16:45 Chelmsford City

Thursday 21 June 2018

All13:4514:2014:5515:3016:0516:4517:20

Bond Street Chelmsford Handicap

Off time: 16:46 | Winning time: 3m 0.58s

(7)

Volevo Lui⁴²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: M M Monaghan⁽³⁾| T: M Botti| OR: 83| C

11/4

Denied a hat-trick at Chester last time but this looks easier, and best form to date (albeit on limited evidence) has come on the AW.

Form: 66-114

(4)

Rude Awakening^p1⁸³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: L Morris| T: Sir Mark Prescott| OR: 80

3/1

Much better form since switching to handicaps and seems to have every chance of staying this far, but 5lb rise not ideal. Cheek pieces on for the first time.

Form: 586-12

(6)

Rustang^h²³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: S W Kelly| T: R Hughes| OR: 80| C

11/1

Steps up in trip having won two of his last three starts, including at this course. Has looked like this distance shouldn't be an issue, though he's up 6lb and sometimes has a tendency to race awkwardly.

Form: 412-101

(5)

Mercer's Troop¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: Edward Greatrex| T: A Watson| OR: 79

16/1

Beaten 16L over this trip on handicap debut at Sandown last time out and can only be watched following that lackluster performance.

Form: 1340

(1)

Silver Character²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: Patrick Pilley⁽³⁾| T: Tom Dascombe| OR: 77

16/1

Not at his best at Doncaster last time when possibly struggling with a rise up the weights, so tough to fancy here off the same mark with stamina to prove as well.

Form: 4-4719

(3)

Elysees⁶^{(ex 6)}

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Fran Berry| T: A King| OR: 70| D

5/2

Carries a 6lb penalty for winning well at Sandown last time out. Switch back to the AW unlikely to be an issue and he looks set for another big performance having proven himself over this trip.

Form: 754171

(2)

Blame Me Forever^p1⁴⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: A Fresu| T: M Botti| OR: 75| C

16/1

Course winner two starts back over just shy of this trip, though she needs to bounce back from an only okay run, again here, last time. Cheek pieces on.

Form: 9-5414

(8)

Highland Sky^h¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-5| J: Hayley Turner| T: D M Simcock| OR: 67

10/1

Not disgraced in two starts in handicaps so far, both off this same mark, but those performances suggest that further improvement is needed.

Form: 06-035

Forecasts

Elysees (5/2), Volevo Lui (11/4), Rude Awakening (3/1), Highland Sky (10/1), Rustang (11/1), Silver Character (16/1), Mercer's Troop (16/1), Blame Me Forever (16/1)

It could be be that the 6lb penalty he carries here may not be enough to stop ELYSEES from doubling up. He impressed with the performance he put in at Sandown last time out, and there's every chance he can improve again over a trip which clearly suits, and is certainly the one to beat. Meanwhile Volevo Lui should be suited by this return to the AW and though Rustang has a couple of questions to answer he does arrive in good form, having won two of his last three starts.