19:25 Chelmsford City

Thursday 24 January 2019

All16:2516:5517:2517:5518:2518:5519:2519:55

Danny And Frank Preston's Northern Handicap

Off time: 19:28 | Winning time: 3m 34.54s

(7)

Navajo Star^v⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-12| J: K T O'Neill| T: R Brisland| OR: 70| CD

15/8

Three-time course winner (two C&D) who ran up to her best on a return to action after four months off and should remain competitive. However, all her wins have been off lower marks and she'll need to progress again to score.

Form: 52260-2

(9)

Whinging Willie^v²⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 9-10| J: Rhys Clutterbuck⁽⁷⁾| T: G & J Moore| OR: 68| BF

9/1

Beaten in a 1m4f seller last time under today's rider (claimed 10lb) he proved no match for the winner. Now 10lb lower than his last winning mark (on turf) he should be competitive but has only twice been tried beyond 1m5f.

Form: 744522-

(8)

Oxford Blu^p²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-10| J: David Probert| T: O Murphy| OR: 68| D

10/1

Yet to be seen on the Flat for this yard (1-9 over hurdles for them) but is a dual winner on the level (once on the AW). Has been placed over C&D before but hasn't shown much of late in two jumping starts after a wind op; looked reluctant last start.

Form: 433521/

(2)

Colwood³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: Darragh Keenan⁽⁵⁾| T: R Eddery| OR: 67| D

4/1

Won in France over this trip on the AW; showed that staying trips brought out the best in him with a stylish win over 2m2f on the Fibresand. That built on a good initial run for the yard (also at Southwell); interesting if he handles this surface.

Form: 207041-

(4)

Mundersfield^h²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: George Bass⁽⁷⁾| T: D M Simcock| OR: 60

14/1

Stoutly bred mare who has never gone beyond 1m2f but looks to need trips like this to show her best. Ran too free (hooded) last time and was never a threat but is still unexposed over staying distances; one to note in the market given the scenario.

Form: 46/046-

(6)

Masters Apprentice⁴⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: L Morris| T: S Kirk| OR: 64| C

5/1

Gained a deserved win over 1m6f here in August doing well to beat an odds-on favourite off a 2lb lower mark. Apart from one run his form since hasn't been able to live up to that standard and he looks one of the less likely types here.

Form: 640655-

(5)

Mood For Mischief¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: Liam Keniry| T: E Walker| OR: 61

5/1

Steps up 5f in trip now having shown only modest form in his last two handicaps; better than bare result on handicap debut (1m1f). Remains less exposed than many of these; now off a career-low mark and could get involved if he stays this 2m.

Form: 9/4838-6

(3)

Spring Dixie¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 8-7| J: Rhiain Ingram⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss N L-Beavis| OR: 45

66/1

6lb out of the handicap here with her only two Flat wins coming in very ordinary handicaps off basement marks in Jersey. Shown very little of late in three AW starts all over a shorter trip that she faces today; not one to include in calculations.

Form: 09080-7

Non-Runners

(1)

Gravity Wave⁹

Weight: 9-12| Age: 5

T: S Kirk J: A Kirby

Forecasts

Navajo Star (15/8), Colwood (4/1), Mood For Mischief (5/1), Masters Apprentice (5/1), Whinging Willie (9/1), Oxford Blu (10/1), Gravity Wave (10/1), Mundersfield (14/1), Spring Dixie (66/1)

This race lacks an outstanding candidate although there are one or two that could spark some interest. COLWOOD showed that he could handle this surface when winning in France and although his two performances in GB have been on Fibresand the form of his win there (up 6lb here) is good enough to win this. Neither Mundersfield or Mood For Mischief have as yet be tried over a trip as far as this but the both look as though they could improve for it and a market move for either should be noted. Navejo Star is a solid performer especially over this C&D but she may just struggle off this mark giving away weight to the entire field.