17:45 Chelmsford City

Saturday 11 March 2017

All17:4518:1518:4519:1519:4520:1520:4521:15

Going Racing? Stay At Channels channelslodge.co.uk Apprentice Handicap

Off time: 17:46 | Winning time: 1m 38.7s

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Selected odds by:

(6)

Hold Firm¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: Gabriele Malune⁽⁵⁾| T: M H Tompkins| OR: 57

5/2

Decent record at this track and advertised his current well-being by swopping late to win an apprentices event under today's rider over 1m at Lingfield last time. Worthy of respect on that form, but has been raised 3lb and has never won off a mark this high previously.

Form: 116563

(10)

Blackthorn Stick^p¹⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 9-8| J: D A Parkes| T: P Burgoyne| OR: 56

8/1

Gained the last of four wins over 7f at Kempton 11 months ago (1lb higher mark) and produced his best effort since when a close-up fifth over that trip at Lingfield last time. Still winless after 10 previous attempts over this longer trip however, and draw not ideal.

Form: 082107

(8)

The Special One^h²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: George Wood| T: A Stronge| OR: 55

7/1

Showed signs of ability but never reached a place in seven starts on turf for Clive Cox and little immediate encouragement to be gleaned from a modest AW debut for a new yard over 1m at Wolverhampton last month. Dropped a further 2lb but others preferred.

Form: 946-838

(4)

Makhfar^v⁷⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: Mitch Godwin| T: M D I Usher| OR: 55

6/1

A winner for John Gosden as a youngster and, though he has gone backwards, he had enough about him to exploit a falling mark (4lb lower than today) when scoring over C&D in November. Subsequently twice well-held, most recently on Boxing Day, and interesting to see how fares on debut for a new yard.

Form: 4107-44

(2)

Spirit Of Gondree^b²⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 9-6| J: Charlie Bennett| T: J M Bradley| OR: 54

5/1

A 73-race veteran, scoring six times (including four times on polytrack), but his winless run has been extended to 16 after a lifeless effort at Kempton last month when sent off favourite. Better than he showed that day and no forlorn hope from this draw if putting best foot forward.

Form: 240757

(1)

Ms Arsenal¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: Lulu Stanford⁽³⁾| T: G C Bravery| OR: 53

20/1

Began life in bumpers and has struggled since switching to the Flat, running abysmally when last of six on her handicap debut over 6f here last time. Quickly dropped 7lb but couldn't be trusted as a serious betting proposition on what she's shown.

Form: 087-6

(7)

Randall's Alannah³¹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-4| J: C J McGovern⁽³⁾| T: S Fahey| OR: 52

9/2

Looked to have ended a long losing run when edging out Mowhoob in a desperate finish over C&D last month only to lose the race in the stewards' room. Worthy of respect on that form despite a 5lb rise but consistency isn't her forte.

Form: 6-98527

(9)

Mowhoob¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 9-2| J: Joshua Bryan⁽⁵⁾| T: B Barr| OR: 50

14/1

Just three wins from 51 starts, the most recent when awarded the race by stewards after losing out to Randall's Alannah in a photo over C&D last month. Never able to get competitive off a 4lb higher mark at Kempton subsequently and it's anyones guess what he produces today.

Form: 451022

(3)

Bella's Boy⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: Darragh Keenan⁽⁵⁾| T: J Ryan| OR: 45

33/1

Has shown little to enthuse over in five starts to date, including when tried in first-time cheekpieces over 6f here earlier this month. Dropped 5lb but would still need the step up to 1m to work wonders.

Form: 4/6-099P

(5)

Kristoff¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: Isobel Francis⁽⁷⁾| T: J R Boyle| OR: 45

11/1

Three times a runner-up off higher marks than today's over 7f last season but remains winless after 16 attempts. By no means disgraced when third (beaten less than 3L) in the race awarded to Mowhoob over C&D last month but took a step backwards at Kempton last time.

Form: 388526

Non-Runners

(12)

Kafeel⁵⁰

Weight: 9-9| Age: 6

T: G & J Moore J: Paddy Bradley

(11)

Tavener¹⁴

Weight: 9-9| Age: 5

T: D C Griffiths J: Finley Marsh

Forecasts

Hold Firm (5/2), Randall's Alannah (9/2), Spirit Of Gondree (5/1), Tavener (11/2), Makhfar (6/1), The Special One (7/1), Blackthorn Stick (8/1), Kafeel (10/1), Kristoff (11/1), Mowhoob (14/1), Ms Arsenal (20/1), Bella's Boy (33/1)

Randall's Alannah and Mowhoob lock horns again after their controversial finish over C&D last month which saw the latter awarded the race in the stewards room. If either can reproduce that level of form - by no means guaranteed - they would be in contention in this open-looking contest, though there may more mileage in taking a chance on the potentially well-treated SPIRIT OF GONDREE returning to form from a favourable draw. Any sort of market move for recent yard movers Kafeel and Makhfar would be interesting.