19:30 Chelmsford City

Thursday 7 December 2017

All17:2517:5518:3019:0019:3020:0020:3021:00

Bet totetrifecta At betfred.com Handicap

Off time: 19:30 | Winning time: 1m 39.59s

(1)

Wicker³⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: M Harley| T: Jane Chapple-Hyam| OR: 72

5/1

Improving steadily, and did well after five months off the track when a keeping on 2L second to Spirit Of Belle at Kempton last month (7f). An extra furlong should suit, but has risen 2lb in the weights. Non runner at Newcastle (Weds).

Form: 7732

(7)

Fire Diamond^p²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: R Kingscote| T: Tom Dascombe| OR: 71

7/2

Arrives seeking the hat-trick after a pair of Wolverhampton successes over the course of the last six weeks. Raised a further 5lb since beating Luang Prabang by 1½L, and no reason to believe he'll be any less effective at this track.

Form: 000811

(6)

Glenn Coco³¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: Aaron Jones⁽³⁾| T: S C Williams| OR: 70| BF

11/4

Lightly raced overall, but firmly on the up, and was a winner over 7f at Wolverhampton on his penultimate start (handicap debut), beating Showdance Kid by ½L. Implied he'll stay this trip when narrowly beaten at Kempton latest. Up a further 2lb.

Form: 33412

(8)

Out Of The Ashes^t¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: E J Walsh⁽³⁾| T: M Moubarak| OR: 68| C

14/1

Effective at this track over 7f, but had been absent since mid June prior to posting a very tame return last month (tailed off). Well-being and fitness to prove, let alone stamina, so easily ignored.

Form: 566720

(2)

Ready^p³⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 9-5| J: Danny Brock| T: M Pattinson| OR: 68| D

33/1

Effective on the AW, and a winner over 1m2f for Ivan Furtado at Newcastle in November 2016. However, dismal for various trainers throughout 2017, and doesn't appear ready for anything at present.

Form: 686900

(4)

Pass The Cristal⁶²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: D C Costello| T: W R Muir| OR: 67| CD

7/1

Recorded back-to-back victories at Brighton (7f) and Beverley (7½f) in the spring, and was a winner over C&D in early October beating African Blessing by ½L. Up 6lb, but fresh from a short break, and could follow up.

Form: 548341

(5)

Samphire Coast^v¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: P Mathers| T: D Shaw| OR: 63| CD

10/1

Holding his form well, but equally the handicapper about has his measure. Beaten fairly comprehensively by Lucymai over 7f here last month, so needs to find a little more over this longer trip from a 1lb higher mark.

Form: 774432

(3)

Broughtons Knight⁵⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: J Mitchell| T: J R Boyle| OR: 63| D

4/1

Sold for 14,000 gns last month after winning his final start for Henry Spiller at Kempton in mid October (1m). 4lb higher on stable debut, but stays further and has proved his worth at this track.

Form: 654351

Forecasts

Glenn Coco (11/4), Fire Diamond (7/2), Broughtons Knight (4/1), Wicker (5/1), Pass The Cristal (7/1), Samphire Coast (10/1), Out Of The Ashes (14/1), Ready (33/1)

A number of these runners are last time out winners, including the hat-trick seeking Fire Diamond, the October C&D scorer Pass The Cristal, and the stable switcher Broughtons Knight. Of that trio, Pass The Cristal is preferred on his return from a short break. Wicker appears to be improving steadily, and comes here in preference to an engagement at Newcastle on Wednesday, so that should be noted as interesting, but the vote goes to the lightly raced GLENN COCO. He is a recent Wolverhampton winner himself, and appeared in need of a step up in trip when beaten narrowly by Dourado at Kempton early last month, and should have more to offer from just a 2lb higher mark.