20:15 Chelmsford City

Thursday 5 April 2018

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

totepool Bets At totesport.com Handicap

Off time: 20:15 | Winning time: 1m 11.41s

(2)

Related^b¹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 9-7| J: L Morris| T: P T Midgley| OR: 85| D

7/2

Three-time winner last year all over 6f he probably saved his best form until last when taking an AW handicap over this trip off a 2lb lower mark. Couldn't quite match that high back from a break under a positive ride on the AW; should go well.

Form: 07451-3

(9)

Mont Kiara¹²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: T Eaves| T: K A Ryan| OR: 85| D

14/1

Took advantage of a drop in the handicap to score at Newmarket (6f, good) although he's not always been one to trust (ran well in his two subsequent outings). Last seen running poorly on the AW and both synthetic surface outings have been below-par.

Form: 001420-

(3)

Upavon³⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 9-7| J: M Harley| T: A W Carroll| OR: 85| CD

8/1

Scored on his debut for this yard (without usual headgear) continuing a good run of form he had shown of late. Twice a winner over C&D (once off a higher mark) he can be very quirky and this will be the highest mark he's run off for a while.

Form: 83-8321

(10)

Dark Side Dream^p¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-5| J: S De Sousa| T: C A Dwyer| OR: 83| C| D

7/2

Consistent sort who appreciated the return to 6f when winning off 6lb lower in October. Three runs since have seen him edge up the handicap without winning (bumped into an unexposed sort last time); reliable and should run well in this grade.

Form: 3515-22

(1)

Merhoob¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-5| J: Ryan Powell| T: J Ryan| OR: 83| CD

5/1

An AW winner in 2016 over 7f, he returned from an 18-month break feasibly treated and showed that all his old ability remains over 6f recently. Travelled well and finished with running left (not knocked about); interesting if he can build on that.

Form: 01244/7

(7)

Ninjago¹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 9-1| J: Oisin Murphy| T: P T Midgley| OR: 79| D

12/1

Ended a losing run of 30 starts last summer at Newmarket having slipped in the weights and managed to maintain that form in his next two runs. Not at his best last time when returning from a four month break; has work to do here.

Form: 51337-6

(4)

Summerghand¹⁶³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: D Tudhope| T: D O'Meara| OR: 78| BF| CD

7/2

Twice a scorer last year (one over C&D), he always left the impression that there was a bigger performance in him. Ended his season on a rare below-par note (paid for hectic schedule) and may be able to bounce back off a break.

Form: 712527-

(5)

Meshardal¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 8-10| J: Connor Murtagh⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs R Carr| OR: 74| D

16/1

Converted a busy 15 run season into four wins last year and returned without his usual headgear on the Tapeta, looking as though he needed the run after six months off. Makes Polytrack debut without his cheekpieces worn for all his wins.

Form: 17888-7

(8)

Major Valentine¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 8-10| J: R Havlin| T: J G M O'Shea| OR: 74| D

22/1

Five wins last year showed him in a good light and he ran with consistency throughout the year, although most of his form came in slightly easier races. Failed to cope with this grade last time and that may be the same story again.

Form: 230-328

Non-Runners

(6)

Nautical Haven²⁶

Weight: 9-5| Age: 4

T: J & S Best J: R Winston

Forecasts

Summerghand (7/2), Dark Side Dream (7/2), Related (7/2), Merhoob (5/1), Upavon (8/1), Ninjago (12/1), Mont Kiara (14/1), Nautical Haven (14/1), Meshardal (16/1), Major Valentine (22/1)

Needless to say that this is a competitive sprint and joint top weight Related is one who can be given a good chance having run well back from a break last time. DARK SIDE DREAM deserves to win something like this and with De Sousa back on board, he looks the one to side with. Upavon is a quirky sort but he has twice won around here and is in good form at the moment although his mark is creeping upwards again and he’ll have to cope with that. Merhoob caught the eye last time out on his return from a long break and he’s of interest if he can repeat that run while Summerghand looks the type to keep on improving.