Wolverhampton preview: Gabrial The Thug can give rivals a bashing
Published:
David Metcalf | December 22, 2015
Gabrial The Thug has a good record at Wolverhampton and can take advantage of a drop in the weights to further enhance it with victory in the 1m apprentice handicap on today’s card at the Midlands venue (16.10).
The Richard Faney trained gelding is a four-time course and distance winner, and in the last of those successes back in September beat Kodiac Lady by a neck off a mark of 65 in a class 6 handicap.
Gabrial The Thug got put up to 67 for that victory and has subsequently failed to trouble the judge in five starts.
However, the The five-year-old has often shaped better than the bare result suggests in class 4 and 5 company and the handicapper has been quick to lend a hand.
Gabrial The Thug is now able to race off a mark of 62, 3lb lower than when last successful, and that gives him major claims from a handicaping perspective.
The son of Azamour also drops down into the same grade as when last victorious, and another plus is that Gabrial The Thug has winning form under inexperienced riders.
Next Edition to end losing run
In the 1m 4f handicap (15.40), Next Edition looks weighted to get back to winning ways following a couple of excellent runs.
The Phil Kirby trained seven-year-old is on a long losing run, having not scored since landing a class 4 contest at Musselburgh back in May 2013 by 3 1/4 lengths off a mark of 76.
However, the seven-year-old has run well to make the frame on numerous occasions including when runner-up twice last year in class 4 contests off 76.
Next Edition is now able to race in this class 5 affair off a career-low rating of 60, 16lbs lower than when last successful, and comes into the contest on the back of two eye-catching efforts at the track to make the frame.
After finishing 1 1/2 length third to With Hindsight when getting little assistance in the saddle from a very inexperienced rider, Next Edition failed by just a head to overhaul the same rival when they met eight days ago.
The son of Antonius Pius was arguably given too much to do in the latter, but it was a fine effort and this looks a nice opportunity for Next Edition to finally cash-in on his reduced mark.
Selections
12.40: Sandfrankskipsgo
13.10: Hamish Mcgonagain
13.40: Pictograph
14.10: Mondial
14.40: Misu Pete
15.10: Desert Morning
15.40: Next Edition (NB)
16.10: Gabrial The Thug (NAP)
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