19:30 Chelmsford City

Thursday 8 December 2022

All16:3017:0017:3018:0018:3019:0019:3020:0020:30

Hendo's Birthday Bash Handicap

Off time: 19:32 | Winning time: 1m 11.48s

(1)

Araifjan⁷^{(ex 5)}

Age: 5| Weight: 10-0| J: T Eaves| T: M Herrington| OR: 60| CD

9/4

3-time C&D winner. Capitalised on reduced mark when landing 9-runner handicap at this C&D (7/4) 7 days ago, driven out. No surprise to see him out under a penalty and claims again in this groove.

Form: 746221

(10)

Marwari¹⁰¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-8| J: Joanna Mason| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 59| D

16/1

Enjoyed a fine second half of this year, making it 3 wins from last 4 starts in handicaps at Southwell (6f) in August, challenging over 1f out and battling well. Mark has crept up a little more but he's not underestimated back from a break.

Form: 251151

(9)

Ramdon Rocks^p1,t¹²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: K T O'Neill| T: Alice Haynes| OR: 59| D

13/2

Tongue strap on for 1st time, first run since leaving Ismail Mohammed when respectable fourth of 11 in handicap at Wolverhampton (7.2f, 7/1) 12 days ago. Cheekpieces on 1st time and return to 6f a likely plus back on last winning mark.

Form: 165634

(3)

Dark Design⁵¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-8| J: J Mitchell| T: H Spiller| OR: 59| CD

8/1

C&D winner. Latest win at Yarmouth (6f) in August. 9/1, respectable seventh of 15 in handicap back at that venue (6f, soft) 51 days ago. Mark is steadily easing now returned to AW.

Form: 621097

(12)

Thomas Equinas⁶⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: Charlie Bennett| T: D K Ivory| OR: 57

50/1

Last of 16 in handicap at Windsor (6f, good to firm, 50/1) 66 days ago. Needs to get back on track following another 2-month break but he's a tricky drawn to deal with.

Form: 358-050

(11)

Alafdhal⁷^{(ex 5)}

Age: 4| Weight: 9-6| J: K Stott| T: P S McEntee| OR: 52| CD

4/1

Arrives here in good form, gaining second C&D success from last 3 starts under this rider 7 days ago, well on top finish. Another holding sound claims once more under a penalty.

Form: 760151

(5)

Olivetti¹²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: Mr Taylor Fisher⁽⁵⁾| T: R Stephens| OR: 55

18/1

Maiden. Not disgraced when fourth of 10 in handicap at Wolverhampton (5.1f, 40/1) 12 days ago, weakening when hampered inside final 1f. Steps back up in trip now.

Form: 5-93884

(6)

Hit Mac^h⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: Jason Hart| T: G Boughey| OR: 55| BF

5/2

Lightly-raced maiden. Hooded for 1st time, creditable second of 10 in handicap at Lingfield (5f, AW, 3/1) 8 days ago, headway 1f out and keeping on. Less exposed than most and expected to feature again.

Form: 5252

(2)

Wooders Dream⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: Dylan Hogan| T: Jack Jones| OR: 55

28/1

Blinkered for 1st time, eighth of 11 in handicap at Wolverhampton (6.1f, 16/1) 9 days ago, short of room 4f out but ultimately making little impression. Headgear discarded now.

Form: 336678

(4)

Madame Marmalade^p1⁷⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: Elle-May Croot⁽⁷⁾| T: I Furtado| OR: 50

66/1

Last of 11 in handicap (66/1) at Southwell (7.1f) in September, never involved. Absent subsequently and others arrive with more pressing claims despite career-low mark.

Form: 5287-70

(8)

Pusey Street²⁰⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 8-9| J: Billy Loughnane⁽⁷⁾| T: J Gallagher| OR: 45

125/1

4-y-o who boasts little in the way of solid form, seventh of 11 in handicap (100/1) at Brighton (5.3f, good) in May. Best watched back from 6 months off.

Form: 8007-07

Non-Runners

(7)

Maybe Tonight⁶⁵

Weight: 8-12| Age: 3

T: A W Carroll J: David Probert

Forecasts

Araifjan (9/4), Hit Mac (5/2), Alafdhal (4/1), Ramdon Rocks (13/2), Dark Design (8/1), Marwari (16/1), Maybe Tonight (16/1), Olivetti (18/1), Wooders Dream (28/1), Thomas Equinas (50/1), Madame Marmalade (66/1), Pusey Street (125/1)

HIT MAC took a step forward in form terms despite still looking a little rough around the edges when runner-up on handicap debut at Lingfield (5f) 8 days ago and, with the prospect of more to come back up at 6f, she could be the answer. Alafdhal arrives on the back of his best effort of the year when scoring over C&D recently and rates a big player also under a penalty. Araifjan and Marwari can also figure.