18:45 Chelmsford City

Thursday 14 December 2017

All17:4518:1518:4519:1519:4520:1520:45

Bet totequadpot At betfred.com Handicap

Off time: 18:47 | Winning time: 1m 26.82s

(11)

Sharp Operator¹⁴⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: L Morris| T: C Wallis| OR: 52

12/1

Yet to get within 10L of a winner (all starts over further), and now off since July. Makes his first start for this trainer in his first race of less than 1m.

Form: 678-409

(14)

Hidden Stash^p¹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: Hollie Doyle| T: W Stone| OR: 51| D

7/1

Recorded a first AW victory at Lingfield last month when making all. Will find more competition for the lead here, however, and the same rider has now ridden out her claim.

Form: 5475U1

(9)

Gift From God^t⁵⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Aled Beech⁽⁷⁾| T: Hugo Froud| OR: 50

25/1

Yet to place in ten starts including over hurdles, and difficult to see him figuring now returning to the level for the first time since last November.

Form: 308880-

(13)

Royal Rettie^h¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: Danny Brock| T: P Butler| OR: 50

33/1

Remains a maiden after 17 races; has gone close in the past over a variety of trips, but hasn't looked at her best for this yard.

Form: 38-8780

(10)

Tasaaboq^t¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 9-6| J: Josephine Gordon| T: P S McEntee| OR: 49

4/1

Best recent form has come at Southwell, but last two wins came off a similar mark to this and can't be ruled out in a weak contest.

Form: 526466

(8)

Black Truffle^v¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-4| J: Nicola Currie⁽⁷⁾| T: M D I Usher| OR: 47| D

4/1

Only narrowly denied over C&D last time out and races off the same mark here. More exposed than most of these but has won better races than this in the past.

Form: 448433

(5)

Encapsulated²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 9-4| J: Rhiain Ingram⁽⁵⁾| T: R Ingram| OR: 47| C

9/1

Dual course winner, but all victories have come over shorter and he has looked regressive since his most recent win earlier in the year.

Form: 609700

(12)

Lutine Charlie^p,h⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 9-2| J: M Dwyer| T: Emma Owen| OR: 45| D

14/1

Not at his best in a deeper race at Chelmsford last time but only just behind Cookie Ring at Kempton two starts ago. Not without a hope on that form.

Form: 429340

(6)

Harvest Ranger⁵³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: K Shoemark| T: M Appleby| OR: 45

10/1

Couldn't build on a fairly promising handicap debut when well-beaten at Southwell last time, but that possibly stretched his stamina and he can do better dropped back down to 7f.

Form: 000-45

(1)

Luduamf¹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Rossa Ryan⁽⁷⁾| T: R Hannon| OR: 45

9/2

Ran better than his form figure suggests over C&D last time out and a 4lb drop down the weights is generous. Possibly better on turf but still holds place claims from the inside draw.

Form: 635290

(4)

Captain Scooby^b⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 9-2| J: F Norton| T: R C Guest| OR: 45| C

11/1

Veteran performer who has won 18 times in the past but is probably better both over shorter and on turf; others hold more convincing claims.

Form: 706595

(2)

Sweet Piccolo⁵³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 9-2| J: Callum Shepherd⁽³⁾| T: P Butler| OR: 45

66/1

Maiden who has beaten four rivals home in his last six races. Looks set for another minor role stepping slightly back up in trip.

Form: 09990/0-

Non-Runners

(15)

Simply Clever⁴⁴

Weight: 9-7| Age: 4

T: D H Brown J: Non Runner

(7)

Cookie Ring¹

Weight: 9-5| Age: 6

T: Kristin Stubbs J: Faye McManoman

(3)

Boketto⁶

Weight: 9-5| Age: 3

T: D Shaw J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Cookie Ring (11/4), Black Truffle (4/1), Tasaaboq (4/1), Luduamf (9/2), Hidden Stash (7/1), Boketto (8/1), Encapsulated (9/1), Harvest Ranger (10/1), Captain Scooby (11/1), Sharp Operator (12/1), Lutine Charlie (14/1), Simply Clever (20/1), Gift From God (25/1), Royal Rettie (33/1), Sweet Piccolo (66/1)

A weak race as should be expected from the level of competition, but perhaps COOKIE RING can continue his recent good run. He won over 1m at Kempton last month and having been raised just 2lb and being likely to improve for the step up in trip, he can complete a double provided he turns up here after being declared at Wolverhampton yesterday. Black Truffle needs respecting having been only narrowly beaten over C&D last time, while Hidden Stash won't have everything his own way this time but also arrives here in good form.