13:55 Chelmsford City

Wednesday 31 January 2018

All13:2513:5514:2515:0015:3516:10

toteexacta Pick The 1st And 2nd Handicap

Off time: 13:57 | Winning time: 2m 8.34s

(13)

Cape Banjo^h¹⁷⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: Fran Berry| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 72| C

12/1

Just one win from 19 starts and that came in a five-runner maiden around here. Has been below that form on many of his recent starts and looks opposable on stable debut from a horror draw.

Form: 454977-

(10)

Mullarkey²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: Joey Haynes| T: J R Best| OR: 70| CD

8/1

C&D winner here in December and only given a 2lb rise for that. Not seen to best effect last time at Kempton and worth giving another chance to back around here.

Form: 75731-7

(9)

Native Soldier^p²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: Daniel Muscutt| T: J L Flint| OR: 70

33/1

Won his maiden at Newcastle and got his head back in front at Newbury last summer on final start William Haggas. Unplaced on five starts for this yard though and hard to fancy in current form.

Form: 14000-8

(4)

Topamichi^v1²²

Age: 8| Weight: 9-5| J: Oisin Murphy| T: M Appleby| OR: 68| CD

14/1

C&D winner back in 2015 but just one win since, landing an apprentice handicap at Nottingham last year. Well-handicapped on old form and a return to this surface should suit. Interesting jockey booking and capable of going well in first-time visor.

Form: 63123-5

(12)

Buckland Beau^p1¹⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 9-4| J: S Donohoe| T: C Fellowes| OR: 67| CD

11/4

Previous C&D winner who was only beaten a head over C&D last week. Losing run mounting up and draw far from ideal but after signs of a return to form last time, he looks very well-handicapped. Wears first-time cheekpieces.

Form: 6805-52

(8)

Squire^t²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-4| J: R Havlin| T: M J Attwater| OR: 67| C| D

25/1

His one win in 17 AW starts came here over a mile but largely out of form since that success. His second at Lingfield in December has been franked since but he couldn't back that up at Kempton last time and others have more convincing profiles.

Form: 49602-0

(14)

Unit of Assessment^t,v²³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: A Kirby| T: W J Knight| OR: 68

4/1

Has improved for the switch to AW and got off the mark at the 12th attempt at Wolverhampton last time. Form of that race has been franked with third and fourth winning since and a 3lb rise looks manageable on that basis; poorly drawn though.

Form: 34832-1

(5)

Captain Pugwash¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: L P Keniry| T: H Spiller| OR: 66| C

7/1

Course winner in December and only just touched off in follow-up bid at Lingfield. Drawn too wide to do himself justice at Kempton last time and can resume progress here providing he can see out this trip.

Form: 86012-5

(3)

Oceanus⁵⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: Shelley Birkett⁽³⁾| T: Miss J Feilden| OR: 64| D

10/1

Has won just once in 17 starts, that success in an apprentice selling handicap at Brighton last year. Fair placed effort over hurdles last time but looks opposable returned to this sphere and has only beaten one rival home in three AW starts.

Form: 521036-

(6)

Raven Banner⁴⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 8-13| J: Charlie Bennett⁽³⁾| T: I Furtado| OR: 62| D

25/1

Won twice for David Loughnane but tailed off in two starts for previous yard and she has a fair bit to prove on debut for this stable. Unplaced on all five AW starts.

Form: 1664/00-

(7)

Zoffany Bay^p³²

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: K T O'Neill| T: G Peckham| OR: 62| CD

12/1

Sole win came over C&D in December but form of that race has not worked out and he's finished unplaced on all 12 of his other starts. Hard to fancy.

Form: 055158-

(11)

My Fantasea¹¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 8-10| J: George Downing| T: Ian Williams| OR: 59

14/1

Maiden winner for John Oxx at Dundalk but has finished unplaced since switching yard on nine starts since. Minor signs of encouragement last time but wide draw not ideal and hard to fancy unless market suggests otherwise.

Form: 8/70407-

(1)

Ember's Glow^h¹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 8-8| J: Danny Brock| T: P S McEntee| OR: 58

25/1

Minor promise in a couple of his runs for previous yard on turf but has shown nothing in two AW starts for this yard and seemingly best watched at present.

Form: 2634-96

(2)

Crindle Carr¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 8-7| J: L Morris| T: J L Flint| OR: 57

14/1

Still a maiden after nine starts (seven Flat) and never a threat when fourth of 11 at Kempton last time. Jockey booking and draw are positives but hard to fancy on his bare form.

Form: 2432-64

Forecasts

Buckland Beau (11/4), Unit of Assessment (4/1), Captain Pugwash (7/1), Mullarkey (8/1), Oceanus (10/1), Zoffany Bay (12/1), Cape Banjo (12/1), Topamichi (14/1), My Fantasea (14/1), Crindle Carr (14/1), Squire (25/1), Raven Banner (25/1), Ember's Glow (25/1), Native Soldier (33/1)

If he's capable of seeing out this longer trip, CAPTAIN PUGWASH could be the one to side with. He wasn't seen to best effect last time out and provided he has the stamina for this, he's likely to be thereabouts. Topamichi could improve for the first-time headgear and has course and distance form to his name; he could prove to be the main danger to the selection. Buckland Beau and Unit Of Assessment have both been dealt a blow with their wide draws but the former is another C&D winner getting first-time headgear and can't be ruled out from a workable mark.