18:35 Goodwood

Friday 24 August 2018

All17:0517:3518:0518:3519:0519:35

Chelsea Barracks Handicap

Off time: 18:36 | Winning time: 1m 11.62s

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Selected odds by:

(2)

Vibrant Chords²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-11| J: J Mitchell| T: H Candy| OR: 99| C| D

9/1

Runner-up in 2017 Portland Handicap off 2lb lower, and built upon his comeback run at Chelmsford with a narrow win at Sandown in July. Ran poorly last time, but usually reliable, and should bounce back.

Form: 229-619

(8)

Roussel⁴³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: B Doyle| T: C Appleby| OR: 100| D

16/1

Very smart two-year-old who won on his return at Doncaster, but form has taken a bit of a downturn since, albeit faced with stiff tasks on occasion. This is a little easier, but he needs to show he can take advantage.

Form: 22-1300

(7)

Baron Bolt^p²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-8| J: Rossa Ryan⁽³⁾| T: P & O Cole| OR: 96| D

8/1

On a career high mark after his win at Epsom last month, but looked capable of another win when fifth of 13 at Glorious meeting here next time, just finding drop to 5f against him. Considered.

Form: 2-22015

(10)

Solar Flair²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 9-4| J: P Cosgrave| T: W J Knight| OR: 92| D

7/1

Won off a 10lb higher mark in valuable contest at Newcastle in June, and ran with credit when fourth in Stewards' Cup behind Gifted Master. Worth another chance to prove his turf mark is lenient.

Form: 948144

(11)

Snazzy Jazzy¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: H Crouch| T: C G Cox| OR: 95| CD

25/1

Looked a smart prospect when winning his first three starts as a juvenile, but he's disappointed this year, and although he wasn't entirely disgraced at Ascot last time, he's easy enough to oppose on balance.

Form: 111-808

(1)

Polybius¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 9-3| J: K T O'Neill| T: D M Simcock| OR: 91| D

8/1

Not won for almost three years and needs everything to go his way. Not disgraced at Ascot two starts back, but failed to build on that last time, and opposable despite falling to a tempting mark.

Form: 654665

(4)

George Of Hearts¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: S W Kelly| T: R Hughes| OR: 92| BF| D

5/2

Won 6f maiden at Chelmsford on seasonal return and only narrowly beaten when runner-up at Ascot next time. Has run several solid races there since, and respected on latest third in Shergar Cup Sprint.

Form: 2-12973

(13)

Dark Shot⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 8-13| J: Theodore Ladd⁽⁵⁾| T: S Dixon| OR: 87

12/1

Back to form for current yard when fourth in Stewards' Sprint over C&D, and never had a chance to open up in messy race at Ripon last time. On a good mark, and one to bear in mind.

Form: 550949

(3)

Oeil De Tigre²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 8-12| J: Sophie Ralston⁽⁷⁾| T: A W Carroll| OR: 86| CD

7/1

Never raced here until this year, but now three from four at the track, the sole defeat when second in Stewards' Sprint over C&D last time. Creeping up the weights, but folly to ignore given his track record.

Form: 211132

(12)

Tricksy Spirit⁴³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: Scott McCullagh⁽⁷⁾| T: M R Channon| OR: 89| CD

33/1

Best effort this season when second in listed race over 5f at Sandown in June, but her form has taken a dip subsequently, and no easy task to bounce back here.

Form: 742780

(6)

Hart Stopper^t³⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: Milly Naseb⁽⁵⁾| T: S C Williams| OR: 85| D

20/1

Slow starts can be his undoing, but overcame that handicap to win a 5-runner handicap at Yarmouth on his latest start. Not dismissed, but can't afford to dawdle against this calibre of rival.

Form: 548-721

(9)

Boy In The Bar^b²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 8-7| J: J Fanning| T: Ian Williams| OR: 81| CD

8/1

Well treated on form of his C&D win last year, but just not firing fully this time around, and probably needs to drop in class if he's to rekindle old spark.

Form: 064500

Non-Runners

(5)

Poet's Vanity³⁵

Weight: 9-2| Age: 4

T: A M Balding J: David Probert

Forecasts

George Of Hearts (5/2), Solar Flair (7/1), Oeil De Tigre (7/1), Baron Bolt (8/1), Boy In The Bar (8/1), Polybius (8/1), Vibrant Chords (9/1), Poet's Vanity (10/1), Dark Shot (12/1), Roussel (16/1), Hart Stopper (20/1), Snazzy Jazzy (25/1), Tricksy Spirit (33/1)

OEIL DE TIGRE and Dark Shot both ran well to be placed in the Stewards' Sprint over C&D last time, and the former is taken to enhance his tremendous course record. Dark Shot was much better than the result at Ripon since, and is high on the list of dangers, along with Baron Bolt and Stewards' Cup fourth Solar Flair.