19:45 Chelmsford City

Friday 23 August 2019

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

Lilian Thompson 'Best Mum' Optional Claiming Handicap

Off time: 19:50 | Winning time: 1m 35.64s

(2)

Seniority²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-0| J: Jason Watson| T: W J Haggas| OR: 101| CD

6/4

Connections chose to come here rather than York yesterday for this course and distance winner who ran his best race of the season last time out at Goodwood. Nicely drawn and should go well.

Form: 0-48244

(5)

Salateen^p,t¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: D Nolan| T: D O'Meara| OR: 101| D

33/1

Arguably better over seven furlongs but has been in reasonable form all season and will certainly be giving it all. Seems a little weak in the finish these days and needs to get to the front early to show his best.

Form: 448334

(3)

Zwayyan^v¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-12| J: Rob Hornby| T: A M Balding| OR: 99| CD

9/2

Won this race last year and comes here in good heart after a season best performance at Ascot last time out over this trip. No reason he can't go close again off just a 4lb higher mark.

Form: 174703

(6)

Breden¹³

Age: 9| Weight: 9-12| J: R Winston| T: Mrs L C Jewell| OR: 99| CD

20/1

Has been a little below par since winning well at Newbury in May but if returning to his best form this course and distance winner holds every chance running from only 1lb higher than that latest win.

Form: 235107

(9)

Another Batt¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: Angus Villiers⁽⁷⁾| T: R Hughes| OR: 97| D

25/1

Impressive when winning a Meydan handicap back in January but has failed to get competitive since his return to the UK. Favourably handicapped on the best of his form; could have been better drawn.

Form: 560089

(7)

Love Dreams^p⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-8| J: David Egan| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 95| C

16/1

Has been campaigned mainly around seven furlongs this season so there may be doubts about his staying this trip but showed his well being with an excellent effort in defeat last time out at Newbury on soft going. Reasonable chance.

Form: 005853

(4)

Star Of Southwold⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: Theodore Ladd⁽⁵⁾| T: M Appleby| OR: 91| C| D

15/8

Ran an excellent race in defeat last time out over course and distance and comes here in good form after winning well at Pontefract the time before; excellent chance if repeating form of last two races.

Form: 041214

(8)

Azzeccagarbugli^p⁶⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 8-9| J: Josephine Gordon| T: M Murphy| OR: 82| D

33/1

Still searching for his first win since his Italian days with Stefano Botti but has been given a chance at the weights and ran well in this race last year; current form is a worry but not without a chance; finished 4th in this race last season.

Form: 842-280

(1)

Glory Awaits^b²⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 8-0| J: Hollie Doyle| T: D M Simcock| OR: 72| CD

20/1

Rarely runs a bad race at this track and has been in fair form this season without winning; looks to have an excellent chance at the weights and a good draw to boot; finished 7th in this race last season.

Form: 274763

Forecasts

Seniority (6/4), Star Of Southwold (15/8), Zwayyan (9/2), Love Dreams (16/1), Glory Awaits (20/1), Breden (20/1), Another Batt (25/1), Azzeccagarbugli (33/1), Salateen (33/1)

Hard not to make a reasonable case for any of these runners in what looks a cracking claiming handicap. A slight preference is given to STAR OF SOUTHWOLD who has been in excellent form this season and has responded to being dropped in trip of late. Last year's winner Zwayyan also comes into the race in good form and ran a smashing race when third recently at Ascot. Azzeccagarbugli may not immediately stand out as a winner but if he can put two poor recent runs behind him then he has every chance at the weights. Love Dreams steps up in trip here but is a tough sort who should go well from the front.