age 4
- Weight 8-12
- Official Rating 65
held up in touch, headway on outside over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong, went 3rd well inside final furlong
- Form 311-586
- Age 4
- Weight 8-10
- Official Rating 63
- Trainer R C Guest
- Jockey R Fitzpatrick
led, ridden and headed over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
Verdict
California English hasn't won since 2011 but the handicapper remains reluctant to drop him in the weights while the enigmatic Copperwood is capable on his day but it's anybody's guess when that will be. Lucky Dan has plenty to prove stepping up in trip while Berlusca was all out to land a double over a longer trip here last time and is upped another 4lb. Outlaw Torn is not out of this but ONE SCOOP OR TWO found only Strike Force too good here last month and as the the latter has subsequently won again, Reg Hollinshead's charge gets the vote.
Formwatch
California English (IRE) 3-1 (9-7) Led, joined 2f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 6th of 7, 4 1/2l behind Whispering Warrior (8-12) at Kempton 1m hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Jan.
Copperwood 16-1 (9-7) Chased leaders, effort over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 9th of 11, 10l behind Diplomatic (8-7) at Kempton 1m hcp 0-75 (5) pol in Jan.
Lucky Dan (IRE) 3-1 (9-6) Held up towards rear, headway 2f out, ridden and stayed on same pace inside final furlong, 5th of 8, 1 3/4l behind M J Woodward (8-10) at Wolverhampton 5f hcp 0-75 (5) pol.
One Scoop Or Two 10-3 (8-10) Broke well, held up, headway over 1f out, went 2nd inside final furlong, ran on, just held, 2nd of 6, nk behind Strike Force (8-8) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Jan.
Berlusca (IRE) 8-13fav (9-8) Raced keenly, tracked leaders, headway 2f out, challenged over 1f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong, soon hard pressed, held on, won at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Jan beating Scamperdale (9-3) by 1/2l, 9 ran.
Matraash (USA) 16-1 (9-9) Tracked leaders in 6th, 5th straight, 4th under pressure 1 1/2f out, kept on same pace, 5th of 14, 4 1/2l behind Elusive Ridge (9-11) at Dundalk 1m 3f hcp 60-90 pol in Nov '10.
Thereabouts (USA) 10-1 (9-3) Held up towards rear, headway well over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, not reach leaders, 5th of 9, 2l behind Idol Deputy (9-2) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hacp 0-70 (5) pol.
Outlaw Torn (IRE) 10-1 (8-8) Led, clear 3f out until over 2f out, soon ridden, headed 1f out, weakened well inside final furlong, 6th of 9, 2 3/4l behind Idol Deputy (9-2) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f hacp 0-70 (5) pol.
Dream Win 5-1 (9-2) Led until over 1f out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 8, 4l behind Refreshestheparts (9-2) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f app hcp 0-65 (6) pol in Jan.