19:00 Chelmsford City

Thursday 2 May 2024

All17:5018:2519:0019:3020:0020:3021:00

Bet Boost At bet365 Handicap

Off time: 19:00 | Winning time: 3m 5.6s

(4)

Be Fair²²

Age: 8| Weight: 9-11| J: Grace McEntee⁽³⁾| T: A Irvine| OR: 57| D

40/1

50/1, first run since leaving Tony Carroll when twelfth of 13 in handicap at Kempton (12f) 22 days ago. Likely he needed that following 13 months off but others make more appeal here all the same.

Form: 76122-0

(2)

Merry Minister²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: Laura Pearson| T: B R Johnson| OR: 55

4/1

Latest win at Lingfield in February. Third of 5 in handicap at this course (16f, 10/3) 21 days ago. Solid each-way chance.

Form: 755173

(3)

Socialist Agenda^v²³

Age: 8| Weight: 9-6| J: Rossa Ryan| T: L Morgan| OR: 52

13/8

Visor on for 1st time in this code, improved to win 7-runner handicap (13/8) at Southwell (16.5f) 23 days ago, comfortably. More on his plate up 4 lb in a more competitive race but recent winning form is at a premium here, so he's shortlisted.

Form: 633371

(11)

Pfingstberg²²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-5| J: Callum Shepherd| T: D M Simcock| OR: 51

7/2

Promising sort. Below form seventh of 14 in handicap (9/2) at Thirsk (12f, soft) when last seen in September. Perhaps this step up in trip will help unlock some improvement and, if so, he could have a big part to play.

Form: 633227-

(7)

Central City¹¹²

Age: 9| Weight: 9-5| J: Jack Gilligan| T: B Brookhouse| OR: 51| C

16/1

Course winner. 10/1, sixth of 7 in handicap at Southwell (14.1f). Off 112 days and he's likely to find a few of these too strong.

Form: 56500-6

(5)

Foinix^b1²³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-4| J: Rob Hornby| T: J & S Best| OR: 50| C

9/1

Course winner. One win from 21 Flat runs. Respectable 6¼ lengths third of 7 to Socialist Agenda in handicap at Southwell (16.5f, 5/1) 23 days ago. Will be a threat if the first-time blinkers have the desired effect.

Form: 7-22333

(8)

Henry The Fifth^p,t²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: William Carson| T: A Carson| OR: 46| D

16/1

One win from 28 Flat runs. Fourteen runs since last win in 2022. Fourth of 11 in handicap (100/1) at Southwell (14.1f) 20 days ago. Needs a couple of these to falter.

Form: 64704-4

(9)

Persian Wolf^v²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: J P Sullivan| T: D Shaw| OR: 45| C

40/1

Course winner. Two wins from 43 Flat runs. Sixth of 10 in handicap at Southwell (11.1f, 40/1) 20 days ago, merely passing beaten rivals. Up in trip and visor back on.

Form: 000-056

(1)

Qeyaady¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: J F Egan| T: P Phelan| OR: 45

10/1

Twenty-one runs since sole win back in 2021. Tenth of 12 in handicap (12/1) at Brighton (9.9f, good) 12 days ago, missing break. Significantly up in trip and needs to get back on track.

Form: 03-7460

(10)

Miss Tiki¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-0| J: R Havlin| T: Marie Martin| OR: 45

66/1

Thirteen runs since last win in 2021. 33/1, last of 12 in handicap at Brighton (9.9f, good) 12 days ago. Significantly up in trip.

Form: 4/637-90

Non-Runners

(6)

Hurtle²⁷

Weight: 9-7| Age: 4

T: P & O Cole J: K T O'Neill

Forecasts

Socialist Agenda (13/8), Pfingstberg (7/2), Merry Minister (4/1), Foinix (9/1), Qeyaady (10/1), Hurtle (14/1), Central City (16/1), Henry The Fifth (16/1), Be Fair (40/1), Persian Wolf (40/1), Miss Tiki (66/1)

PFINGSTBERG was below par on his final start of 2023 but he otherwise didn't do a great deal wrong in several handicaps at around 1½m and shapes as though this stiffer test will be right up his street. David Simcock's charge is taken to deservedly open his account, perhaps at the chief expense of Foinix, who was behind Socialist Agenda at Southwell last time but enjoys a handy pull at the weights with that rival. Merry Minister is also likely to be on the premises.