18:45 Chelmsford City

Friday 7 February 2020

All16:3517:1017:4518:1518:4519:1519:4520:15

Sheikh Abdulla Classified Stakes

Off time: 18:46 | Winning time: 2m 53.34s

(10)

Beau Knight^p¹⁸²

Age: 8| Weight: 9-2| J: Hollie Doyle| T: Alexandra Dunn| OR: 50| C

7/1

A win here (1m6f) two starts ago is the only bright spot in the last four years under all codes. Returning from a six-month break and a repeat of that victory would see him involved but the evidence suggests the likelihood of that is slim.

Form: 968416-

(2)

Carvelas⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 9-2| J: David Probert| T: J R Jenkins| OR: 48| C

8/1

Course winner who is effective at up to 2m, and has put together a series of respectable efforts of late. May well have found 1m2f on the sharp side last time but ought not to be too far away given his consistent profile.

Form: 63-4636

(6)

Dolphin Village^h²⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 9-2| J: J Quinn| T: S A Harris| OR: 44

20/1

Won over an extended 1m4f at Wolverhampton last February but no joy in a handful of modest races since. Plugged on for a modest fourth in a similar event over C&D, beaten 6½L. Inconsistent profile is quite unattractive.

Form: 70560-4

(4)

Heaven Up Here²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-2| J: Nicola Currie| T: John Berry| OR: 45

25/1

Returned from over a year off for her fifth start when beaten 5L in a seller at Lingfield (1m4f) four weeks ago. Hasn't shown a great deal to date and others are preferred.

Form: 8049/5

(1)

Incus³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 9-2| J: Jane Elliott| T: E De Giles| OR: 45

33/1

Appears well handicapped on his old form although given recent circumstances it would require a fair leap of faith to support him. Tailed-off on his last two outings (beaten 123L and 61L) and best watched until signs of a revival.

Form: 78/900-9

(11)

Marshall Aid¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 9-2| J: R Havlin| T: M D I Usher| OR: 48| CD

12/1

Just one win in 35 starts tells you plenty about his chances here. Beaten 19½L on his first run for 11 months last time and little reason to think he's going to be challenging for the medals today.

Form: 29/608-0

(8)

Outrath^v¹¹

Age: 10| Weight: 9-2| J: D C Costello| T: J & S Best| OR: 42

33/1

Has ran fair races in defeat on three of his last five starts (all over hurdles). His form on the level was pretty moderate, however, before that and he needs to transfer some of his hurdling efforts back to the level.

Form: 20800-0

(5)

Tyrsal^p⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 9-2| J: M Dwyer| T: P S McEntee| OR: 47

10/1

Won gamely two starts ago at Southwell (1m6f) before joining this yard. Only sixth, beaten 11½L, back there (1m4f) last time, albeit behind an impressive winner. This is easier and has each-way claims, down in grade and back up in trip.

Form: 5846-16

(14)

Aleatoric¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: Jacob Clark⁽⁷⁾| T: Martin Smith| OR: 20

100/1

Has struggled in all six starts to date, three on the Flat and three over hurdles. Pulled up when last seen at Fakenham (2m, good to soft) 15 days ago and would be nothing short of a miracle if he got off the mark.

Form: 077-

(7)

Black Kraken^p1³⁰⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: Harrison Shaw⁽³⁾| T: B Haslam| OR: 45

10/1

Beaten wide margins in three starts early in 2019 (1m2f/1m). Switches into a low-grade affair now after a long break steps up markedly in trip, with cheekpieces on for the first time. Big improvement needed but keep an eye on the betting.

Form: 700-

(13)

Cinzento¹²²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: J Mitchell| T: R A Teal| OR: 44

7/1

Well held in all six starts, including when beaten 38L in a seller at Leicester (1m2f) last time. Tongue-tie and cheekpieces discarded on stable debut and big improvement needed on what we've seen thus far.

Form: 986760-

(3)

Clubora^p1⁸

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

20/1

Eight-race maiden who has shown very little to date. Second run for this yard when tailed-off at Southwell (1m4f) although it was reported she didn't handle the Fibresand. Stamina concerns up again in trip and best watched.

Form: 8907-79

(12)

Ignatius⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: Kieren Fox| T: J R Best| OR: 46| BF

11/4

Back into favouritism when fifth at Kempton (2m) beaten 9¼L. Only win off 5lb higher at Nottingham (1m2f) in April 2019 but also placed here over 1m6f in the past. Drops into a 0-50 for the first time and can make the frame.

Form: 359-695

(9)

Lady Shanawell^v²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: A Mullen| T: B Haslam| OR: 50| BF

5/1

Improved since faced with stamina tests and dual juvenile hurdle winner in recent months; kept good company in that sphere since. Too far off the pace in a similar C&D event last time (2/1fav) and should be involved in a weak affair.

Form: 997/33-5

Forecasts

Ignatius (11/4), Lady Shanawell (5/1), Cinzento (7/1), Beau Knight (7/1), Carvelas (8/1), Tyrsal (10/1), Black Kraken (10/1), Marshall Aid (12/1), Dolphin Village (20/1), Clubora (20/1), Heaven Up Here (25/1), Incus (33/1), Outrath (33/1), Aleatoric (100/1)

A race that lacks strength in depth and LADY SHANAWELL is given another chance to get off the mark on the level. She has improved under both codes in recent months (dual hurdle winner) but was too far back in similar race here last time. The recent win of Tyrsal at Southwell entitles him to a chance, especially dropping in grade and stepping back up in trip whilst Ignatius is another who has shown enough in better races to warrant respect.