16:30 Chelmsford City

Thursday 2 January 2020

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

Bet toteexacta At totesport.com Handicap

Off time: 16:31 | Winning time: 1m 27.19s

(8)

Agent Of Fortune^p³^{(ex 5)}

Age: 5| Weight: 10-0| J: H Crouch| T: G & J Moore| OR: 57| CD

4/5

Dual C&D winner with the latest win here forming the middle leg of a December handicap hat-trick. Career-best when winning last time out but won with a little in hand; could well defy a 5lb penalty as she goes for a four-timer.

Form: 957111-

(2)

Theydon Boxer²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: A McCarthy| T: P Charalambous & J Clutterbuck| OR: 57

25/1

Lightly-raced maiden who was only seen once last year in a C&D handicap off a 5lb higher mark, struggled from three furlongs out. Hard to make a case for him here on the basis of that initial run for this stable.

Form: 760/0-

(9)

Brigand¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 9-7| J: A Kirby| T: J Butler| OR: 55| CD

10/1

C&D winner but followed a good run with a poor run last time (not the first time that has happened in his career). Remains 4lb above his last winning mark and hard to know which version is going to turn up given his inconsistent profile.

Form: 625028-

(7)

Holy Tiber^b³⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: Joey Haynes| T: C Banham| OR: 52| CD

7/1

Bounced back to form last time from a career-low mark doing well to make up a lot of ground from a poor track position here over 6f. Does have a long losing run to cope with though but is well treated; can't be ignored back up in trip.

Form: 509992-

(1)

Just An Idea^b²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-4| J: Rhiain Ingram⁽⁵⁾| T: R Ingram| OR: 52| CD

5/1

Finally ended a long losing run over C&D last time having slipped down to a basement mark. Kept on well appearing to enjoy a return to his sort of trip, ought to be able to cope with a higher mark on past form; sound enough claims.

Form: 753271-

(3)

Gunmaker¹¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 9-4| J: J P Sullivan| T: Mrs R Carr| OR: 52| D

5/1

A career-record that reads 1-31 spells caution despite a run last time out that suggested he shaped better than the bare result. Travelled well at Newcastle bit no guarantee he's going to reproduce that performance; others preferred.

Form: 089696-

(6)

Caso Do Lago^v¹⁰⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 9-3| J: K T O'Neill| T: R Brisland| OR: 51| D

25/1

Visor worn for his two previous wins (back in 2013) now back on after first-time cheekpieces failed to produce any improvement last time. First two starts for this yard returning from a very lengthy break have failed to impress.

Form: 6304/78-

(5)

Valley Belle^p,t²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: Grace McEntee⁽⁷⁾| T: P S McEntee| OR: 48| C

20/1

Sole career win came here over 6f but she's never matched that form since and fared poorly last time in this headgear combination. Stays this trip but would need others to underperform to be involved at the finish.

Form: 480606-

Non-Runners

(4)

Fascinating Spirit¹⁴

Weight: 8-12| Age: 5

T: Mrs Marjorie Fife J: Jason Hart

Forecasts

Agent Of Fortune (4/5), Gunmaker (5/1), Just An Idea (5/1), Holy Tiber (7/1), Brigand (10/1), Valley Belle (20/1), Theydon Boxer (25/1), Caso Do Lago (25/1), Fascinating Spirit (33/1)

Since joining the Gary Moore yard AGENT OF FORTUNE has gone from strength-to-strength and a 5lb penalty looks unlikely to stop her in a bid for a four-timer as she won with plenty in hand last time and is already a C&D winner. Most of the others have plenty to prove although Holy Tiber did show more last time despite not getting the run of the race; she looks well handicapped now. Just An Idea a C&D winner last time out needs to prove that she can reproduce that sort of performance off a 4lb higher mark but should go well in a race that lacks any depth. Both Gunmaker and Brigand could be considered but neither are the most reliable.