20:45 Chelmsford City

Thursday 11 October 2018

All17:1017:4518:1518:4519:1519:4520:1520:45

Book Your Christmas Party Here Handicap

Off time: 20:47 | Winning time: 3m 28.40s

(5)

Final Choice^b1⁵⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-2| J: Toby Eley⁽⁷⁾| T: A West| OR: 67| CD

9/1

Won off 7lb lower over this C&D and a bit below that when upped in grade here on last start for Warren Greatrex. Likely to be involved back in class on stable debut.

Form: 21/2615

(8)

Cool Macavity¹²

Age: 10| Weight: 10-0| J: R Havlin| T: Alexandra Dunn| OR: 65| D

40/1

Veteran whose last win on the Flat came back in 2012. Has largely been campaigned over hurdles since and was tailed off on his return to the Flat at Chester. Easy to oppose.

Form: 7/6-2740

(6)

Jumping Cats¹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: George Wood| T: C F Wall| OR: 67

5/6

Lightly-raced after just six starts and was staying on well when upped in distance here last start. More to offer upped in trip again and has more upside than most.

Form: 655782

(2)

Hattaab²³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: Rob Hornby| T: T R George| OR: 53

6/1

13-race maiden under all codes but better when suited by the step up in trip at Redcar. Hit the line well and likely more to come over this even stiffer test. Rates a contender.

Form: 40843

(9)

Enchanting Enya^p²³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-11| J: K T O'Neill| T: Steph Hollinshead| OR: 57

9/1

Would hold every chance based on Beverley third and stays this trip, however subsequent two efforts have been disappointing and needs to find more.

Form: 825375

(11)

Kirkman²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 8-9| J: William Carson| T: P W Hiatt| OR: 45| D

66/1

Just one win in 23 starts and has clearly been hard to train with his last two starts coming after 247 and 453 day absences. Hasn't featured for a long time and readily overlooked.

Form: 4090/7-9

(3)

Navajo Squaw²⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 8-7| J: L Morris| T: E A L Dunlop| OR: 53

16/1

Yet to place after six starts but has been a bit unlucky the last twice, when slipping at Yarmouth and meeting trouble at Lingfield. Open to improvement now stepped up in distance once again.

Form: 06-8887

(4)

Willingforshilling^h⁴⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-3| J: David Egan| T: H J L Dunlop| OR: 49

9/1

Showed promise over 1m1f at Lingfield but has since failed to build on that in two starts over further. Remains lightly-raced but stamina to prove over this big step up in distance.

Form: 0-05355

(1)

Essendon³⁰⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 8-0| J: J Quinn| T: A M Balding| OR: 45

7/1

Bred to need a stiff test of stamina so possible he could leave his form behind over much shorter. Hard to recommend after being tailed off in all three starts but support would be interesting.

Form: 008-

Non-Runners

(7)

Palermo³⁶

Weight: 9-6| Age: 4

T: M Wigham J: F Norton

(12)

Lyford¹⁶

Weight: 8-10| Age: 3

T: S Kirk J: Liam Keniry

(10)

Gee Sixty Six³⁷

Weight: 8-9| Age: 4

T: Laura Morgan J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Jumping Cats (5/6), Lyford (5/1), Hattaab (6/1), Essendon (7/1), Final Choice (9/1), Enchanting Enya (9/1), Willingforshilling (9/1), Palermo (10/1), Navajo Squaw (16/1), Gee Sixty Six (25/1), Cool Macavity (40/1), Kirkman (66/1)

There's a few contenders getting to a much needed test of stamina including Hattaab who was staying on strongly over a shorter distance last time. Final Choice has to be respected back in this grade over a C&D that suits but preference is for JUMPING CATS who quickened well off an unsuitably slow pace here and remains open to plenty of progress over this stiffer test. Navajo Squaw has had excuses lately and it would be no surprise to see her leave that form behind now up to a suitable distance. Essendon also takes a huge and much needed step up in trip on handicap debut and is worth noting in the betting.