17:00 Chelmsford City

Saturday 11 August 2018

All13:3014:0514:4015:1515:5016:2517:00

Hacienda Classical Here 1st September Handicap

Off time: 17:02 | Winning time: 2m 5.22s

(11)

Tilsworth Lukey¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: F Norton| T: J R Jenkins| OR: 57| CD

10/1

C&D winner that arrives here in good form and ought to be on the premises if running to his best. Drawn wide but has enough time to settle and gain momentum. Needs a strong pace though.

Form: 132924

(4)

Sharp Operator^h²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: William Carson| T: C Wallis| OR: 57| BF| CD

5/2

Won over C&D in February and has maintained his form with two subsequent wins at Brighton on the turf. Ran well off this mark last week (1m) but needs everything to go right for him over a trip which appears to be his limit.

Form: 417212

(6)

Lady Of York¹²⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: Joey Haynes| T: P Howling| OR: 56

14/1

Consistent filly that makes her return for a new yard after a break since April. Weighted to reverse past form with Tilsworth Lukey but obviously needs to prove her well being after her absence. The betting can guide here.

Form: 3145-21

(3)

Midnight Mood²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: Rob Hornby| T: D J S Ffrench Davis| OR: 55| D

5/1

Mainly consistent but has never been at her best on the AW before and needs to dramatically improve on her previous form on the Polytrack if she's going to play her hand in the outcome. Others more convincing.

Form: 213022

(7)

Spring Praise⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: H Crouch| T: G & J Moore| OR: 61| CD

6/4

Comfortably justified favouritism over C&D last week and created the impression he still has more to offer. Likely to be popular in the betting once more, but his new trainer is on the crest of a wave and it may be dangerous to ignore the portents.

Form: 090-631

(8)

Almanack³⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 9-4| J: Paddy Bradley⁽⁵⁾| T: M Pattinson| OR: 52| C

25/1

Generally goes well on the AW and has a course win to his name. However, he's up in trip has a bit to prove after a faltering effort last time out.

Form: 894016

(5)

Gift From God^t¹⁹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 8-12| J: Aled Beech⁽⁷⁾| T: Hugo Froud| OR: 45

50/1

A thirteen-race maiden but has posted a couple of fair efforts at this course since joining his current yard. The rider's 7lb claim could be a valuable tool and the gelding represents fair value for an each-way punt. Risky for win only though.

Form: 880/5-04

(1)

Lulu Star³⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: Joshua Bryan⁽³⁾| T: Miss J Feilden| OR: 53

16/1

Still a maiden and jury still out on her ability to handle the surface after a couple of moderate efforts at this course. Others have fewer questions to answer.

Form: 477385

(9)

Speedy Lost Sock^p1²³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-4| J: K T O'Neill| T: S Dixon| OR: 45

40/1

Well beaten in three novice events and makes very limited appeal from out of the weights on his debut run in a handicap.

Form: 553

(10)

Madam Dragonfly⁵⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-4| J: M Dwyer| T: D K Ivory| OR: 45

14/1

Poor form in three maidens followed by a very modest effort on handicap debut hardly inspires the confidence for the filly to make this a successful day at the office. Best watched from out of the weights.

Form: 8009

(2)

Aldbury Lass²

Age: 3| Weight: 8-4| J: Darragh Keenan⁽⁷⁾| T: R Eddery| OR: 45

50/1

Being kept busy but has yet to trouble the judge this season from nine previous starts and hard to envisage the filly being good enough to play a strong part in this.

Form: 600077

Forecasts

Spring Praise (6/4), Sharp Operator (5/2), Midnight Mood (5/1), Tilsworth Lukey (10/1), Lady Of York (14/1), Madam Dragonfly (14/1), Lulu Star (16/1), Almanack (25/1), Speedy Lost Sock (40/1), Gift From God (50/1), Aldbury Lass (50/1)

The manner in which SPRING PRAISE bounded to victory on his debut for a new trainer created a very favourable impression and, given this doesn't look to be any stronger, Garry Moore's three-year-old stands out as the most appealing option in a very modest handicap. Lady Of Yorkand Tilsworth Lukey are old rivals that are capable of making this a good test. The former is the more attractively weighted and gets the nod as the biggest threat. Small investments in Sharp Operator or Gift From God also carry potential to be rewarding for each-way punters to avail themselves to a share of the spoils.