18:30 Chelmsford City

Thursday 22 February 2018

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

toteexacta Pick The 1st And 2nd Handicap

Off time: 18:30 | Winning time: 1m 26.65s

(4)

Freebe Rocks^v²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-11| J: A Kirby| T: M L W Bell| OR: 67

2/1

Has been running very well on the AW recently. Drop in trip here perhaps a mild concern when coupled with a rise in the weights, but the jockey who retains the ride tends to do well in this sphere.

Form: 045-321

(8)

Greeneyedafghan^p1¹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-11| J: Rowan Scott⁽³⁾| T: W R Muir| OR: 67

12/1

Novice winner on debut but regressed in that sphere and last of all on handicap debut latest. Revival already needed on only the fifth start of his career. Cheek pieces on.

Form: 165-8

(3)

Vodka Pigeon⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-10| J: L P Keniry| T: A West| OR: 66

7/1

Two most recent efforts have been a step in the right direction and she's been dropped another couple of pounds by the handicapper. Worth another attempt at this trip and has an appealing draw.

Form: 2383-73

(1)

Kachumba⁵³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-10| J: Sebastian Woods⁽⁷⁾| T: Rae Guest| OR: 66

8/1

Only really caught the eye in one of her three novice races and makes his handicap debut here. One to watch but not necessarily get involved with off this opening mark.

Form: 736-

(6)

The Night King³³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: Fran Berry| T: M Quinn| OR: 63| C

7/2

Drops in trip having won at this course over 1m last time out on his first run for this stable. 3lb rise manageable but may lack the tactical pace for this distance.

Form: 7580-51

(7)

Mabo¹²⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: P Mathers| T: R A Fahey| OR: 60

12/1

Yet to really make his mark on a race, and steps up to this trip for the first time. Especially poor last time out and needs to move past that effort.

Form: 977730-

(10)

Little Aub⁴³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Daniel Muscutt| T: M D I Usher| OR: 58

16/1

Never a factor in three novice races, including over C&D. Likely to find this mark too steep on handicapping debut.

Form: 96-6

(9)

Olive Mabel³³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: Jack Duern⁽³⁾| T: D K Ivory| OR: 53

14/1

Slightly better on handicap debut last time over 1m at this course, but still has something to find with the best of these.

Form: 668-9

(5)

Darkest Light³⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: J Fanning| T: J A Osborne| OR: 52WS

10/1

Down the field in three novice events, all on the AW, and tough to fancy off the back of those efforts despite having been given a wind op since.

Form: 9-76

(2)

Rusty Blade¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-7| J: Edward Greatrex| T: D M Loughnane| OR: 49

20/1

Could be the type to progress relatively slowly, but didn't look as if he was crying out for further over 6f at Wolverhampton last time out.

Form: 769-46

Forecasts

Freebe Rocks (2/1), The Night King (7/2), Vodka Pigeon (7/1), Kachumba (8/1), Darkest Light (10/1), Mabo (12/1), Greeneyedafghan (12/1), Olive Mabel (14/1), Little Aub (16/1), Rusty Blade (20/1)

Freebe Rocks and The Night King both bring last time out winning form to the table, but they're not sure to be suited by this step down in trip especially as there may not be all that much pace on, and preference is for VODKA PIGEON. Having put in two fairly good efforts in handicaps recently she's moved down the weights again and could find this the right opportunity to get off the mark, at the seventh time of asking.