18:00 Chelmsford City

Thursday 3 February 2022

All16:5517:3018:0018:3019:0019:3020:00

Betsi Handicap

Off time: 18:04 | Winning time: 1m 11.96s

(6)

Count Otto^h¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-3| J: Marco Ghiani| T: Mrs A J Perrett| OR: 91| D

9/1

Four wins from 11 runs last year. Eighth of 9 in handicap at Lingfield (6f, AW, 10/1) 19 days ago. Others make more appeal.

Form: 16000-8

(8)

Royal Pleasure^h¹²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: L Morris| T: Sir Mark Prescott| OR: 89WS

4/1

8/1 and cheekpieces on for 1st time, creditable fourth of 9 in handicap at Kempton (8f). Off 127 days/had wind op. Down in trip. Hood back on. Vulnerable to better-handicapped rivals.

Form: 023454-

(5)

Shallow Hal^v⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: C Lee| T: K R Burke| OR: 88| D

7/1

Twelve runs since last win in 2021. Good fourth of 9 in handicap (16/1) at Southwell (6.1f) 7 days ago, well positioned. Others look better treated but he can't be completely dismissed.

Form: 0489-44

(3)

Muscika^v¹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 9-0| J: Jason Watson| T: D O'Meara| OR: 88| CD

9/1

C&D winner. Three wins from 21 runs last year. Latest win at Wolverhampton in December. Sixth of 9 in handicap at Lingfield (6f, AW, 10/1) 19 days ago. Bit to prove at present.

Form: 1173-76

(1)

Nigel Nott^p⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 8-12| J: Frederick Larson⁽⁷⁾| T: M Appleby| OR: 86| CD

11/1

Unreliable type. C&D winner. Latest win at Newcastle in January. 40/1, eighth of 9 in handicap at Southwell (6.1f) 7 days ago. Must improve on recent efforts.

Form: 499-168

(4)

Top Breeze^b¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 8-11| J: S W Kelly| T: R Hughes| OR: 85| CD

15/2

Unreliable type. C&D winner. Respectable fifth of 9 in handicap (12/1) at Lingfield (6f, AW) 19 days ago. Others more persuasive.

Form: 95245-5

(2)

Durdle Door⁵⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 8-2| J: Aidan Keeley⁽⁷⁾| T: G & J Moore| OR: 75| D

11/8

Two wins from 6 runs last year. Career best when winning 10-runner handicap (7/4) at Lingfield (6f, AW) 50 days ago, bit in hand. Will take the beating if the pace is solid.

Form: 169541-

Non-Runners

(7)

Zarzyni⁷

Weight: 9-7| Age: 5

T: T D Barron J: Tom Marquand

Forecasts

Durdle Door (11/8), Zarzyni (9/4), Royal Pleasure (4/1), Shallow Hal (7/1), Top Breeze (15/2), Muscika (9/1), Count Otto (9/1), Nigel Nott (11/1)

DURDLE DOOR gained her first handicap win with something to spare at Lingfield in December and, despite being up in grade, she's well worth backing to follow up. Zarzyni, who fared best of those held up when second at Southwell a week ago, ranks as the main danger, although a steady pace could give Shallow Hal a realistic chance from a likely good tactical position.