18:00 Chelmsford City

Tuesday 14 January 2020

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

Irish Lotto At totesport.com Handicap

Off time: 18:37 | Winning time: 1m 27.34s

(2)

Johnny Reb^b1¹¹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: Daniel Muscutt| T: J Ferguson| OR: 71

14/1

Definite signs of ability when with Jeremy Noseda but switched yards twice since and has a bit to prove in the first time headgear on debut for another new trainer.

Form: 2/32905-

(6)

Karisoke^v1⁴⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: J Mitchell| T: S & E Crisford| OR: 71

9/2

Shown a lot of promise in four starts and wasn't beaten far on handicap debut last time out. Now fitted with a visor and switched to Polytrack but a highly interesting contender in this company. (7f not an issue.)

Form: 3443-

(8)

Glory of Paris^p,h¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: Mark Crehan⁽⁵⁾| T: M Appleby| OR: 70| C| D

4/1

Won here twice before and back on an attractive mark after finding it tough in a higher grade. Effective at this level and very capable of making the frame. A 5lb claimer booked to ride helps at the weights, too. (Ran well at Southwell on Monday.)

Form: 2645-42

(7)

Split Down South³²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: Grace McEntee⁽⁷⁾| T: P S McEntee| OR: 69| C

7/2

Won here twice over 6f last November and not disgraced when upped into this grade last time out. More needed here but gets on well with his in-form rider and a bold not ruled out.

Form: 512135-

(4)

Para Mio¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: T P Queally| T: S Durack| OR: 68

12/1

Tried over a variety of trips but seems to be versatile and very probable he needed the run at Lingfield earlier this month. The handicapper has been slow to cut hims slack but a place in the frame is still very feasible.

Form: 21/294-5

(1)

Poeta Brasileiro^t⁴⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: Thore Hammer-Hansen⁽⁵⁾| T: H Spiller| OR: 67

5/1

Likes the synthetic surfaces and bids to add a Chelmsford success to his tally after wins at all the other British AW courses bar here and Newcastle. Unexposed at 7f but needs to be sharper than his only other previous run at the trip.

Form: 231423-

(9)

Desert Fox^p³⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 9-2| J: S W Kelly| T: M Murphy| OR: 65| C

10/1

A four-time winner over 6f at this venue and has to be considered as 'a horse for the course'. The trip has to be a concern, however, and he needs to be at his best despite being back on a winning mark.

Form: 214207-

(3)

Bint Dandy^b⁴¹

Age: 9| Weight: 9-0| J: L Morris| T: C Wallis| OR: 63| C| D

14/1

Posted a good effort when third at Lingfield last time out (Para Mio finished a neck behind in fourth) and has a positive profile at this course, too. Has a live chance in handicapping terms but her losing streak stretches back to August 2018.

Form: 444043-

(5)

Phoenix Star^h,t⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: Rob Hornby| T: S C Williams| OR: 60| BF

9/1

Well backed when tried over C&D last week but didn't find as much as expected under pressure. Still worth another try at the distance but this does look a stiffer task.

Form: 34413-5

Forecasts

Split Down South (7/2), Glory of Paris (4/1), Karisoke (9/2), Poeta Brasileiro (5/1), Phoenix Star (9/1), Desert Fox (10/1), Para Mio (12/1), Johnny Reb (14/1), Bint Dandy (14/1)

Several of these have some good course form to their names and the like of Split Down South, Glory Of Paris (if he turns out after his close second at Southwell on Monday), and Bint Dandy all merit respect as horses with proven ability on Chelmsford's Polytrack surface. However, KARISOKE has a bit more scope for improvement and, having gone close on his handicap debut last month, the lightly raced four-year-old edges the nomination as the one to be with on grounds of having more potential for progress at this stage.