18:30 Chelmsford City

Saturday 11 March 2023

All17:2518:0018:3019:0019:3020:0020:30

Betsi Handicap

Off time: 18:33 | Winning time: 1m 24.01s

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Selected odds by:

(9)

Mums Tipple³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-9| J: Alec Voikhansky⁽⁷⁾| T: R Hannon| OR: 102| D

10/1

Latest win at Wolverhampton in December. 9/1, proved a bit of a let-down when 7½ lengths last of 6 to Manaafith in listed race at Lingfield (8f, AW) 5 weeks ago. Better showing anticipated back at 7f.

Form: 22351-6

(8)

Lord Of The Lodge¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-9| J: Pierre-Louis Jamin⁽³⁾| T: K R Burke| OR: 102| D

4/1

Latest win at Southwell in January. Not in same form when seventh of 8 in handicap (8/1) at Lingfield (8f, AW) 2 weeks ago. Not taken lightly back down in distance.

Form: 03-4137

(1)

Tiger Crusade²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-4| J: Callum Shepherd| T: D M Simcock| OR: 97| D

6/4

Six wins from 22 Flat runs, at least as good as ever when also winning 7-runner handicap (18/5) at Lingfield (7f, AW) 3 weeks ago, staying on to lead close home. Leading claims once again.

Form: 440-131

(2)

Above^t¹⁹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 9-1| J: Marco Ghiani| T: S C Williams| OR: 94| C| D

12/1

Course winner. Ran poorly when eighth of 9 in handicap at this C&D (9/1) 6 months ago. Will need to hit the ground running.

Form: 204028-

(3)

Amber Island²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 8-10| J: Laura Pearson⁽³⁾| T: D Loughnane| OR: 89| CD

22/1

C&D winner. Last of 4 in minor event at Lingfield (7f, AW, 10/3) 3 weeks ago. Back in handicap company here and not without each-way claims.

Form: 1983-74

(5)

On A Session¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 8-9| J: B A Curtis| T: T D Barron| OR: 88| D

9/2

28/1, not seen to best effect when sixth of 11 in handicap at Southwell (7.1f) 16 days ago, ideally needing stronger gallop. Down to a career-low mark and fancied to go very close with pace assured.

Form: 2579-96

(10)

Golden Spice¹⁵⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 8-8| J: L Morris| T: G G Margarson| OR: 87| D

18/1

80/1, stiff task when 9¼ lengths thirteenth of 14 to Azure Blue in listed race at Newmarket (6f, good) when last seen 5 months ago, ridden too aggressively. May need this outing so others make more appeal.

Form: 110720-

(7)

Sir Oliver¹¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 8-8| J: Stefano Cherchi| T: C A Dwyer| OR: 87| CD

16/1

C&D winner. 11/1, run best excused when seventh of 8 in handicap at Wolverhampton (7.2f) 4 months ago, doing too much too soon. Will need to settle much better if he's to have a say on return.

Form: 813747-

(6)

River Pride²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-8| J: David Probert| T: G Boughey| OR: 87| CD

16/1

C&D winner. Ran as well as could've been expected when third of 4 in minor event (5/1) at Lingfield (7f, AW) 3 weeks ago, having run of race. Each-way player back in handicap company.

Form: 785-353

(4)

Power of Darkness²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 8-7| J: Cam Hardie| T: C Fellowes| OR: 86| D

28/1

17/2, looked rusty after 6 months off on first run since leaving Marcus Tregoning when 5 lengths fifth of 7 to Tiger Crusade in handicap at Lingfield (7f, AW) 3 weeks ago, very slowly away. Others more persuasive.

Form: 50/309-5

Forecasts

Tiger Crusade (6/4), Lord Of The Lodge (4/1), On A Session (9/2), Mums Tipple (10/1), Above (12/1), Sir Oliver (16/1), River Pride (16/1), Golden Spice (18/1), Amber Island (22/1), Power of Darkness (28/1)

There was enough in ON A SESSION's sixth at Southwell last month to suggest he's about as good as he was last year, so having dropped to a career-low mark and with a decent pace to aim at almost guaranteed, he gets the nod for David & Nicola Barron. Tiger Crusade won for the second time this year at Lingfield 3 weeks ago and he may emerge as the main danger, ahead of Lord of The Lodge and Mums Tipple, in a fascinating feature contest.