17:30 Chelmsford City

Friday 15 April 2022

All14:1014:4515:2015:5516:3017:0017:30

Ladies Day With Sophie Ellis-Bextor Handicap

Off time: 17:31 | Winning time: 3m 30.62s

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Selected odds by:

(4)

Orin Swift⁶³

Age: 8| Weight: 9-11| J: James Doyle| T: J G Portman| OR: 77

8/1

Furthered a good record fresh when second of 8 in handicap at Southwell (18.4f, 16/1) 63 days ago. Respected off same mark.

Form: 60356-2

(7)

Reverend Hubert^b¹⁷⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: P J Dobbs| T: R Hannon| OR: 78

13/2

11/1, respectable fourth of 10 in handicap at Newbury (13.3f, heavy). Off 175 days. Up in trip on return and needs to pull out more.

Form: 154544-

(1)

Merlin's Beard²⁰⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: R L Moore| T: R Hughes| OR: 77

3/1

Progressing in leaps and bounds last year, completing 4-timer in 14f handicap at Wolverhampton in September. Reappears from an 11 lb higher mark but that still looks workable.

Form: 531111-

(6)

Man Of Riddles¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: Callum Shepherd| T: D M Simcock| OR: 76| D

5/1

Followed up from Southwell in a thin handicap at Wolverhampton (16.6f) 13 days ago, though did overcome the run of the race to do so. 2 lb rise fair and respected in his hat-trick bid.

Form: 583-311

(2)

Prince Abu^h⁴¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: Dylan Hogan| T: D Shaw| OR: 68| D

10/3

Good head second of 9 to Man of Riddles in handicap at Southwell (16.5f, 3/1) 41 days ago, helped by being held up in strongly-run race. Will continue to give a good account.

Form: 1-21132

(3)

Second Kingdom¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: S De Sousa| T: P S McEntee| OR: 69

16/1

Lightly-raced maiden who ran well after 10 weeks off when third of 7 on handicap debut here (14f) 15 days ago, despite missing the break. Doesn't look especially well treated but should remain competitive.

Form: 27-333

(5)

Love Poems^p¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 8-10| J: J F Egan| T: Dr J D Scargill| OR: 62| C

5/1

Winner here in October. 9/4 and cheekpieces on for 1st time, creditable second of 7 in handicap at this course (14f) 15 days ago, needing stronger gallop. Remains of interest.

Form: 3313-22

Forecasts

Merlin's Beard (3/1), Prince Abu (10/3), Man Of Riddles (5/1), Love Poems (5/1), Reverend Hubert (13/2), Orin Swift (8/1), Second Kingdom (16/1)

A competitive race for the grade. MERLIN'S BEARD progressed in leaps and bounds last season, and although he has a much higher mark to contend with, it's possible he could still be ahead of the assessor. Orin Swift ran well at Southwell in February and is well respected from the same mark, as is hat-trick seeker Man of Riddles.