20:30 Chelmsford City

Tuesday 24 September 2019

All16:5017:2518:0018:3019:0019:3020:0020:30

Book Your Christmas Party Here Handicap

Off time: 20:30 | Winning time: 3m 1.24s

Settings

Selected odds by:

(5)

Brittanic^p¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-6| J: Dylan Hogan⁽⁵⁾| T: D M Simcock| OR: 66| BF

8/1

A useful horse once upon a time (has had difficulties); back to regular racing at a lower level throughout 2019; 4½L runner-up to Conquering Hero here (1m5½f) 12 days ago; cheekpieces now reapplied; stamina reserves a thorny issue.

Form: 643342

(4)

Barca²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-0| J: Jim Crowley| T: M P Tregoning| OR: 60| BF| C

7/4

Broke his duck at the 15th attempt when justifying favouritism over 2m here last month (Heron a pleasing third); there or thereabouts (third) on his latest start, and a similar performance is to be expected; figures high on the shortlist.

Form: 425413

(3)

Spice War²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-13| J: Thomas Greatrex⁽⁵⁾| T: O Sherwood| OR: 59

11/10

Back from over a year off when making a winning debut for Oliver Sherwood at Kempton (1m4f) three weeks ago; on pedigree won't be at all troubled by this extra 2f; with race-fitness fully proven, warrants maximum respect from a 4lb higher mark.

Form: 83360-1

(8)

Earthly^p,t²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: S Donohoe| T: B J Llewellyn| OR: 50

12/1

Hasn't won for many a moon (since May 2017); has bits and pieces of positive form in 2019 - best effort when second at Haydock (1m3½f, soft) in July; is expected to find a few stronger in pursuit of that ever elusive success.

Form: 467274

(6)

Das Kapital^p⁶⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: J F Egan| T: John Berry| OR: 49

25/1

Ten-race turf maiden with some placed form on his CV; was no match for the easy 2L winner Sigrid Nansen at Chepstow (1m4f, good to firm) in July; steps back up in trip on synthetics debut.

Form: 40-3820

(7)

Tobacco Road^h,t¹⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 9-3| J: Charlie Bennett| T: M Pattinson| OR: 49

33/1

Made the frame in a 1m2f Class 6 handicap here in February (22-1) but altogether underwhelming since, slipping 11lb in the weights; it's doubtful whether or not a return to a longer trip will assist this former hurdles scorer; look elsewhere.

Form: 059940

(2)

Royal Dancer¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: L Morris| T: S Kirk| OR: 52

12/1

11-race maiden; increasingly near to losing that unwanted status in recent weeks, going under by just ½L to Atalanta Breeze at Brighton (1m4f, good to firm) a fortnight ago; plenty to gain and nothing to lose by tackling a new trip.

Form: 96-0032

Non-Runners

(1)

Heron⁴⁶

Weight: 10-6| Age: 5

T: B R Johnson J: Daniel Muscutt

Forecasts

Spice War (11/10), Barca (7/4), Heron (6/1), Brittanic (8/1), Royal Dancer (12/1), Earthly (12/1), Das Kapital (25/1), Tobacco Road (33/1)

Heron stays extremely well, and despite having to shoulder a welter-burden could gain his revenge on recent conqueror Barca. The Marcus Tregoning-trained Barca was justifying favouritism (6-4) when breaking the maiden tag at the 15th attempt here (2m) last month, while the Brett Johnson-trained five-year-old was returning from a short mid-season break. However, assuming that the dreaded 'bounce' factor is avoided, both of the aforementioned horses will need to be in 'tip-top' shape to deny SPICE WAR a second straight win for Oliver Sherwood and Thomas Greatrex. On pedigree, he won't be troubled by this extra yardage and should strip fitter for his Kempton comeback win.

Spice War
Heron
Barca

Previous Winners

2018

Gemini

Weight: 9-5 |Age: 3

J: Jason Watson | T: C Hills

3/1

Prize Money

1st: £3,105.002nd: £924.003rd: £462.004th: £400.005th: £400.006th: £400.007th: £400.008th: £400.00

Premium Articles & Expert Tips delivered Daily.

Premium Articles & Expert Tips delivered Daily.