18:45 Chelmsford City

Thursday 4 May 2023

All17:4518:1518:4519:1519:4520:1520:45

Fairwood Brasserie Handicap

Off time: 18:45 | Winning time: 3m 2.22s

(6)

Daniel Deronda^p,t²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-11| J: Stefano Cherchi| T: Miss A Murphy| OR: 72

8/1

Twelve runs since last win in 2021. Below form seventh of 14 in handicap at Bath (11.6f, soft, 33/1) 27 days ago. Up in trip. Better showing anticipated dropped into a 0-70 for the first time in a while.

Form: 045/237

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

(4)

Melakaz²¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-9| J: Darragh Keenan| T: R Stephens| OR: 70| BF

5/1

9/2, did well under the circumstances when fifth of 16 in handicap at Nottingham (14f, good), caught further back than ideal. Off 7 months. Thoroughly likeable sort who is definitely the type to win races this season.

Form: 0/11125-

(3)

Cedar Cage^h¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-9| J: George Eddery⁽⁷⁾| T: D Shaw| OR: 70| C| D

7/2

13/2, won 5-runner handicap at this course (16f) 2 weeks ago, leading last ½f and well on top finish. Nudged up 3 lb and could well have a say having been placed several times off a mark of 80 for previous yard.

Form: 731421

(5)

Beggarman^p²³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 9-8| J: Tom Marquand| T: H Morrison| OR: 69| CD

6/1

Won this corresponding event last year but ended season out of sorts, tailed-off last of 13 in handicap at Pontefract (17.1f, good, 8/1) 7 months ago. Will need to hit the ground running.

Form: 213460-

(7)

Master Grey^p²⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 9-6| J: R Havlin| T: B R Millman| OR: 67| D

17/2

3 wins from 6 runs this year. Won 12-runner handicap (4/1) at Wolverhampton (14f) 26 days ago, staying on to lead last ½f. May struggle back up in grade.

Form: 211451

(1)

What Will Be^p,t²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 9-2| J: W Buick| T: O Murphy| OR: 63| CD

7/2

Badly out of sorts over hurdles in recent months but bounced back to form returned to the level when scoring over C&D last month. Similar form upped in trip when third at this course (16f, 9/2) 3 weeks ago so can't be dismissed.

Form: 5146/13

(2)

Smokey Malone^b²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: Dylan Hogan| T: Miss J Feilden| OR: 62| C| D

5/1

Course winner. 8/1, won 9-runner handicap at Southwell (14.1f) 20 days ago, taking advantage of the runner-up wandering off a true line to lead last ½f. Nudged up 2 lb and should remain competitive.

Form: 29-6821

Forecasts

What Will Be (7/2), Cedar Cage (7/2), Melakaz (5/1), Smokey Malone (5/1), Beggarman (6/1), Daniel Deronda (8/1), Master Grey (17/2)

MELAKAZ is a thoroughly likeable sort who is definitely the type to win more races this year. Robert Stephens' 5-y-o gets the vote to make a winning reappearance at the expense of What Will Be, who ran well on both outings at this venue last month and should be in the mix once again. Smokey Malone can fill out third spot.