16:00 Chelmsford City

Thursday 2 January 2020

All16:0016:3017:0017:3018:0018:3019:0019:30

Bet toteplacepot At totesport.com Classified Stakes

Off time: 16:01 | Winning time: 2m 8.84s

(15)

Odds On Oli⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: Barry McHugh| T: R A Fahey| OR: 49

10/3

Won well in a Wolverhampton 0-60 handicap last time out under today's rider taking advantage of an easing mark. Not the most reliable so no banker to follow up his win and does have a wide draw to contend with.

Form: 062981-

(3)

Big Bang^p1²³

Age: 7| Weight: 9-1| J: Shelley Birkett| T: Miss J Feilden| OR: 45

50/1

Lightly-raced sort who remains a maiden and how don's cheekpieces for the first-time having failed to improve on his handicap debut last time (selling grade). Upped in trip but makes little appeal on the evidence so far.

Form: 7850-

(5)

Carvelas⁵⁷

Age: 11| Weight: 9-1| J: S W Kelly| T: J R Jenkins| OR: 50| CD

12/1

Three-time course winner with one of those victories coming over this trip before winning twice over further. Not disgraced last time out but looks to be just ticking over at the moment, may be better over further these days.

Form: 859063-

(14)

Cat Royale^b²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-1| J: Dylan Hogan⁽⁵⁾| T: J Butler| OR: 49| D

5/1

Rather uneven profile having flattered to deceive on a few occasions recently; gambled on last time and returned to form (worn down close home). Long time since his last win (17 runs); not one to rely on.

Form: 255552-

(13)

Johni Boxit^v²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: George Rooke⁽⁷⁾| T: B Barr| OR: 49

50/1

Modest handicapper having not won since 2018 when taking a Yarmouth handicap over 1m. Very little chance over hurdles last time (no chance at the weights), looked amiss on his last Flat run, hard to muster up much enthusiasm.

Form: 367900-

(11)

Kerrera²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 9-1| J: Sophie Ralston⁽⁵⁾| T: D K Ivory| OR: 48| C

8/1

Course winner who took a 1m handicap here in November off a basement mark under a hands-and-heels ride (first run for yard). Failed to back that run up last time over the same C&D (needed a stronger gallop); should benefit from a return to this trip.

Form: 0/70816-

(12)

Molten Lava^p²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 9-1| J: P Mulrennan| T: S Gollings| OR: 44| C

14/1

Winner over 1m here in October 2018 but went through 2019 without a win although he wasn't disgraced off a basement mark in a handicap last time. Should ru8n his race but not certain to stay this trip, others more persuasive.

Form: 879764-

(4)

Monsieur Fox⁷⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: R Kingscote| T: Mrs L Richards| OR: 54

5/1

Yet to win a race and even his best form is only modest; went in snatches last time over 1m4f at Kempton in a low-grade handicap. Tried in headgear (made little difference); not one to include in calculations.

Form: 920000-

(9)

War Of Succession⁸⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-1| J: Hayley Turner| T: A G Newcombe| OR: 50| D

8/1

Slipped down the handicap and ran a sound race on his penultimate outing having slipped back below his last winning mark. However, he failed to build on that run last time turning in a lacklustre display; returns from a break; something to prove.

Form: 632760-

(10)

Castelo^p²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: Jason Hart| T: D & C Kubler| OR: 49

14/1

Cheekpieces (first-time) appeared to induce some improvement over an extended 1m at Wolverhampton last time taking a step in the right direction. That was her best effort for a while; trip will test her stamina though (never been this far before).

Form: 568/004-

(6)

Clubora²¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: Charles Bishop| T: Eve Johnson Houghton| OR: 43

25/1

First run for this yard having shown little in her time with Richard Hannon. Not seen since finishing last of seven in a Brighton handicap in the summer; this will be her first try over this trip, best watched for now.

Form: 77/8907-

(8)

Goldfox Grey^h³⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: K T O'Neill| T: R Brisland| OR: 44

33/1

Both AW attempts have come on Fibresand with both being rather inconclusive (ran poorly last time). Now given his first try on Polytrack with the hood worn in his last two AW starts retained; one of the lesser lights.

Form: 98050-

(7)

Invincible Sea^t1²³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: Josephine Gordon| T: Mrs L C Jewell| OR: 49

66/1

Tongue-tie used for the first-time having looked regressive on the Flat and making a similarly unpromising hurdles debut last time. Back on the level now he makes very little appeal even in this basement company.

Form: 03/7000-

(2)

Pageant Master^p1,t¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: Alistair Rawlinson| T: M Appleby| OR: 50

8/1

Offered little on his first run for this yard and now has cheekpieces added to a tongue-tie (worn before) on his second attempt for his new stable. Hard to build a case for him so far but has joined yard noted for improving this type.

Form: 50/9700-

(1)

Rockstar Max³⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: D C Costello| T: D J Coakley| OR: 50

14/1

Little impact in maiden/minor events (yet to show any ability) but bred to be suited by this sort of trip. Steps up for 7f last time and it may well be that events such as this and low-grade handicaps will allow him to show more.

Form: 868-

Non-Runners

(16)

Brother In Arms²¹

Weight: 9-1| Age: 6

T: A W Carroll J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Odds On Oli (10/3), Cat Royale (5/1), Monsieur Fox (5/1), Brother In Arms (6/1), Kerrera (8/1), War Of Succession (8/1), Pageant Master (8/1), Carvelas (12/1), Molten Lava (14/1), Castelo (14/1), Rockstar Max (14/1), Clubora (25/1), Goldfox Grey (33/1), Johni Boxit (50/1), Big Bang (50/1), Invincible Sea (66/1)

Not a race that really appeals as a betting proposition with the majority of these inconsistent types who are struggling for form. Odds On Oli did win a race last time and looks to be one of the leading contenders if he can overcome his wide draw. Castelo produced her best effort for a while last time and although this trip is a doubt she must be included in calculations. KERRARA looks as though this trip will suit her and with a strong pace to aim at she’s the pick of this modest bunch. Two that haven’t shown that much so far but may be worth looking at in the market are Pageant Master and Rockstar Max.