20:40 Chelmsford City

Friday 5 July 2019

All17:2518:0018:3019:0519:3520:1020:40

Racing Staff Week 2019 Handicap

Off time: 20:43 | Winning time: 3m 0.55s

(1)

Bigshotte^t⁵¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: K T O'Neill| T: L A Dace| OR: 59

20/1

Only had the five starts. Finished ninth on first attempt at 1m2f last time and now goes up in distance again. Has a squeak if benefitting for the step up in trip and it will be interesting to see how he goes.

Form: 664-39

(12)

Croeso Cymraeg²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-0| J: Raul Da Silva| T: H J Evans| OR: 59| BF| C

7/2

Came up short in bid for the four-timer last month when not seen to best effect. Still lightly raced and is given another chance off an unchanged mark at a track he won at in February.

Form: 4-31113

(8)

Mythological^v1⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-12| J: B Doyle| T: L Allan| OR: 57

66/1

0-4 and has produced three woeful efforts since switched to this yard. 2lb below last winning mark but virtually impossible to recommend when in such dreadful form.

Form: 7430-00

(11)

Ness Of Brodgar^t⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Daniel Muscutt| T: M H Tompkins| OR: 52

40/1

Standout run on his CV was a C&D second two starts ago. Would have a major chance if able to rediscover that form, but he is too inconsistent to place any faith in so is passed on.

Form: 709-020

(2)

Shovel It On^b,t¹¹^{(ex 5)}

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: Cieren Fallon⁽⁷⁾| T: S Flook| OR: 45

16/1

Won for the first time in quite a while when taking a Wolverhampton (1m4f; standard) seller by just over two-lengths. Needs to step up by some way on the bare form of that victory though and likely to come up short.

Form: 329001

(4)

Beau Knight⁵⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 9-2| J: Sebastian Woods⁽⁵⁾| T: Alexandra Dunn| OR: 47

33/1

Dropped 13lb in just three runs since making comeback in February after long absence. Remains to be seen whether he retains any of his old ability as he is beginning to look particularly well treated. Risky proposition.

Form: 260/968

(9)

Tilsworth Sammy^p1³¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: N Mackay| T: J R Jenkins| OR: 47

33/1

Impossible to fancy on the basis of what he has shown so far. Career-low mark now but has suffered heavy defeats the last twice and it would take a miracle to see him involved.

Form: 582997

(3)

Spirit Of Nicobar¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: David Probert| T: A M Balding| OR: 59

16/1

Most eye-catching of his three career starts was when he was third at Southwell (1m3f; standard) in April. Thus, the return to the AW and fact he is making his handicap debut does offer some hope. Should not be completely discounted.

Form: 037

(14)

Oyster Card^v⁹²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: Theodore Ladd⁽⁵⁾| T: M Appleby| OR: 45

50/1

2lb lower than for finishing last over C&D in April when not fancied (33-1). Had been running poorly before that lacklustre effort so it was no surprise and more of the same is expected in this similarly competitive heat.

Form: 10065-0

(10)

Roue De Charrette^b1²³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: Josephine Gordon| T: Miss A Murphy| OR: 45

50/1

Hasn't improved since switched to handicaps. Steps up in trip from 1m3f to 1m6f but others are more appealing. Last seen when finishing ninth of 14 at Yarmouth (1m3f; soft) last month. Unlikely to trouble the leading candidates.

Form: 008-99

(6)

Awesome Rock⁷⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 9-0| J: R Havlin| T: R Ingram| OR: 45

80/1

10-year-old who has been running poorly both over Jumps and on the Flat recently. Best days are well behind him and it would be a major surprise were he to even feature. Can't be fancied.

Form: 3/50067-

(13)

Champagne Marengo^p¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: Ian Williams| OR: 58

4/1

Off the mark at the 10th attempt of asking when scoring by just over a length at Catterick (2m; soft) recently. Improved for the step up in trip that day, and should remain competitive upped just 3lb by the handicapper.

Form: 900621

(7)

Spargrove²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: Oisin Murphy| T: H Morrison| OR: 58

11/8

Evidently faring better for the switch to this sphere with a couple of respectable placed efforts in his first two handicap starts. This is easier than last time when he was up against a well treated rival, so he must be rated a major player.

Form: 000-23

(5)

Peripherique³¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: Ryan Tate| T: J M P Eustace| OR: 55

8/1

Makes handicap debut and steps up to 1m6f from 1m2f after failing to really threaten in maidens. Should improve and be more competitive. Market may be very informative regarding his chances.

Form: 706

Non-Runners

(15)

Murhib²⁴

Weight: 9-12| Age: 7

T: Mrs L Richards J: J F Egan

Forecasts

Spargrove (11/8), Croeso Cymraeg (7/2), Champagne Marengo (4/1), Murhib (7/1), Peripherique (8/1), Shovel It On (16/1), Spirit Of Nicobar (16/1), Bigshotte (20/1), Beau Knight (33/1), Tilsworth Sammy (33/1), Ness Of Brodgar (40/1), Roue De Charrette (50/1), Oyster Card (50/1), Mythological (66/1), Awesome Rock (80/1)

This should be an entertaining affair to end proceedings, with many of the runners in this race bound to step up on their previous efforts for the switch to handicaps/step up in trip. Murhib won at this track three starts ago and hasn't fared badly in two subsequent starts, so must be feared off a 7lb higher mark. Meanwhile, Champagne Marengo has only been raised 3lb after gaining that elusive first career success and is considered as the main danger to the selection CROESO CYMRAEG who should be forgiven his latest effort when beaten over C&D in his bid for the four-timer. He was very keen that day and provided he settles in this larger field, should get back on track.