20:05 Chelmsford City

Thursday 24 August 2023

All17:5518:3019:0519:3520:0520:35

Ministry Of Sound 2nd September Handicap

Off time: 20:05 | Winning time: 2m 57.02s

(7)

Estrela Star^p⁴²

Age: 7| Weight: 9-11| J: R Havlin| T: A Stronge| OR: 57| CD

17/2

3-time C&D winner. Eighth of 10 in handicap at Newbury (13.3f, good to firm, 50/1) 42 days ago. Cheekpieces back on and return to this track rates a plus.

Form: 4561-48

(1)

Geelong⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: David Probert| T: P & O Cole| OR: 56

7/2

Fifteen runs since last win in 2021. Good second of 10 in handicap (5/1) at Kempton (12f) 8 days ago, clear of rest. Can go well.

Form: 263432

(5)

Ask Peter¹⁰^{(ex 5)}

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: Archie Young⁽⁷⁾| T: C Johnston| OR: 50

10/1

Improved on recent efforts to win 7-runner handicap (11/1) at Hamilton (12.1f, good to soft) 10 days ago, very much having run of race. More on his plate under a penalty.

Form: 356471

(13)

Desert Glory²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-8| J: K T O'Neill| T: C Hobson| OR: 54

100/1

Thrice-raced maiden. 150/1, first run since leaving James Tate/gelded finished well held last of 7 in minor event at Newmarket (12f, good) 27 days ago, racing off the pace and always behind. Switch to handicaps a plus at least now but others preferred.

Form: 45-7

(11)

Steel Helmet²⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 9-7| J: Benoit D L Sayette| T: H Bethell| OR: 53| C| D

10/1

Course winner. Latest win at Wolverhampton in June. 6/1, good second of 10 in handicap at Newcastle (16.2f) 26 days ago, ridden under 3f out and keeping on well. Thereabouts again in present groove for all his mark is creeping up.

Form: 751512

(3)

Socialist Agenda²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 9-7| J: S W Kelly| T: L Morgan| OR: 53| BF

5/2

Multiple bumper winner/fairly useful hurdler who, (strong in betting) wasn't seen to best effect making handicap debut in this sphere when fifth at Wolverhampton (14f) 3 weeks ago, running on without being ideally placed. Well worth another chance from this mark.

Form: 7085

(12)

Trusty Scout^h¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-5| J: Darragh Keenan| T: D Shaw| OR: 51

14/1

Infrequent winner but comes here in decent nick, finishing close-up fourth in steadily-run handicap at Catterick (12f) 16 days ago. Can give another good account back on an artificial surface.

Form: 676264

(4)

Team Endeavour^p²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: Daniel Muscutt| T: Ian Williams| OR: 49

11/2

Winner at Wetherby (2m) in June. 10/1, below form sixth of 10 in handicap at Nottingham (2m, heavy) 21 days ago, seemingly unsuited by the testing conditions. However, in good hands and he remains pretty low mileage as a stayer, so better showing distinctly possible.

Form: 06-9816

(8)

Buford^b²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: Rowan Scott| T: Ewan Whillans| OR: 47

18/1

On a lengthy losing run but he turned in best effort of the campaign (in first-time blinkers) when runner-up at Wolverhampton (14f) 3 weeks ago, tying up late on. Fancied to be thereabouts again if headgear has desired effect once more.

Form: 426362

(9)

Foursome³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: J Mitchell| T: Olly Williams| OR: 46| BF

11/1

Remains a maiden after 19 Flat runs. 11/2, creditable fourth of 12 in handicap at Leicester (11.8f, good) 35 days ago, effort under 3f out and plugging on.

Form: 453464

(2)

Tradesman^b¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: Callum Shepherd| T: D M Simcock| OR: 46

28/1

Maiden who ran one of his better races (in refitted blinkers) when third of 9 in minor event at Yarmouth (10f) in July. However, proved disappointing back in handicap company at Lingfield (10f, heavy) 19 days ago. Bounce back called for.

Form: 605738

(6)

Ulysses^v⁴⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 9-0| J: Jonathan Fisher⁽⁵⁾| T: D Shaw| OR: 45

150/1

Ninth of 11 in handicap hurdle (25/1) at Worcester (23f, good to soft) 45 days ago. Poor on last Flat outing and he's hard to warm to.

Form: 8/6770-6

Non-Runners

(10)

Big Jimbo¹

Weight: 9-8| Age: 6

T: G & J Moore J: Rhys Clutterbuck

Forecasts

Socialist Agenda (5/2), Geelong (7/2), Big Jimbo (9/2), Team Endeavour (11/2), Estrela Star (17/2), Steel Helmet (10/1), Ask Peter (10/1), Foursome (11/1), Trusty Scout (14/1), Buford (18/1), Tradesman (28/1), Desert Glory (100/1), Ulysses (150/1)

SOCIALIST AGENDA wasn't seen to best effect when well backed and fifth making his handicap debut in this sphere at Wolverhampton 3 weeks ago, not ideally placed off a modest tempo, and he's worth chancing to take a step forward given his exploits in bumpers/over hurdles. Geelong is proving consistent and is feared, with Bath scorer Big Jimbo and Steel Helmet completing the shortlist.