15:55 Chelmsford City

Thursday 31 August 2023

All14:2514:5515:2515:5516:2516:55

Blesma, Limbless Veterans Charity Handicap

Off time: 15:57 | Winning time: 58.67s

(1)

Boom The Groom¹⁰^{(ex 4)}

Age: 12| Weight: 9-13| J: N Callan| T: A W Carroll| OR: 54| D

5/1

22/1, won 13-runner handicap at Lingfield (5f, good to firm) 10 days ago. Much respected under a 4 lb penalty.

Form: 266001

(6)

Profitable Dawn¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-9| J: Jefferson Smith| T: H Spiller| OR: 56

9/1

5/1, creditable third of 10 in handicap at this C&D 16 days ago. One for the shortlist.

Form: 2-96563

(7)

Laertes³⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Oisin Murphy| T: M Appleby| OR: 52

13/8

Good third of 10 in handicap at Wolverhampton (5.1f, 10/3) 37 days ago on his final run for Michael & David Easterby. Still low mileage so he's very much one to consider for his new stable off a 3 lb lower mark. Oisin Murphy up now too.

Form: 025003

(9)

Toplight^b⁸⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: Joey Haynes| T: C Banham| OR: 51| CD

16/1

C&D winner. Respectable seventh of 13 in handicap at Wolverhampton (6.1f, 9/1) 87 days ago. Rejoined yard after leaving Tony Carroll. Blinkers back on. Ought to be in the shake-up.

Form: 188497

(4)

Mintana^p⁵⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-5| J: Laura Coughlan⁽⁵⁾| T: H J Evans| OR: 52| BF| CD

10/1

C&D winner. 9/2, respectable fourth of 9 in handicap at Bath (5f, good) 50 days ago. Needs considering.

Form: 514544

(8)

Storm Melody^b¹⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 9-3| J: R Havlin| T: A Stronge| OR: 48| CD

25/1

C&D winner. Below form fourth of 9 in minor event at this course (6f, 12/1) 16 days ago. Blinkers back on with more needed.

Form: 947594

(3)

Universal Grace^t¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Cieren Fallon| T: S C Williams| OR: 49

11/2

18/1 and tongue strap on for 1st time, good second of 10 in handicap at this C&D 16 days ago. In the picture.

Form: 6-83992

(11)

Next Second²³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: Joanna Mason| T: Mrs R Carr| OR: 47| D

20/1

Twelve runs since last win in 2022. 12/1, below form fifth of 10 in minor event at this course (6f) 23 days ago. Not taken lightly at these weights if shrugging off latest effort.

Form: 390025

(2)

Reversion^v³⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: George Wood| T: C Wallis| OR: 45| D

25/1

One win from 25 Flat runs. Respectable sixth of 10 in handicap (18/1) at Bath (5.7f, good) 36 days ago. Can give a good account.

Form: 482756

(5)

Darlo Pride^b,t¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 8-12| J: Dylan Hogan| T: A Carson| OR: 45

9/1

Very good fourth of 10 in handicap at this C&D (22/1) 16 days ago, faring best of those ridden prominently. Not ruled out.

Form: 047644

Non-Runners

(10)

Under Curfew⁷

Weight: 9-7| Age: 7

T: A W Carroll J: K Shoemark

Forecasts

Laertes (13/8), Under Curfew (4/1), Boom The Groom (5/1), Universal Grace (11/2), Darlo Pride (9/1), Profitable Dawn (9/1), Mintana (10/1), Toplight (16/1), Next Second (20/1), Storm Melody (25/1), Reversion (25/1)

This looks wide open but LAERTES is taken to make a winning start for Mick Appleby having slipped in the weights and gain his breakthrough success, with Oisin Murphy in the saddle for the first time. Under Curfew is handily weighted and rates a big threat with recent Lingfield scorer Boom the Groom also highly respected along with C&D second Universal Grace.