18:45 Chelmsford City

Thursday 8 November 2018

All17:1517:4518:1518:4519:1519:4520:1520:45

Irish Lotto At totesport.com Handicap

Off time: 18:48 | Winning time: 2m 3.77s

(2)

Mount Tahan⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 9-12| J: Thomas Greatrex⁽⁵⁾| T: K A Ryan| OR: 103

7/1

Likely that the run was required over C&D in late September, and his overall AW statistics offer mild encouragement (3-8). However, remains high enough in the weights (hence the use of a 5lb claimer), and wind surgery is yet to prove beneficial.

Form: 210099

(3)

Petite Jack⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: L Morris| T: N B King| OR: 98| CD

9/1

7-18 on the AW (including over C&D). However, hasn't shown up positively on either start for this trainer (formerly with Archie Watson), so needs to bounce back as he slowly eases in the weights.

Form: 589408

(5)

Ventura Knight^h1⁴⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: P J McDonald| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 101

10/1

Not the most consistent, but is a talented performer on his day (as a couple of quick wins in Scotland during the month of July testify); remains fairly unexposed on the AW (0-3); wears a first time hood.

Form: 114300

(6)

Winterlude⁴⁶¹

Age: 8| Weight: 9-7| J: J Fanning| T: J Candlish| OR: 98| D

33/1

6-21 on the AW, but hasn't raced anywhere since finishing a staying on third to Wynford in a 2m3f+ handicap hurdle at Bangor in August 2017; his last AW start came when finishing 16 of 20 in the 2017 Northumberland Plate.

Form: 212500-

(1)

Glendevon²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: J P Spencer| T: R Hughes| OR: 100

1/1

Runner-up to Archetype on his first attempt at 1m2f in a Conditions Stakes event over C&D last month; should appreciate this marginally easier assignment and also be stronger for that run (first start since mid-July); stamina still a minor concern.

Form: 1-34482

(7)

Primero²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: M Harley| T: D O'Meara| OR: 97| D

16/1

Bought for €110,000 in July 2017 as a three-time winner in France; safe to say that things haven't quite gone to plan since (just the four starts), including when finishing last of 14 to Aquarium at York (1m2f+, soft) in October.

Form: 82352-0

(4)

The Emperor Within⁵⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: H Crouch| T: Martin Smith| OR: 93

12/1

Limited AW experience (0-2); 14/1 winner of a Class 3 handicap at Sandown (1m, good to soft) in August, but found the going tough at Listed level next time; stamina a minor concern (runner-up on sole 1m2f start).

Form: 152218

(9)

Maratha^t⁶⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: Fran Berry| T: S C Williams| OR: 90

10/1

Two-time Tapeta winner (1m1f+ Wolverhampton), but also equally effective on Polytrack as he twice demonstrated when placed over C&D in April; turf form more modest since; chance, despite a career best effort being required off this mark.

Form: 123080

(8)

Mushtaq³⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 8-7| J: Hollie Doyle| T: R Hannon| OR: 87| C

6/1

His pedigree doesn't necessarily imply that he'll stay 1m2f, and he's never competed beyond an extended mile in ten starts thus far (1-3 on the AW); 20/1 when finishing 8½L fourth to Blue Mist in an Ascot classified stakes (1m, good) latest.

Form: 211664

Forecasts

Glendevon (1/1), Mushtaq (6/1), Mount Tahan (7/1), Petite Jack (9/1), Ventura Knight (10/1), Maratha (10/1), The Emperor Within (12/1), Primero (16/1), Winterlude (33/1)

Probably not quite as competitive as one would expect for a Class 2 AW handicap, so it could pay to take a chance on the unproven stamina reserves of the unexposed 3yo GLENDEVON. He acquitted himself with credit (despite carrying his head a fraction high) when chasing home Archetype in a Conditions Stakes event over C&D last month, and this is theoretically an easier option. Others to consider include the returned to synthetics Maratha and the newly hooded Ventura Knight.