20:00 Chelmsford City

Thursday 30 January 2025

All17:3018:0018:3019:0019:3020:0020:30

bet365 Handicap (GBBPlus Race)

Off time: 20:02 | Winning time: 2m 4.39s

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(2)

Samra Star^h²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: Rossa Ryan| T: R Hughes| OR: 81

5/1

Much improved from debut when landing 11-runner Wolverhampton novice (9.5f) in August. Not disgraced in pair of handicaps more recently, fitted with a hood when third of 5 back at that venue (8.6f) 24 days ago. Remains early days now stepping back up in trip.

Form: 4176-3

(4)

Urban Sprawl^p¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-11| J: Archie Young⁽⁵⁾| T: C Johnston| OR: 79

9/4

Latest win at Pontefract (1m, heavy) in October. 7/1, creditable fourth of 12 in handicap at Lingfield (8f, AW) 12 days ago. Yet to finish out of the frame in 4 previous visits here and he's respected back up in trip.

Form: 215-434

(6)

Arcadian Nights⁴¹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-11| J: David Probert| T: D M Loughnane| OR: 79| D

11/2

Resumed winning ways from a 1 lb higher mark at Wolverhampton (9.5f) this time last year and comes here having not been disgraced when fifth of 10 over that track/trip 6 weeks ago without being seen to best effect. Not out of things.

Form: 509725-

(7)

Dayzee¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: K T O'Neill| T: P Attwater| OR: 78| D

11/1

Unreliable sort (has refused to race). Ninth of 12 in handicap (40/1) at Lingfield (10f, AW) 12 days ago, albeit not seen to best effect having been short of room home turn. Still, she's not one to be making too many excuses for as a rule.

Form: 30R94-9

(8)

Running The Game^t¹⁹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: T P Queally| T: G & J Moore| OR: 72WS

50/1

AW novice winner at Kempton (11f) 12 months ago. Shaped better than form figures suggest on occasions since but absent since finishing a distant last of 11 in handicap at Epsom (12f) 6 months ago. The betting can guide on this return following wind surgery.

Form: 7/14870-

(5)

Forca Timao^h,t²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: T E Whelan| T: M Pattinson| OR: 70

80/1

Winless since 2022 and yet to make an impact for present stable, equipped with a hood/tongue tie when last of 6 in handicap at Lingfield (8f, AW, 80/1) 21 days ago. Back up in trip here and he has it to prove.

Form: 66879-6

(9)

Aiming High^h¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: Hayley Turner| T: D M Simcock| OR: 70| D

18/1

Comes here operating 2 lb below last winning mark and not seen to best effect when fifth of 7 in handicap (7/2) at Southwell (11.1f) 16 days ago, needing stronger gallop. Would be a danger to all if getting a good pace to aim at.

Form: 30465-5

(3)

Palazzo Persico^v¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: L Morris| T: E A L Dunlop| OR: 68| CD

9/1

Doubled his tally over this C&D in a first-time visor in December. Latest fourth of 11 in handicap at Southwell (11.1f) suggests the assessor has him about right at present but the return to this shorter trip is likely in his favour.

Form: 94816-4

(1)

Rainwater⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: Warren Fentiman⁽⁷⁾| T: R A Fahey| OR: 66

3/1

Winner at Wolverhampton (9.5f) in November. Good second of 9 in handicap at Newcastle (10.2f, 9/1) 9 days ago, clear of rest. This is a higher grade than he usually contests but he's evidently in good heart and could well be the answer.

Form: 51423-2

Forecasts

Urban Sprawl (9/4), Rainwater (3/1), Samra Star (5/1), Arcadian Nights (11/2), Palazzo Persico (9/1), Dayzee (11/1), Aiming High (18/1), Running The Game (50/1), Forca Timao (80/1)

RAINWATER has been acquitting himself with plenty of credit in recent months and with his rider taking off a handy 7 lb, he could be worth siding with, admittedly in a higher grade than he usually contests. Urban Sprawl has yet to finish out of the frame around here and lines up in good order, so heads the dangers. Aiming High and Samra Star are others in the mix.