17:55 Chelmsford City

Thursday 3 January 2019

All16:1016:4517:2017:5518:2518:5519:2519:55

Bet totetrifecta At totesport.com Handicap

Off time: 17:55 | Winning time: 59.46s

(2)

Gracious John¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: A Kirby| T: P D Evans| OR: 103| D

9/4

Dual Listed winner and Group placed 12-time winner. Placed at Lingfield and Wolverhampton the last twice off this mark and sure to make another bold bid especially with top jockey again aboard.

Form: 774923-

(8)

Tropics^h¹³

Age: 11| Weight: 9-4| J: R Winston| T: D K Ivory| OR: 100| CD

10/1

Three-time course winner in 2018 but form latterly not at standard of earlier in the year and now a few doubts over him as he turns 11 although back to last winning mark.

Form: 350775-

(7)

Teruntum Star^v³⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 9-1| J: Josephine Gordon| T: K A Ryan| OR: 97| D

6/1

Only raced three times on AW presumably due to first two runs not inspiring but showed he handles polytrack latest when third at Lingfield off this mark. Second the time before on turf so arrives here in good form.

Form: 084023-

(5)

Royal Birth^t³⁰⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 9-0| J: R Kingscote| T: S C Williams| OR: 96| CD

4/1

Dual C&D winner in 2016 always seemed to appreciate this surface but not raced since March last year. Handicap within range but have to be a few doubts after such an absence.

Form: 429954-

(3)

Jumira Bridge¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 8-12| J: Edward Greatrex| T: R M H Cowell| OR: 94| D

12/1

Dual winner for Roger Varian earlier in career not really inspired since joining this yard. Entitled to have needed recent first run since July so can fare better but others more compelling overall.

Form: 757909-

(6)

Verne Castle^h³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 8-12| J: Darragh Keenan⁽⁵⁾| T: M Wigham| OR: 94| CD

4/1

Five from 11 over C&D including last twice. Third and fourth since the most recent of them elsewhere but expect him to better either of those here especially with 2lb back in his favour. Leading player.

Form: 451134-

(4)

Captain Lars^b¹³

Age: 10| Weight: 8-7| J: Hollie Doyle| T: A Watson| OR: 89| CD

7/1

Relishes his racing as shown in 2018 when he raced 32 times winning 11 of them. Last two runs suggest handicapper may finally have his measure but as a 23-time winner it would be foolhardy to write him off.

Form: 322178-

Non-Runners

(1)

Something Lucky²

Weight: 8-2| Age: 7

T: M Appleby J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Gracious John (9/4), Royal Birth (4/1), Verne Castle (4/1), Teruntum Star (6/1), Captain Lars (7/1), Tropics (10/1), Something Lucky (10/1), Jumira Bridge (12/1)

VERNE CASTLE absolutely loves it round here as his record shows and after two sound efforts elsewhere the last twice he makes plenty of appeal back at his favourite course now 2lb lower so gets the vote. Gracious John has run two sound races also the last twice and he too enjoys it here so has similar claims in many ways. Teruntum Star has made the frame the last twice including on this surface most recently so he too must be considered.