16:00 Chelmsford City

Sunday 17 December 2017

All12:4513:1513:5014:2514:5515:2516:00

Merry Christmas From Chelmsford City Racecourse Handicap

Off time: 16:00 | Winning time: 1m 40.18s

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Selected odds by:

(6)

Secret Lightning^b⁴^{(ex 6)}

Age: 5| Weight: 10-0| J: Kevin Lundie⁽⁵⁾| T: M Appleby| OR: 51| D

8/1

Popped up at 40/1 at Wolverhampton last time out but has never won back to back in his career and has generally run poorly at this track in the past. Has it to do under his penalty.

Form: U16751

(4)

How's Lucy⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: Paddy Bradley⁽⁵⁾| T: Jane Chapple-Hyam| OR: 52

4/1

10-race maiden but ran creditably here last time from a wide draw and a simliar level of form would bring her right into contention. Likely to be there or thereabouts once again.

Form: 8-82563

(7)

Ixelles Diamond¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-8| J: Charlie Bennett⁽³⁾| T: L Carter| OR: 51| D

10/1

May just have needed the run when outpaced inside the distance last time out and should be spot on today. Won a Lingfield mile handicap in March off today's mark and good apprentice claims 3lb here.

Form: 207833

(1)

Dukes Meadow⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: Rhiain Ingram⁽⁵⁾| T: R Ingram| OR: 50| CD

5/2

Beaten just a neck in similar event over C&D last week and has clear chance again if reproducing that effort. Rare winner though (1-39) so may have to settle for a place once again.

Form: 594362

(2)

Cookie Ring^t⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-5| J: Faye McManoman⁽⁷⁾| T: Kristin Stubbs| OR: 48| C| D

10/3

Hold-up performer who won under today's apprentice jockey at Kempton last month. Gave himself too much to do after very slow start last time so backers should know their fate fairly early. Has prospects if hitting the gates.

Form: 078415

(8)

Dynamic Girl^t⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: Nicola Currie⁽⁷⁾| T: B G Powell| OR: 47

11/1

Tends to break slowly so needs things to go her way. Ran better than finishing position indicates last time though and handicapper has given her a definite chance on the pick of her form.

Form: 378568

(5)

Sammy's Choice⁶⁹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: T J Murphy| T: J R Jenkins| OR: 46

50/1

Showed very little in five starts for previous connections and makes debut for new yard today. Off the track for nearly 23 months and has obviously had issues so impossible to recommend on that basis.

Form: 6880/0-

(9)

Touch The Clouds²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: Hollie Doyle| T: W Stone| OR: 45

7/1

Disappointing last two outings having gone close here on two occasions in September. Needs to step up his game, but no forlorn hope on those close calls a few months ago.

Form: 582207

(3)

Annabella¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Ryan Tate| T: T D McCarthy| OR: 45

50/1

Very little to enthuse over in six starts to date, all unplaced. Very hard to make a case for even for the most optimistic of punters.

Form: 065-788

(10)

Fivos^p⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: Poppy Bridgwater⁽⁷⁾| T: D G Bridgwater| OR: 45

25/1

Poor performer who has failed to make any progress despite being given every chance by the handicapper. Even off such a lowly mark is very hard to recommend.

Form: 6606U8

Forecasts

Dukes Meadow (5/2), Cookie Ring (10/3), How's Lucy (4/1), Touch The Clouds (7/1), Secret Lightning (8/1), Ixelles Diamond (10/1), Dynamic Girl (11/1), Fivos (25/1), Annabella (50/1), Sammy's Choice (50/1)

This modest event may fall to IXELLES DIAMOND who has run creditably on each of her last two starts in similar company. How's Lucy went close over course and distance recently and has every chance if returning in similar form, and slow starters Cookie Ring and Dynamic Girl are not out of it if able to stay more or less in touch through the first half of the contest. Recent winner Secret Lightning is another worthy of respect but has never won two in a row before, but Dukes Meadow has a shout if in the mood.