November 03 / 19.30 Chelmsford (AW)

19.30

Standard

Christmas At Chelmsford City Racecourse Handicap

  • Prize money: £5076
  • 1m 2f 0y
  • Class 5
  • 8 runners
RTV
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Christmas At Chelmsford City Racecourse Handicap

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Flat AW

Surface: Polytrack

Weather: Showers

OUR TIP

7/4 (Won)

  • Win: £1.62
  • Place: £1.10

Form: 4-3712 D BF

Last run: 2 days

W: 9st 11lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 67

Form & Verdict
New yard (his third) and wind surgery (his second) before getting off the mark in 12-runner race at Newcastle ten days ago over this trip on Tapeta, in good style too and that was easily his best Flat form; carried this 5lb penalty and a first-time hood at Newcastle on Tuesday but narrowly found one rival too good; good chance if he's in the same form.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

3

(8)

1st Jun 2026

Good To Firm

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

16:35 Newbury

Barenboim

9st 8lb

J: Ashley Lewis

T: Tom Dascombe

Just 1lb above his last winning mark, but is 6-31 on the AW and 0-18 on turf, including six starts over hurdles; others more solid.

20/1

9th

12

(2)

3rd Apr 2026

Standard

2m 0f 56y

Class 2

16:42 Newcastle (AW)

Barenboim

8st 2lb

J: Hollie Doyle

T: Tom Dascombe

Made all at Kempton (2m, Polytrack) in January and head second to Berkshire Sundance at Lingfield (2m, Polytrack) later that month; not quite at the same level at Southwell (2m2f, Tapeta) last month but he failed to settle; Newcastle form figures read 12139 and he has an each-way shout.

16/1

6th

2

(5)

4th Mar 2026

Standard

2m 2f 98y

Class 4

17:40 Southwell (AW)

Barenboim

9st 13lb

J: Pierre-Louis Jamin

T: Tom Dascombe

Kempton winner (2m Class 4; 3-1, from 3lb lower) on penultimate start; went close to following up - pipped on the post - at Lingfield (2m; 9-2) subsequently; this asks a slightly sterner question over a new distance on the Flat; likely to give another positive account.

4/1

10/1

  • Place: £2.20

Form: 543430

Last run: 29 days

W: 9st 4lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 65

Form & Verdict
Four Wolverhampton AW wins (latest December 2020) but unraced here; some minor honours and some heavy defeats on AW and turf this year; same owner but has now left David Loughnane.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

1

(8)

18th Jan 2023

Standard

1m 1f 104y

Class 6

13:40 Wolverhampton (AW)

Richard R H B

9st 11lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Michael Appleby

raced in second, pushed along over 2f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, no extra and headed towards finish

9/2

5th

8

(3)

5th Jan 2023

Standard

1m 2f 0y

Class 5

19:00 Chelmsford (AW)

Richard R H B

9st 3lb

J: Alistair Rawlinson

T: Michael Appleby

Over two years since the last of his four wins, all of which have come at Wolverhampton; he is effective here too though and has run some good races in defeat since joining Mick Appleby; should run his race and he is not discounted with a cheekpiece experiment quickly aborted.

15/2

3rd
6 (4)
McTed

6/1

  • Place: £1.70

Form: 461230 D

Last run: 12 days

W: 9st 4lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 65

Form & Verdict
1m2f wins on turf this May and August; comparable form over C&D on penultimate start, which puts him in the mix, but below form back here on latest.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

11

(7)

11th Apr 2026

Good

1m 2f 23y

Class 4

15:42 Yarmouth

McTed

9st 0lb

J: Alice Bond

T: Martin Dunne

Won first three handicaps for new yard on AW and turf (1m-1m2f) by emphatic margins but he couldn't defy a penalty in October and was a further 5lb higher when soundly beaten in November; now has to show he can cope with current mark; regular cheekpieces left off.

25/1

3

(6)

31st Oct 2025

Good

1m 1f 0y

Class 5

15:57 Newmarket

McTed

9st 11lb

J: Alice Bond

T: Martin Dunne

Ridden last three years by Alice Bond; 3-3 for Martin Dunne with his wins over 9.4f at Wolverhampton, 1m2f at Brighton and 8.6f at Wolverhampton, with varied tactics but all in good style; 4lb penalty and just six days off but that latest run was career-best form and this 7yo is on the march.

2/1

4th

3

(6)

31st Oct 2025

Good

1m 1f 0y

Class 5

15:57 Newmarket

McTed

9st 11lb

J: Alice Bond

T: Martin Dunne

Ridden last three years by Alice Bond; 3-3 for Martin Dunne with his wins over 9.4f at Wolverhampton, 1m2f at Brighton and 8.6f at Wolverhampton, with varied tactics but all in good style; 4lb penalty and just six days off but that latest run was career-best form and this 7yo is on the march.

2/1

4th
1 (6)
Balgair

7/1

Form: -35030 CD

Last run: 47 days

W: 10st 1lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 76

Form & Verdict
8yo who usually pops up in front once a season but has not yet done so this term; 3lb lower than last October's winning mark, which was over C&D following a run in the amateurs' Cambridgeshire; did not run nearly so well in that Newmarket race this year but a case can be made.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

7

(6)

17th Jul 2023

Good To Soft

1m 2f 0y

Class 4

20:10 Windsor

Balgair

9st 3lb

J: Tom Marquand

T: Tom Clover

carried left start, took keen hold, prominent, pulled way into lead after 2f, no extra and headed final 110yds

8/1

1

(4)

6th Jul 2023

Good To Firm

1m 2f 0y

Class 5

20:25 Newbury

Balgair

10st 2lb

J: Charles Bishop

T: Tom Clover

On a losing run but ran respectably both starts this term, close third of six at Lingfield latest; that was 1m2f but he has a mixed record over this far; ground softer than good would be a big worry.

Form: 327722 D BF

Last run: 7 days

W: 9st 11lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 72

Form & Verdict
0-18 since arriving from France but well down the weights and has been runner-up on Polytrack at Kempton (1m3f) and Lingfield (1m2f; checked over 1f out) on last two starts; well beaten sole run here (May) but he's a big each-way player.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

6

31st May 2023

Good

2m 1f 46y

Class 5

18:50 Cartmel

Bugle Major

10st 11lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Archie Watson

Fair on the Flat but yet to make an impact over hurdles; brushed aside fairly easily after leading on final circuit at Plumpton (2m, good; refitted blinkers) this month; will need to show more tenacity here.

10/1

8th

9

14th May 2023

Good

1m 7f 195y

Class 5

15:15 Plumpton

Bugle Major

10st 11lb

J: Nick Scholfield

T: Archie Watson

Three French Flat wins and he's 0-30 in Britain, though placed on many occasions; shaped quite well on hurdling debut but twice tailed off since; risky but opening mark of 83 would look lenient if showing his best.

8/1

11th

1

12th Apr 2023

Good

1m 7f 182y

Class 4

16:35 Southwell

Bugle Major

11st 6lb

J: Nick Scholfield

T: Archie Watson

led, headed but prominent before 4th, pushed along after 4 out

16/1

Form: 349244 C

Last run: 59 days

W: 9st 12lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 73

Form & Verdict
Three 1m AW wins, the last two at this track; best efforts this term were in the spring and he was pulled up on hurdling debut three weeks ago; something to prove beyond 1m.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

3

(2)

21st Aug 2023

Good

0m 7f 216y

Class 6

16:25 Brighton

Rhubarb Bikini

10st 4lb

J: Adam Farragher

T: Simon Hodgson

led, headed 4f out, ridden and weakened from over 2f out

10/1

10th

5

(1)

10th Aug 2023

Good To Soft

1m 0f 0y

Class 6

16:50 Salisbury

Rhubarb Bikini

11st 7lb

J: Mr Jack Fox

T: Simon Hodgson

Mostly consistent since joining this yard and won over Brighton's 1m (good) in April off 4lb lower; should give his running once more.

10/1

4th

4

(5)

11th May 2023

Standard

0m 7f 0y

Class 6

19:30 Chelmsford (AW)

Rhubarb Bikini

9st 3lb

J: William Carver

T: Simon Hodgson

Came good for Simon Hodgson at fourth attempt, leading close home at Brighton (1m, good; visored) last month; raced too freely in first-time blinkers there last week but still ran well; has the visor refitted here and this drop back to 7f is an interesting move; might be the answer.

6/1

16/1

Form: 7-6080

Last run: 24 days

W: 9st 3lb

3 yo Gelding

OR: 67

Form & Verdict
Ran creditably on his seasonal/handicap debut (1m, good) in May but grim results with a hood in his three starts since; the hood is now removed and he makes his AW debut, off 9lb lower than on reappearance; well beaten on both attempts at 1m2f but he should be suited by 1m2f+ on pedigree.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

0

5

18th Sep 2023

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

17:00 Worcester

Ar El Bee

11st 2lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Harry Derham

took keen hold, led, hung badly right and ran out before 5th

5/2

3rd

5

2nd Sep 2023

Good

2m 0f 167y

Class 3

14:32 Newton Abbot

Ar El Bee

11st 0lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Harry Derham

Became disappointing on the Flat for David Menuisier last year and did not convince with his jumping when safely held in two novice hurdles for Oliver Sherwood this summer; now with another new stable; needs to learn to settle much better.

14/1

5th

6

28th Jul 2023

Good

1m 7f 168y

Class 4

13:35 Uttoxeter

Ar El Bee

10st 12lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Oliver Sherwood

Became disappointing on the Flat for David Menuisier last year and didn't convince with his jumping when well-held fifth of six on last month's stable/hurdle debut; entitled to have learned from that experience but others look safer here.

20/1

Form: 056-6

Last run: 278 days

W: 9st 1lb

3 yo Filly

OR: 65

Form & Verdict
Slow starts on all four appearances; hood and cheekpieces were enlisted when never-dangerous sixth of nine on handicap debut at Kempton (1m, AW) in January; dam 1m4f winner; first run since sold out of Henry Spiller's for 10,000gns in February; tongue tied this time.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

7

(9)

1st Aug 2023

Good To Firm

1m 0f 3y

Class 6

17:20 Yarmouth

Teekana

9st 3lb

J: Callum Shepherd

T: Mike Murphy & Michael Keady

Maiden who missed a lot of last year and has regressed; comes back down in trip again, switched from cheekpieces to blinkers, and doesn't make obvious appeal.

25/1

6th

8

(6)

1st Jul 2023

Standard

1m 2f 0y

Class 6

18:40 Lingfield (AW)

Teekana

9st 4lb

J: Georgia Dobie

T: Mike Murphy & Michael Keady

Ten-race maiden who has not really progressed and has form figures of 6887507 in handicaps; now 19lb lower than for her opening mark but has a lot to prove.

25/1

7th

8

(1)

14th Jun 2023

Good To Firm

1m 3f 104y

Class 6

16:00 Yarmouth

Teekana

9st 4lb

J: David Egan

T: Mike Murphy & Michael Keady

took keen hold, prominent on inner, weakened final furlong

25/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £6.80
Straight Forecast £5.69
Tricast £16.97
Trifecta £24.00

Selections

POSTDATA:

Barenboim

SPOTLIGHT:

Balgair

The Star:

Mc'Ted

The Guardian:

Richard R H B

Daily Record:

Bugle Major

THE NORTH:

Barenboim

Telegraph:

Barenboim

Daily Mail:

Barenboim

D Express:

Barenboim

The Sun:

Barenboim

RP Ratings:

Balgair

NEWMARKET:

Balgair

Daily Mirror:

Balgair