15:05 Chelmsford City

Thursday 22 February 2024

All14:0514:3515:0515:3516:0516:35

chelmsfordcityracecourse.com Handicap

Off time: 15:05 | Winning time: 3m 6.45s

(7)

Scarborough Castle²³

Age: 7| Weight: 9-9| J: Hayley Turner| T: D M Simcock| OR: 55

8/1

7/1, last of 11 in handicap at Southwell (11.1f) 23 days ago, faltering. Back up in trip. Has been well below his best this winter and as a result, is now 2 lb below his last winning mark.

Form: 3526-70

(2)

Liberated Lad^p,t⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-8| J: Jack Gilligan| T: B Brookhouse| OR: 54| D

4/1

Three wins from 18 runs last year. 4/1, ran well despite not everything going to plan when third of 9 in handicap at this course (13.3f) 6 weeks ago, headed well inside final 1f. Tongue strap back on.

Form: 3974-63

(1)

Foinix^v¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: Joe Leavy⁽⁷⁾| T: J & S Best| OR: 52| BF| C

9/4

Course winner. Again ran creditably when third of 7 in handicap at Lingfield (15.8f, AW, 5/2) 2 weeks ago. Should continue to give a good account.

Form: 487-223

(6)

Good Time Ahead⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 9-3| J: Liam Keniry| T: J & S Best| OR: 49| D

28/1

Cheekpieces on for 1st time, again finished well held when third of 6 in handicap hurdle at Fakenham (16f, soft, 11/4) 6 days ago. Back on the level and has plenty to prove.

Form: 0084-87

(4)

Stolen Encounter^p¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-3| J: Hollie Doyle| T: A Watson| OR: 52

6/5

Lightly-raced maiden. 9/1, improved again over 3f longer trip when second of 12 in handicap at Wolverhampton (12.2f) 19 days ago, rallying after headed narrowly over 1f out. Every chance he can go one better.

Form: 0084-2

(3)

Buford^b,t³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: Dylan Hogan| T: L Williamson| OR: 45

80/1

80/1, failed to come on for recent run when last of 8 in handicap at this course (13.3f) 5 weeks ago, downing tools. Easy to look elsewhere.

Form: 3627-98

Non-Runners

(5)

Drill To Dream¹

Weight: 9-6| Age: 5

T: P & J Clutterbuck J: L Morris

Forecasts

Stolen Encounter (6/5), Foinix (9/4), Liberated Lad (4/1), Scarborough Castle (8/1), Drill To Dream (12/1), Good Time Ahead (28/1), Buford (80/1)

A few in with a squeak but returning from 9 months off, STOLEN ENCOUNTER improved for the step up in trip when going down by a narrow margin at Wolverhampton earlier this month and with that outing sure to have blown away any cobwebs, Archie Watson's 4-y-o can open his account. Foinix is holding his form well this year so he's second choice, with Liberated Lad and top-weight Scarborough Castle taken to fight out third.