20:30 Chelmsford City

Tuesday 24 September 2019

All16:5017:2518:0018:3019:0019:3020:0020:30

Book Your Christmas Party Here Handicap

Off time: 20:30 | Winning time: 3m 1.24s

(5)

Brittanic^p¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-6| J: Dylan Hogan⁽⁵⁾| T: D M Simcock| OR: 66| BF

8/1

A useful horse once upon a time (has had difficulties); back to regular racing at a lower level throughout 2019; 4½L runner-up to Conquering Hero here (1m5½f) 12 days ago; cheekpieces now reapplied; stamina reserves a thorny issue.

Form: 643342

(4)

Barca²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-0| J: Jim Crowley| T: M P Tregoning| OR: 60| BF| C

7/4

Broke his duck at the 15th attempt when justifying favouritism over 2m here last month (Heron a pleasing third); there or thereabouts (third) on his latest start, and a similar performance is to be expected; figures high on the shortlist.

Form: 425413

(3)

Spice War²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-13| J: Thomas Greatrex⁽⁵⁾| T: O Sherwood| OR: 59

11/10

Back from over a year off when making a winning debut for Oliver Sherwood at Kempton (1m4f) three weeks ago; on pedigree won't be at all troubled by this extra 2f; with race-fitness fully proven, warrants maximum respect from a 4lb higher mark.

Form: 83360-1

(8)

Earthly^p,t²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: S Donohoe| T: B J Llewellyn| OR: 50

12/1

Hasn't won for many a moon (since May 2017); has bits and pieces of positive form in 2019 - best effort when second at Haydock (1m3½f, soft) in July; is expected to find a few stronger in pursuit of that ever elusive success.

Form: 467274

(6)

Das Kapital^p⁶⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: J F Egan| T: John Berry| OR: 49

25/1

Ten-race turf maiden with some placed form on his CV; was no match for the easy 2L winner Sigrid Nansen at Chepstow (1m4f, good to firm) in July; steps back up in trip on synthetics debut.

Form: 40-3820

(7)

Tobacco Road^h,t¹⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 9-3| J: Charlie Bennett| T: M Pattinson| OR: 49

33/1

Made the frame in a 1m2f Class 6 handicap here in February (22-1) but altogether underwhelming since, slipping 11lb in the weights; it's doubtful whether or not a return to a longer trip will assist this former hurdles scorer; look elsewhere.

Form: 059940

(2)

Royal Dancer¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: L Morris| T: S Kirk| OR: 52

12/1

11-race maiden; increasingly near to losing that unwanted status in recent weeks, going under by just ½L to Atalanta Breeze at Brighton (1m4f, good to firm) a fortnight ago; plenty to gain and nothing to lose by tackling a new trip.

Form: 96-0032

Non-Runners

(1)

Heron⁴⁶

Weight: 10-6| Age: 5

T: B R Johnson J: Daniel Muscutt

Forecasts

Spice War (11/10), Barca (7/4), Heron (6/1), Brittanic (8/1), Royal Dancer (12/1), Earthly (12/1), Das Kapital (25/1), Tobacco Road (33/1)

Heron stays extremely well, and despite having to shoulder a welter-burden could gain his revenge on recent conqueror Barca. The Marcus Tregoning-trained Barca was justifying favouritism (6-4) when breaking the maiden tag at the 15th attempt here (2m) last month, while the Brett Johnson-trained five-year-old was returning from a short mid-season break. However, assuming that the dreaded 'bounce' factor is avoided, both of the aforementioned horses will need to be in 'tip-top' shape to deny SPICE WAR a second straight win for Oliver Sherwood and Thomas Greatrex. On pedigree, he won't be troubled by this extra yardage and should strip fitter for his Kempton comeback win.