19:15 Chelmsford City

Thursday 28 September 2017

All17:4518:1518:4519:1519:4520:1520:4521:15

Bet toteexacta At betfred.com Handicap

Off time: 19:18 | Winning time: 58.5s

(11)

Diamond Lady³³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: Hollie Doyle⁽³⁾| T: W Stone| OR: 85| D

8/1

Two wins from nine starts this year, both over 6f, and ran a blinder to go down short head over 6f at Newmarket last month. Less effective over this minimum trip though and done no favours by stall 11.

Form: 175282

(6)

Majestic Hero²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: Fran Berry| T: R Harris| OR: 84| D

20/1

All five of his career wins have come over the minimum trip but his current form is a little below par, finishing last of 10 at Sandown latest. Feasibly-treated if putting his best foot forward, though unproven on the AW.

Form: 037530

(12)

Normal Equilibrium⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 9-5| J: S Donohoe| T: I Furtado| OR: 83| CD

20/1

Won off a much higher mark than this over C&D two years ago and has been in good form of late, winning twice at Chester during the summer. Less in impressive on heavy ground in France latest but more in favour here.

Form: 731819

(10)

Oh So Sassy³³

Age: 7| Weight: 9-5| J: Ted Durcan| T: C F Wall| OR: 83| D

10/1

Mare has a fine strike-rate on the AW of four wins from eight attempts, though not on this track. Has been campaigned exclusively on turf this year without success but dangerous to dismiss back on polytrack.

Form: 358658

(7)

Monumental Man^p¹³

Age: 8| Weight: 9-4| J: Paddy Bradley⁽⁵⁾| T: M J Attwater| OR: 82| CD

12/1

Wins his fair share and has dropped to a fair mark on the evidence of two recent second-place efforts at Brighton and Windsor. A shade below par at Sandown last time but won when last seen on the AW in March.

Form: 038225

(4)

Alsvinder²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: D Tudhope| T: D O'Meara| OR: 81| D

5/2

Lightly-raced sort, looked to have taken a step forward with close second over C&D in July (2lb lower mark) but way below that form on turf since. Hopes pinned on a return to the polytrack reinvigorating him.

Form: 7-72948

(5)

Merry Banter²⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: P J Dobbs| T: P T Midgley| OR: 80| D

8/1

Never competitive from a poor draw at Chester last time and without a win for over a year but has shown enough at times this year to suggest her current mark is workable. Still largely unproven on the AW, however.

Form: 282850

(1)

Royal Mezyan³³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-1| J: Jack Osborn⁽⁷⁾| T: H Spiller| OR: 79| D

10/1

Twice a winner on the AW last autumn from lower marks but inconsistent in a light campaign on turf this year, though shaped better than the bare result suggests at Chester last time. No forlorn hope if putting best foot forward.

Form: 13-7266

(2)

Rock Of America⁶⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: M Harley| T: D O'Meara| OR: 78| D

4/1

Won on the AW at Newcastle first time out in March but hasn't quite managed to follow up, including in nurseries, despite being quietly-fancied each time. Gelded since his last run in July, so improvement could be forthcoming.

Form: 124544

(9)

Desert Sport⁹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: L Morris| T: R M H Cowell| OR: 77| D

20/1

Ended his two-year-old career with a Newcastle maiden win and beat a couple of rivals to land a Bath handicap (5f, firm) in May but struggled in a tougher race at Redcar next time. First start since June.

Form: 521-416

(8)

Fast Act¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 8-11| J: K Stott| T: K A Ryan| OR: 75| CD

8/1

C&D winner who has shown nothing like his form from last back-end in five starts in 2017, finishing stone last at Doncaster earlier this month. Clear question marks against him right now.

Form: 1-06680

Non-Runners

(3)

Bashiba⁴⁰

Weight: 9-6| Age: 6

T: N Tinkler J: S De Sousa

Forecasts

Alsvinder (5/2), Rock Of America (4/1), Bashiba (9/2), Diamond Lady (8/1), Fast Act (8/1), Merry Banter (8/1), Royal Mezyan (10/1), Oh So Sassy (10/1), Monumental Man (12/1), Majestic Hero (20/1), Normal Equilibrium (20/1), Desert Sport (20/1)

An open race but there is a lot to like about chances of multiple winner BASHIBA as he drops down class to make a belated AW debut with Silvestre De Sousa an eyecatching booking. Well-drawn and hailing from a yard in red-hot form, he was badly drawn when disappointing at Doncaster last time but had previously produced a near career-best effort to finish a close third in a decent handicap at York. Normal Equilibrium, Merry Banter and Royal Mezyan may prove most troublesome.