17:30 Chelmsford City

Thursday 30 January 2020

All17:0017:3018:0018:3019:0019:3020:00

tote.co.uk Handicap

Off time: 17:32 | Winning time: 1m 25.59s

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Selected odds by:

(6)

True Belief^h⁴⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: J Mitchell| T: B R Johnson| OR: 66

6/1

Hold-up horse that was a winner at Windsor (6f) last October, still 7lb higher here due to three very solid efforts after that; back off a short break today, but the worry is this trip, as he seems happier at shorter.

Form: 291233-

(12)

Poeta Brasileiro^t¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: Ray Dawson⁽⁵⁾| T: H Spiller| OR: 66

10/1

Been a model of consistency throughout the winter, and still looks to be in form judged on latest C&D third to an improver; not best drawn here, which makes life harder, and yet to win at this trip; each-way chances all the same.

Form: 31423-3

(4)

Classic Star²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: Luke Bacon⁽⁷⁾| T: D K Ivory| OR: 66| CD

5/1

Improved to score over C&D last time, running out a ready 3¾l victor, and a 7lb rise hardly looks harsh; may not be entirely straightforward and there are no guarantees of a repeat, but clearly in good heart and nicely drawn.

Form: 22645-1

(7)

Gottardo¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: Miss Sophie Smith⁽⁷⁾| T: E A L Dunlop| OR: 63| C

10/1

Running with plenty of consistency, usually finishing within hailing distance of the winner but a record of just two wins in 29 starts rather highlights the issue; conditions fine again and no reason not to run his race, may be playing for places.

Form: 32234-5

(2)

Kraka^v⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: Kevin Lundie⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs C A Dunnett| OR: 63

9/2

Gone close last two starts with some decent front-running displays and drawn 2 today, may well try those tactics again; yet to win at this trip but does stay, hard to win with but should be on the premises again.

Form: 347-822

(8)

Nampara⁴⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: William Carson| T: P W D'Arcy| OR: 63

25/1

Has come back from an absence to perform with credit this winter, although a bit below par when made favourite here in November; this trip is the problem, with best form at sprint trips so far, and on that, others are preferred.

Form: 1D7/265-

(5)

Sonnet Rose^b,t⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 9-6| J: M Dwyer| T: C Allen| OR: 62| CD

22/1

C&D winner off this mark last autumn, so has that going for her; outclassed at Lingfield last time but earlier efforts didn't pull up many trees either, so she needs to refind her best form to hold a chance here.

Form: 260664-

(1)

Phoenix Star^h,t¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: Rob Hornby| T: S C Williams| OR: 61

9/2

In good form and possibly a bit unlucky not to score over C&D last time, denied a run at a key time only to stay on late again for second; nudged up a pound, but has a good draw to work from and looks a big player with a bit more luck.

Form: 4413-52

(9)

Bint Dandy^b⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 9-5| J: Lewis Edmunds| T: C Wallis| OR: 61| C| D

16/1

Ran her best race for a while when second at Lingfield last week, keeping on well late for second; gets to run from her previous mark, which makes her look quite well treated here; no win machine, but could go well at a price.

Form: 4043-92

(10)

Flaunt It⁷²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: R Kingscote| T: Jane Chapple-Hyam| OR: 58

16/1

Tailed right off on her two starts last autumn/this winter and she simply looks to be out of love with the game at present. Hard to make a case for.

Form: 5235/00-

(3)

Act Of Magic¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: K T O'Neill| T: L McJannet| OR: 57

33/1

Going nowhere quickly on his last three starts, sent off big prices on all three occasions; hard to see why things should be any different tonight, and easy to pass over.

Form: 1298-05

(13)

Deeds Not Words^p⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 9-0| J: Pierre-Louis Jamin⁽⁷⁾| T: R Brisland| OR: 56| BF| C

16/1

Winner of two of his last three starts and ran just as well in defeat at Lingfield last week; this looks a bit more competitive than a couple of those events though, and he's stepping up in trip, so new questions to answer from a poor draw.

Form: 78-6113

(11)

Watheer⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 8-10| J: Callum Rodriguez| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 52| CD

9/1

Knocking on the door last two starts, close third to a well-treated one at Wolverhampton last week; may do better again if settling early, which he's not done lately, and is one with a chance here.

Form: 6040-23

Forecasts

Kraka (9/2), Phoenix Star (9/2), Classic Star (5/1), True Belief (6/1), Watheer (9/1), Gottardo (10/1), Poeta Brasileiro (10/1), Bint Dandy (16/1), Deeds Not Words (16/1), Flaunt It (16/1), Sonnet Rose (22/1), Nampara (25/1), Act Of Magic (33/1)

Plenty can be given some sort of chance here. If Classic Star is in the same mood as when successful here last time out, he'd take some beating, but that isn't a given, and preference is for PHOENIX STAR, a touch unlucky on his latest start here and he can gain compensation for that tonight. Bint Dandy doesn't win enough to be confident about but she's nicely handicapped on her old mark and might be on the way back to form, and Kraka looks sure to give it a shot from the front in stall 2.