17:25 Chelmsford City

Saturday 7 March 2020

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

tote Guarantee On Course For Cheltenham Festival Classified Stakes

Off time: 17:29 | Winning time: 1m 26.2s

(9)

Come On Bear¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: George Rooke⁽⁵⁾| T: J Parr| OR: 49| BF| CD

13/8

Been in fine form in recent weeks with 7f wins at Wolverhampton and over C&D. Beaten 4L at Lingfield into second 11 days ago but that still represented a decent effort after a slow start and is leading player back down into 0-50 company.

Form: 464-112

(7)

Drop Kick Murphi¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: Darragh Keenan⁽³⁾| T: Mrs C A Dunnett| OR: 48| BF

5/1

Running well in defeat in recent starts, including a ½L defeat by Come On Bear over C&D two runs ago and is 8lb better off now. Couldn't justify favouritism at Kempton (6f) last time but return to 7f will help for all he's not a frequent winner.

Form: 36-4323

(8)

Duke Debonair^b²⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: Nicola Currie| T: J A Osborne| OR: 47

25/1

Missed the break and was keen in similarly C&D last month before keeping on to finish fourth, beaten 8¾L. Only had five starts and open to improvement but will need to put everything together to come out on top.

Form: 00/5-04

(3)

Irish Times²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: Gabriele Malune⁽³⁾| T: H Spiller| OR: 49| C

14/1

Dual course winner in the spring (2-14 record now), but has turned in a sextet of poor performances since then. No better last time and after a wind-op and short break; others preferred.

Form: 90890-8

(2)

Jack Louie²³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: Sophie Ralston⁽⁵⁾| T: D K Ivory| OR: 43

14/1

Remains a maiden but didn't shaped too badly when finishing 5¼L into sixth behind Come On Bear over C&D last month. That was his first start for 10 months and has place claims if building on that from a good draw.

Form: 0/7774-6

(6)

Monarch Maid¹⁸⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 9-0| J: Josephine Gordon| T: S L Keightley| OR: 50| C

20/1

Has gone well fresh in the past but all five wins have come at 5f/6f and is 0-3 over 7f. Starts for a new yard 4lb above her last winning mark at Thirsk (5f) in July and although, she's won here, this trip is a concern.

Form: 122445-

(1)

Rosarno^b²³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: Joey Haynes| T: C Banham| OR: 49| CD

8/1

Had a consistent spell which culminated in a game C&D win in January by a neck of 1lb higher. Disappointed in both subsequent outings, including when 7¾L behind Come On Bear last time and that leaves him with plenty to find now.

Form: 324-178

(12)

Shyjack^h1¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: A McCarthy| T: Mrs C A Dunnett| OR: 50

12/1

Was in good form in 2018 before an enforced 17-month break. Ran well for a long way here (1m) 16 days before fitness told but the drop back to 7f should help his cause whilst a hood is also added. Has each-way claims if building on that.

Form: 49232/5

(4)

Spanish Mane^e/s²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: Dylan Hogan⁽³⁾| T: Miss J Feilden| OR: 50| D

12/1

0-6 on the AW but has fairly in her two starts since a break this year, mostly recently in third at Kempton (7f). That was a significantly better race and the drop in grade should help, now 1lb below her last winning mark.

Form: 9015-53

(11)

The British Lion^v²³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: Daniel Muscutt| T: Alexandra Dunn| OR: 50| D

12/1

Been consistent in similar races in recent weeks, including over C&D. Losing run is mounting up and has work to do with Come On Bear after a 4¼L fifth last time; drawn fairly wide which does not aide his cause.

Form: 3-25325

(5)

William Ashford^v²³

Age: 8| Weight: 9-0| J: B A Curtis| T: M Appleby| OR: 42| D

10/1

Three runs for this yard since coming from Ireland, each better than the one before including when third over C&D last time to Come On Bear, beaten 2½L. Going the right way for this yard and shouldn't be too far way under leading jockey.

Form: 35/0-863

Non-Runners

(10)

Valley Belle⁴⁷

Weight: 9-0| Age: 4

T: P S McEntee J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Come On Bear (13/8), Drop Kick Murphi (5/1), Rosarno (8/1), William Ashford (10/1), The British Lion (12/1), Spanish Mane (12/1), Shyjack (12/1), Irish Times (14/1), Jack Louie (14/1), Monarch Maid (20/1), Duke Debonair (25/1), Valley Belle (25/1)

COME ON BEAR has beaten several of these in recent weeks and confirmed she is still in form with a good second at Lingfield last time, despite missing the break. This is a drop in grade and she is a strong contender. Drop Kick Murphi is 8lb better with the selection for a narrow defeat but he doesn't often enough to recommend with conviction but should be thereabouts whilst William Ashford is finding form for this yard and Duke Debonair is unexposed a ran promisingly last time.