17:00 Chelmsford City

Tuesday 14 August 2018

All14:0014:3015:0015:3016:0016:3017:00

Hacienda Classical Here 1st September Handicap

Off time: 17:01 | Winning time: 2m 59.17s

(9)

Ochos Rios¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-0| J: A Kirby| T: P D Evans| OR: 60| D

8/1

Can be an awkward ride and latest win came in Guernsey in May. In decent form with a good run at Newbury and then just unsuited by two miles last start. Should be competitive again but is hard to win with.

Form: 712924

(8)

Ginger Lady³⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: Louis Steward| T: M H Tompkins| OR: 57

10/1

Has improved nicely in two starts since going handicapping and stepping up in trip. Ran on well from a long way back off a slow pace on first try over this distance and looks to have plenty more to come.

Form: 649-42

(2)

Alexanderthegreat^p⁷^{(ex 6)}

Age: 3| Weight: 9-11| J: R L Moore| T: W J Haggas| OR: 62

1/4

Impressive winner of his last two and should have more to offer over this extra distance. 3lb well in running under this penalty and it may take some time for the handicapper to catch up with him. Looks the one to beat.

Form: 009411

(1)

Diana Lady¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-8| J: Noel Garbutt⁽³⁾| T: L McJannet| OR: 54| CD

25/1

Has run poorly off revised mark in two runs since C&D success. Down 2lb but plenty to find with Ginger Lady from two starts back.

Form: 57-4187

(6)

Masters Apprentice⁵⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Gary Mahon⁽⁵⁾| T: S Kirk| OR: 62

6/1

Showed much improved form and posted a career best from eight runs when first past the post at Brighton before being demoted to second. Possible there's more to come at this extra trip and has raced well here previously. One to consider.

Form: 425-89D

(5)

Epsom Day^p⁷⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: S W Kelly| T: Mrs L J Mongan| OR: 50

66/1

Well beaten in both starts since returning from a lengthy absence. Plummeting in the weights but continues to be regressive and hard to make a case for.

Form: 77/67-07

(7)

Simply Clever^p²²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: Josephine Gordon| T: D H Brown| OR: 45

50/1

Sole win came at Wetherby over a mile in 2016 and hard to know what his best trip is since being tried over a variety of distances. Well beaten on reappearance and others preferred.

Form: 543576

(10)

Lyford¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: F Norton| T: S Kirk| OR: 53

7/1

10-race maiden who only failed by the narrowest of margins over this trip at Wolverhampton. That was a career best and there should be more to come on an AW surface at this distance. Looks a leading contender.

Form: 939252

Non-Runners

(3)

Captain George¹¹³

Weight: 10-1| Age: 7

T: M Blake J: Non Runner

(4)

Seventii²

Weight: 9-10| Age: 4

T: R Eddery J: Darragh Keenan

Forecasts

Alexanderthegreat (1/4), Masters Apprentice (6/1), Lyford (7/1), Ochos Rios (8/1), Ginger Lady (10/1), Captain George (12/1), Seventii (16/1), Diana Lady (25/1), Simply Clever (50/1), Epsom Day (66/1)

There's a few on the up in the field but ALEXANDERTHEGREAT stands out on these terms as he has the profile of a horse who could end up a fair bit better than this level. With the leading rider booked for a top stable who are in great form he could take a lot of beating. Masters Apprentice had lost his maiden tag until the stewards intervened and can rectify that soon while Lyford now has his best trip identified and can progress again. Ochos Rios can be involved but isn't one to get carried away with for win only purposes while the main danger may be Ginger Lady who should get a stronger pace to aim at and has plenty more to offer over this C&D.