17:55 Chelmsford City

Thursday 15 February 2018

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

Bet placepot At totesport.com Amateur Riders' Handicap

Off time: 17:58 | Winning time: 1m 39.46s

(8)

Paddy A^v1⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Mr Simon Walker| T: Ian Williams| OR: 65| CD

2/1

Three disappointing runs for current stable preceded a much better effort at Newcastle last time. Has dropped to a career low mark, is a C&D winner and a visor is fitted for the first time. Leading amateur on board, too.

Form: 68000-4

(6)

Arlecchino's Leap¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Ellie Mackenzie⁽⁵⁾| T: M D I Usher| OR: 63

6/1

Last of five career wins came in August, 2016. Recent efforts have been ordinary, but a falling handicap mark should help as he takes a step up in distance.

Form: 000-576

(2)

Tagur^p¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 10-11| J: Miss H T Lees⁽⁵⁾| T: K A Ryan| OR: 62

9/2

Had been knocking on the door before a below-par display at Southwell last time. Cheekpieces replace a visor as connections try to find a little extra.

Form: 494-239

(1)

Venutius⁵⁹

Age: 11| Weight: 10-11| J: Kai Lenihan⁽⁷⁾| T: C Hills| OR: 62| D

14/1

Veteran performer who has shown little in five starts for this stable. Down another 5lb, but hard to make a case for after a heavy defeat last time.

Form: 1/55000-

(4)

German Whip⁴⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-9| J: Miss Becky Butler⁽⁷⁾| T: G & J Moore| OR: 60| CD

8/1

Two wins from eight starts on the AW, including over C&D, admittedly back in September, 2016. Last of nine over 7f at Lingfield last time and needs to stage a revival.

Form: 0/57879-

(5)

Maraakib^p¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: Miss Serena Brotherton| T: Alexandra Dunn| OR: 60

5/1

First run since leaving David O.Meara's stable for current yard saw him run respectably at Southwell after blowing the start.Dropped 1lb since then and enters calculations given positive jockey booking.

Form: 4265-44

(7)

Robert The Painter^v²²

Age: 10| Weight: 10-7| J: Miss M E Spencer⁽⁷⁾| T: D Steele| OR: 58| D

14/1

Returns to England for a new trainer after a spell in Ireland. Not much encouragement to be gleaned in his three recent outings and looks to be on the way down.

Form: 384/00-0

(3)

Ted's Brother^v⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 10-5| J: Miss A Peck⁽⁵⁾| T: Laura Morgan| OR: 56| C| D

10/1

Another who has reached the veteran stage, but he showed the fire still burns when winning at this track over 1m2f in Decemeber. Has to cope with a 7lb higher mark and shorter trip.

Form: 013-259

Result Amended

Tagur - Original Position 2nd. Amended Position 1st.

Ted's Brother - Original Position 1st. Amended Position 2nd.

Forecasts

Paddy A (2/1), Tagur (9/2), Maraakib (5/1), Arlecchino's Leap (6/1), German Whip (8/1), Ted's Brother (10/1), Venutius (14/1), Robert The Painter (14/1)

Venutius, Robert The Painter and Ted's Brother have reached the back end of their racing careers and only the latter has viable claims even at this low level. Tagur should be in the mix if bouncing back from a moderate display last time and Maraakib has prospects under off his viable handicap mark, but everything looks in place for PADDY A to return to winning ways. His latest run suggested he was coming to the boil, the fitting of a visor may help and he can race off a career-low rating with a top amateur on board.