20:00 Chelmsford City

Saturday 7 March 2020

All17:2017:2517:5518:3019:0019:3020:0020:30

tote Is Back With Better Value Handicap

Off time: 20:01 | Winning time: 2m 5.59s

(10)

Central City^p¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: P J McDonald| T: Ian Williams| OR: 72| BF| CD

4/1

Rediscovered his form with two good runs last month at Wolverhampton (1m4f) and Newcastle (1m4½f). Has won over C&D and should hold every chance despite the burden of top-weight.

Form: 7487-23

(4)

The Game Is On^b²³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: L Morris| T: Sir Mark Prescott| OR: 71| D

4/1

Winner of weak Wolverhampton handicap in November but held form well with three placed efforts since, including 2¼L second over C&D last month. Consistent and likely to be bang there but maybe vulnerable for win purposes.

Form: 551-222

(7)

Dangerous Ends^p²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 9-7| J: B A Curtis| T: B R Johnson| OR: 70| CD

4/1

Fair sort who has been knocking on the door of late with and without headgear. Shaped well the last twice at Lingfield (1m2f) and Kempton (1m4f) with narrow defeats. Goes well here and should play his part.

Form: 934-222

(1)

Secratario¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-4| J: Josephine Gordon| T: S L Keightley| OR: 67| CD

11/1

Claimed for £13,000 (from Richard Hughes) after winning at Wolverhampton in September 2018. Now on his third trainer in as many starts and has plenty to prove after poor runs for both previous yards.

Form: 1341P/7

(5)

Bayston Hill^p³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 9-3| J: Daniel Muscutt| T: M D I Usher| OR: 66| CD

12/1

Last win came over C&D in April but has been inconsistent this term. Good second here two starts ago but failed to back that up when ninth at Lingfield (1m2f). More needed.

Form: 00532-9

(6)

Fair Power¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-3| J: Darragh Keenan⁽³⁾| T: J Butler| OR: 66| CD

10/1

Won three times since September and has ran well on two of three starts since winning at Wolverhampton (1m1½f) in December. Still 5lb above that mark and every chance that might be enough to prevent a fourth win in recent months.

Form: 4017-24

(8)

Engrave^p³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Charlie Bennett| T: Miss J Feilden| OR: 65

50/1

No match for a potentially smart sort over C&D on second start but beat the rest by a fair margin. Went backwards on debut for this yard at Lingfield (1m4f) last time, however, and that leaves her with questions to answer.

Form: 32-7

(3)

Croeso Cymraeg²²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-1| J: Raul Da Silva| T: H J Evans| OR: 64| C

6/1

In the first three on nine of his 12 AW starts. Ran creditably behind a red-hot rival at Southwell (1m3f) last time out but his winning form is over further (1m4f-1m5½f) and this trip might be on the sharp side.

Form: 3229-52

(11)

Oblate^p¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: Joey Haynes| T: C Banham| OR: 64

25/1

Won over 1m at Southwell on New Year's Day but her form as gone downhill since then, including on her yard debut last time at Lingfield (1m2f) where she failed to beat a rival. Others preferred.

Form: 29-1460

(9)

Dreamboat Dave⁶³

Age: 4| Weight: 8-11| J: K T O'Neill| T: Mrs S J Humphrey| OR: 60| CD

7/1

Ex-Ger Lyons inmate in Ireland; winner over C&D in October and only beaten ¾L over C&D five days ago in Class 6 company. Not running badly in defeat since but still 5lb above his winning mark and maybe better suited by a drop to Class 6.

Form: 19624-6

Non-Runners

(2)

Balgees Time²⁵

Weight: 9-6| Age: 4

T: T Ward J: Laura Coughlan

(12)

Greek Kodiac²³

Weight: 9-0| Age: 4

T: M Quinn J: S W Kelly

Forecasts

Central City (4/1), The Game Is On (4/1), Dangerous Ends (4/1), Croeso Cymraeg (6/1), Dreamboat Dave (7/1), Balgees Time (8/1), Fair Power (10/1), Secratario (11/1), Bayston Hill (12/1), Greek Kodiac (12/1), Oblate (25/1), Engrave (50/1)

Plenty of those at the top end of the handicap have been running well of late and the in-form filly BALGEES TIME is a narrow selection. She has ran well in France twice recently as well as being narrowly denied at Wolverhampton and a repeat of any of those would see her go close. Central City, Dangerous Ends and The Game Is On have all been consistent in recent weeks and should be vying for the places.