January 11 / 20.30 Chelmsford (AW)

20.30

Standard

Chelmsford City Racecourse Membership Handicap

  • Prize money: £4004
  • 0m 7f 0y
  • Class 6
  • 7 runners
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Chelmsford City Racecourse Membership Handicap

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Flat AW

Surface: Polytrack

Weather: Cloudy

Evs (Won)

  • Win: £2.20
  • Place: £1.10

Form: 2336-1 D

Last run: 7 days

W: 9st 8lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 52

Form & Verdict
7f turf winner last summer; ran away with a 6f handicap at Newcastle last week, drawing clear in the final furlong, and officially 5lb well in despite the penalty; has to be high on the shortlist.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

7

(2)

29th May 2026

Good To Firm

0m 6f 195y

Class 6

17:15 Carlisle

The Gay Blade

9st 1lb

J: Andrew Mullen

T: Iain Jardine

Handy sort who has been successful three times on the AW this year; has won four times on turf, but was found to have bled at Ayr last time; others more convincing.

10/1

6th

4

(4)

5th May 2026

Good To Firm

0m 6f 0y

Class 6

16:30 Ayr

The Gay Blade

9st 3lb

J: Cara Tuke

T: Iain Jardine

Successful three times over 6f on Newcastle AW this year; ran well at Musselburgh (7f, good; neck second) returned to turf last week; now 2lb higher but Cara Tuke removes 7lb; respected in current form.

13/8

2nd

3

(10)

29th Apr 2026

Good

0m 7f 15y

Class 6

17:00 Musselburgh

The Gay Blade

9st 8lb

J: Andrew Mullen

T: Iain Jardine

Made it three wins in his last four starts (all 6f at Newcastle) when seeing off ten rivals in an apprentice race last week; former C&D scorer so the step back up in trip shouldn't be an issue and he escapes a penalty.

2/1

20/1

  • Place: £3.40

Form: 76758-

Last run: 12 days

W: 9st 6lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 55

Form & Verdict
Yet to fire for Mick Appleby, tried over trips ranging from 5f to an extended 1m; dropping down the weights but there are risks attached.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

9

(12)

20th Apr 2024

Good To Soft

0m 6f 210y

Class 6

17:15 Brighton

Awesome Spirit

9st 1lb

J: Alistair Rawlinson

T: Michael Appleby

towards rear, headway up the centre over 1f out, ran on well towards finish, never on terms

10/1

5th

9

(12)

20th Apr 2024

Good To Soft

0m 6f 210y

Class 6

17:15 Brighton

Awesome Spirit

9st 1lb

J: Alistair Rawlinson

T: Michael Appleby

towards rear, headway up the centre over 1f out, ran on well towards finish, never on terms

10/1

9th

3

(10)

10th Apr 2024

Standard

0m 6f 20y

Class 6

17:20 Wolverhampton (AW)

Awesome Spirit

9st 9lb

J: Joanna Mason

T: Michael Appleby

Regressive maiden who never looked like justifying favouritism in a weak Chelmsford handicap (Hard Solution third) back from wind surgery early last month; a poor effort since tempers enthusiasm from a wide stall.

12/1

Form: 7443-3

Last run: 3 days

W: 9st 6lb

4 yo Filly

OR: 55

Form & Verdict
Still to win after 14 starts but she's been threatening and turned in another solid effort when third of 11 at Newcastle on Monday; Hollie Doyle replaces a 7lb claimer; one to consider.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

2

(10)

20th Feb 2024

Standard

0m 7f 14y

Class 6

20:30 Newcastle (AW)

Sparkling Spirit

9st 9lb

J: P J McDonald

T: Adrian Paul Keatley

midfield on near side of group

3/1

10

15th Feb 2024

Standard

0m 6f 16y

Class 6

16:22 Southwell (AW)

Sparkling Spirit

9st 4lb

T: Adrian Paul Keatley

2nd

11

15th Feb 2024

Standard

0m 7f 14y

Class 6

15:12 Southwell (AW)

Sparkling Spirit

9st 3lb

T: Adrian Paul Keatley

took keen hold, held up in rear, headway towards near side over 1f out, pressed winner inside final 110yds, kept on

11/4

Form: 48065-

Last run: 16 days

W: 8st 11lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 45

Form & Verdict
Unplaced in all eight starts but he has hinted at better on a couple of occasions since handicapping, including last time when keeping on for a never-dangerous fifth at Wolverhampton; should have a small race in him but it remains to be seen whether this track will play to his strengths.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

12

(3)

28th Apr 2026

Standard

0m 7f 14y

Class 6

14:20 Southwell (AW)

Brother Dave

8st 11lb

J: James Sullivan

T: Ruth Carr

Returned from break with hard-fought C&D win in January and has held his form pretty well since, albeit his latest run was a shade disappointing; current mark is workable; no surprise if he features.

10/1

6th

9

(4)

11th Apr 2026

Standard

0m 7f 14y

Class 6

18:45 Southwell (AW)

Brother Dave

9st 4lb

J: James Sullivan

T: Ruth Carr

Kickstarted 2026 with C&D victory (third one) and has continued in good form, fading late on when third of 11 in 1m classified event here last time; ought to be thereabouts again.

10/1

3rd

2

(6)

26th Mar 2026

Standard

1m 0f 13y

Class 6

15:07 Southwell (AW)

Brother Dave

9st 9lb

J: James Sullivan

T: Ruth Carr

Running well here this year and he landed a classified in January; subsequently placed in two course handicaps (also 7f); didn't beat a rival in previous three starts at this sort of trip but still commands respect in current mood back in a classified.

5/1

Form: 50098- D

Last run: 22 days

W: 9st 3lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 52

Form & Verdict
7f winner for the Gosdens in September 2022; struggled in handicaps for other yards since and he has too much to prove for comfort here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

14

(11)

14th May 2024

Good To Soft

0m 7f 16y

Class 6

20:10 Chepstow

Afterlife

9st 0lb

J: Josephine Gordon

T: Phil McEntee

ducked right start, towards rear

33/1

14

(11)

14th May 2024

Good To Soft

0m 7f 16y

Class 6

20:10 Chepstow

Afterlife

9st 0lb

J: Josephine Gordon

T: Phil McEntee

ducked right start, towards rear, pushed along over 3f out

33/1

6th

11

(12)

27th Apr 2024

Soft

0m 6f 0y

Class 6

16:55 Leicester

Afterlife

8st 9lb

J: Josephine Gordon

T: Phil McEntee

Looked promising as a 2yo but has become very disappointing on the AW since the autumn and is not yet proven on ground slower than good to soft.

20/1

Form: 07430-

Last run: 20 days

W: 8st 11lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 45

Form & Verdict
Exposed maiden; the odd fair effort to his name but he finished tailed off at Wolverhampton three weeks ago and others look much safer.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

14th

14

(14)

9th May 2024

Soft

0m 6f 210y

Class 6

16:23 Brighton

College Wizard

9st 0lb

J: Darragh Keenan

T: Christine Dunnett

raced wide, in touch with leaders, outpaced and lost position 5f out, struggling over 2f out, lost touch over 1f out

33/1

14th

14

(14)

9th May 2024

Soft

0m 6f 210y

Class 6

16:23 Brighton

College Wizard

9st 0lb

J: Darragh Keenan

T: Christine Dunnett

raced wide, in touch with leaders, outpaced and lost position 5f out

33/1

11th

14

(6)

13th Apr 2024

Good

1m 2f 23y

Class 5

16:55 Yarmouth

College Wizard

8st 4lb

J: Mia Nicholls

T: Christine Dunnett

16-race maiden who was C&D third last August on handicap debut but has been running over shorter since October; no persuasive form, particularly as he's 6lb out of the handicap.

66/1

11/2

Form: 040-

Last run: 27 days

W: 9st 8lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 57

Form & Verdict
Some promise over C&D in the second of his three runs in novice/maiden company; moves into handicaps with potential, especially if learning to settle, and he's one to take seriously.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

2

(6)

12th Apr 2024

Standard

1m 0f 13y

Class 6

20:30 Southwell (AW)

Wee Geordie

9st 9lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Stuart Williams

always behind

7/2

8th

2

(6)

12th Apr 2024

Standard

1m 0f 13y

Class 6

20:30 Southwell (AW)

Wee Geordie

9st 9lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Stuart Williams

always behind

7/2

7th

2

(3)

11th Jan 2024

Standard

0m 7f 0y

Class 6

20:30 Chelmsford (AW)

Wee Geordie

9st 8lb

J: Rob Hornby

T: Stuart Williams

towards rear

11/2

Non-runners

Dulcet Spirit

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £13.40
Straight Forecast £13.13
Tricast £26.89
Trifecta £29.50

Selections

POSTDATA:

The Gay Blade

SPOTLIGHT:

Wee Geordie

The Guardian:

Sparkling Spirit

The Times:

Brother Dave

RP RATINGS:

Wee Geordie

NEWMARKET:

Wee Geordie

The Sun:

Sparkling Spirit

Telegraph:

The Gay Blade

Daily Mail:

The Gay Blade

D Express:

The Gay Blade

Daily Mirror:

The Gay Blade

The Star:

The Gay Blade

Daily Record:

The Gay Blade