19:55 Chelmsford City

Thursday 24 January 2019

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

Enjoy Valentines Day Here Handicap

Off time: 19:56 | Winning time: 1m 40.12s

(10)

Zaeem²¹

Age: 10| Weight: 9-9| J: Joey Haynes| T: I Furtado| OR: 67| D

16/1

Free-going sort with those antics meaning he hasn't been seen to the best effect in his two latest starts back from a lengthy break. Something to prove at the moment but has slipped below his last winning mark; jockey booking catches the eye.

Form: 12890-7

(7)

Duchess Of Avon²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: H Crouch| T: G & J Moore| OR: 65

12/1

First run in a handicap for this yard having contested two novice events so far since coming from the James Fanshawe yard. Not good enough to win in that sphere she ought to be competitive in handicaps off this sort of mark and has some potential.

Form: 257254-

(6)

Sir Gnet^h¹⁷⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: R Havlin| T: E A L Dunlop| OR: 64

6/1

Career appears punctuated by breaks (never managed to get a clear run at events) and returns from another absence here. Can be given a chance on his second in May over an extended 1m; not seen to best effect when last seen (left poorly placed).

Form: 547/827-

(4)

Accomplice¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: David Probert| T: M Blanshard| OR: 63| D

9/1

Winner of a better class race than this over 1m (Lingfield) last April she's returned a rather mixed bag of performances since then. Took a step in the right direction last time (again at Lingfield) but left poorly positioned; chance on best form.

Form: 43460-5

(8)

Perfect Soldier¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: Liam Jones| T: S L Keightley| OR: 63

16/1

Lightly-raced on AW surfaces he's shown little in his two starts for this yard beating just one rival home on each occasion. Despite a tumbling mark he makes little appeal on what he's shown of late and others hold better chances in this.

Form: 30080-0

(3)

Rippling Waters²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: D C Costello| T: J A Osborne| OR: 63| D

7/2

Given a chance by the handicapper last time (races off 1lb lower here) the run over C&D is worth marking up a little (got racing a long way out with company). Tongue-tie (first-time) worn is now removed and with a smoother trip she's of interest.

Form: 15400-3

(9)

Squire^p,t¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 9-1| J: L Morris| T: Mrs Marjorie Fife| OR: 59| CD

3/1

Both his two AW wins have come over C&D (modest strike-rate overall); scored his latest C&D victory on his initial outing for this yard before finding things tougher on Tapeta last time. 4lb higher than last win, still well handicapped on old form.

Form: 26441-8

(1)

Cockney Boy^v¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 8-7| J: Hollie Doyle| T: M Appleby| OR: 49

7/2

One win from 29 starts isn't a bet compelling profile but he has shaped in decent form of late (took a keen hold last time, weakened close home). Reported to have bled over 7f here the time before; could get the run of the race, others appeal more.

Form: 49762-5

(2)

Dukes Meadow⁶⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 8-7| J: Rhiain Ingram⁽⁵⁾| T: R Ingram| OR: 45| CD

16/1

Most of his modest form last year was at around this trip and he looked caught out by the longer trip he was asked to try when last seen. On the plus side he is a dual C&D winner (one win off higher mark); negative 6lb out of the handicap here.

Form: 005884-

Non-Runners

(5)

Elenora Delight¹

Weight: 10-1| Age: 4

T: M Botti J: Stefano Cherchi

Forecasts

Elenora Delight (11/4), Squire (3/1), Rippling Waters (7/2), Cockney Boy (7/2), Sir Gnet (6/1), Accomplice (9/1), Duchess Of Avon (12/1), Dukes Meadow (16/1), Zaeem (16/1), Perfect Soldier (16/1)

It remains to be seen if Elonora Delight takes up this engagement as she is entered at Kempton on Wednesday evening. Even without her presence this is a tricky little puzzle that looks as though it could be run at a good pace and that may well suit DUCHESS OF AVON who returns to handicaps with more potential that some of these. Several like to go forward and that may lead to a contested pace between Rippling Waters, Zaeem and Cockney Boy which may compromise the chances of that trio. Accomplice is interesting on some of her form and if she can gain a better track position this time she would have a place chance. Squire also enters the equation given his still workable handicap mark.