August 25 / 14.45 Chelmsford (AW)

14.45

Standard

Chelmsford City Cup Handicap

  • Prize money: £20616
  • 0m 7f 0y
  • Class 2
  • 10 runners
RTV
View Course
Chelmsford City Cup Handicap

Runners: 10 runners

Type: Flat AW

Surface: Polytrack

Weather: Partly cloudy

1st
10 (7)
Wonder Elzaam

10/1 (Won)

  • Win: £16.20
  • Place: £3.70

Form: 986232 D

Last run: 9 days

W: 8st 11lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 83

Form & Verdict
Running well in defeat lately and only found a progressive 3yo (who was completing a hat-trick) too good at Kempton (6f, Polytrack) nine days ago; return to 7f not an issue and although still 5lb above his last winning mark, cannot be dismissed.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

10

(7)

25th Aug 2022

Standard

0m 7f 0y

Class 2

14:45 Chelmsford (AW)

Wonder Elzaam

8st 11lb

J: J F Egan

T: J S Moore

soon led, shaken up over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, kept on well

10/1

2nd

4

(1)

16th Aug 2022

Standard To Slow

0m 6f 0y

Class 4

16:00 Kempton (AW)

Wonder Elzaam

9st 12lb

J: J F Egan

T: J S Moore

led but pestered, ridden over 2f out, headed over 1f out, kept on well

14/1

2nd
3 (5)

8/1

  • Place: £2.50

Form: 605532 C

Last run: 23 days

W: 9st 11lb

5 yo

OR: 97

Form & Verdict
Course winner who has been running well over 6f lately including when second of 11 at Kempton (Polytrack) this month; all five wins have come over 7f/1m, though, the latest at the start of 2021, but he is still 6lb higher so needs to find a bit extra.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price
No Results Found

16/1

  • Place: £4.20

Form: /0-007 D

Last run: 79 days

W: 9st 8lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 94

Form & Verdict
Back off his last winning mark, but well beaten in two starts at Meydan earlier in the year and finished tailed off in a first-time tongue tie (retained) over C&D in June (reportedly had a prolonged recovery rate); risky at present.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

18th

30

(9)

21st Jun 2023

Good To Firm

1m 0f 0y

Class 2

17:00 Ascot

Light And Dark

8st 9lb

J: David Probert

T: Saeed bin Suroor

Last win came on AW in 2020; raced just eight times since, proving far from consistent; failed to beat a rival on latest start (wore hood); unappealing contender and yard has a much stronger chance with Ghaly.

50/1

9th

2

(7)

11th Jun 2023

Good To Firm

0m 7f 0y

Class 3

13:35 Goodwood

Light And Dark

10st 0lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: Saeed bin Suroor

slowly away, in rear

7/1

3

(5)

25th May 2023

Good

1m 0f 0y

Class 3

20:12 Sandown

Light And Dark

9st 7lb

J: Kieran O’Neill

T: Saeed bin Suroor

Useful 7f handicapper in Britain and seemed to see out the 1m okay when a closing, eyecatching fifth at Meydan on his penultimate run (never dangerous over 7f there the final time); his tendency to start slowly continues to hold him back and this strong a handicap takes no prisoners, but the ability is there to take a hand.

10/1

OUR TIP

9/2

Form: 7-1132 CD BF

Last run: 25 days

W: 9st 6lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 92

Form & Verdict
Record since debuting for this yard after more than six months off in April (gelded in the meantime) reads 1132, with his first win coming over C&D; 4-7 on the AW and seems likely to run a big race once again.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

2

(5)

12th Jun 2026

Good

0m 7f 127y

Class 5

17:28 Chester

Red Mirage

9st 8lb

J: Jason Hart

T: John & Sean Quinn

Has a win over C&D but that was over four years ago; hasn't backed up an encouraging third at Doncaster (7f, good to soft) in March in two runs since but has dropped to a career-low mark so all is not lost.

8/1

6th

7

(7)

19th May 2026

Standard

0m 7f 14y

Class 5

17:35 Newcastle (AW)

Red Mirage

9st 5lb

J: Jason Hart

T: John & Sean Quinn

Four-time Polytrack winner who ran well below market expectations in two previous starts on Tapeta; back on his last successful mark but didn't build on a decent comeback effort last time.

12/1

6th

4

(6)

13th Apr 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 0y

Class 5

16:22 Leicester

Red Mirage

9st 6lb

J: Harry Vigors

T: John & Sean Quinn

Resumed from four months off with a good third of 15 in 7f Doncaster handicap 15 days ago; must enter calculations off an unchanged mark.

7/2

5th
4 (10)

10/1

Form: 1-6064 D

Last run: 32 days

W: 9st 10lb

5 yo

OR: 96

Form & Verdict
Last five starts have been over 6f and he ran his best race of the year when fourth of 11 here last month, finishing just behind Wonder Elzaam; he shaped then as though this return to 7f would suit and is back off his last winning mark; interesting.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price
No Results Found

Form: 1292-6 D

Last run: 44 days

W: 9st 2lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 88

Form & Verdict
Unexposed 4yo who ran better than it may have looked on his return from 263 days off when sixth of nine over C&D last month; will need to come on a good deal from that to win a race of this nature, though, and he remains 7lb above his last winning mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

8

(9)

12th Jul 2024

Good To Soft

0m 7f 0y

Class 3

16:45 Newmarket (July)

Final Watch

9st 9lb

J: Neil Callan

T: William Stone

Safely held in two valuable 7f handicaps on the Rowley Mile in May and needs to up his game today but it's worth noting he's now 3lb lower than when winning this race by a neck under Neil Callan a year ago (good to soft).

8/1

Form: 503-51 D

Last run: 61 days

W: 10st 2lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 102

Form & Verdict
Was having only his second start for this yard (first since being gelded) after 11 weeks off when making a successful handicap/AW debut at Newcastle (7f, Tapeta) in June; absence since then no problem and respected off 2lb higher if as effective on Polytrack.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

(8)

4th Oct 2025

Good

0m 7f 219y

Class 2

16:30 Redcar

Rhythm Master

9st 12lb

J: Warren Fentiman

T: Geoffrey Harker

Mostly creditable efforts in 2025 and he won at Thirsk (7f, good to firm) in August; Chester's extended 1m2f possibly stretched his stamina last time; could bounce back but as a 7yo he's more exposed than some of these.

10/1

7th

3

(2)

13th Sep 2025

Good

1m 2f 70y

Class 3

16:00 Chester

Rhythm Master

9st 8lb

J: Silvestre De Sousa

T: Geoffrey Harker

Modest strike-rate of 3-37 but his last win was at Thirsk (7f) last month and he ran another good race when a close third at Newmarket (1m) last time; now goes into unknown territory at this trip but he ran well over 1m1f in July and he's not ruled out; acts on good to firm and good to soft.

9/1

8/1

Form: 220402 C

Last run: 12 days

W: 9st 8lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 94

Form & Verdict
Dual 6f winner around here and back off the same mark as for the most recent of those last November; fair effort when second of five off his lower turf mark at Newmarket (6f, good to firm) 12 days ago and no problem with the return to 7f; each-way claims.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

(4)

29th Oct 2025

Soft

0m 5f 8y

Class 5

13:47 Nottingham

Above

9st 9lb

J: Marco Ghiani

T: Robert Cowell

Has had more success on AW and his last turf win was in 2023; several bits of 2024 and 2025 turf form give him a good shout off this career-low mark but his more recent efforts are less encouraging.

7/1

3

(4)

29th Oct 2025

Soft

0m 5f 8y

Class 5

13:47 Nottingham

Above

9st 9lb

J: Marco Ghiani

T: Robert Cowell

Has had more success on AW and his last turf win was in 2023; several bits of 2024 and 2025 turf form give him a good shout off this career-low mark but his more recent efforts are less encouraging.

7/1

5

(1)

9th Oct 2025

Standard

0m 5f 0y

Class 5

20:00 Newcastle (AW)

Above

9st 5lb

J: Ray Dawson

T: Robert Cowell

Beat Fierce by a neck when winning over C&D in March and he arrives here 7lb better off with his old rival; second run back from a summer break was better than the first and he should make a bold bid.

5/1

Form: 321

Last run: 21 days

W: 8st 13lb

3 yo Gelding

OR: 90

Form & Verdict
Only had the three starts and had little difficulty in slamming his two rivals when sent off 1-8 for a Yarmouth novice (6f, good to firm) three weeks ago; makes his handicap/AW debut in a warm contest, but still has plenty of untapped potential.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

8

(2)

10th Dec 2024

Standard

0m 6f 16y

Class 6

20:30 Southwell (AW)

Royal Parade

9st 4lb

J: Grace McEntee

T: Phil McEntee

Fourth of 14 on second start for this yard at Chelmsford (1m, Polytrack) in October suggested the ability remained, but losing run up to 18 despite a sliding mark; not sure a return to sprinting is the answer.

14/1

7th

8

(2)

10th Dec 2024

Standard

0m 6f 16y

Class 6

20:30 Southwell (AW)

Royal Parade

9st 4lb

J: Grace McEntee

T: Phil McEntee

Fourth of 14 on second start for this yard at Chelmsford (1m, Polytrack) in October suggested the ability remained, but losing run up to 18 despite a sliding mark; not sure a return to sprinting is the answer.

14/1

Form: 862110 CD

Last run: 30 days

W: 10st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 102

Form & Verdict
Three of his five wins have come here including twice over 1m this summer; failed to beat a rival off this 9lb higher mark at Goodwood (1m2f, good) last time and will be happier back under these conditions, but this looks a stiff task.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

(4)

25th Aug 2022

Standard

0m 7f 0y

Class 2

14:45 Chelmsford (AW)

Karibana

10st 2lb

J: George Rooke

T: Richard Hughes

Three of his five wins have come here including twice over 1m this summer; failed to beat a rival off this 9lb higher mark at Goodwood (1m2f, good) last time and will be happier back under these conditions, but this looks a stiff task.

8/1

Non-runners

Karibana

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £117.80
Straight Forecast £99.29
Tricast £1282.42
Trifecta £991.70

Selections

The Times:

Rhythm Master

SPOTLIGHT:

Tiger Crusade

NEWMARKET:

Royal Parade

Daily Express:

Red Mirage

LAMBOURN:

Wonder Elzaam

Daily Mail:

Karibana

TOPSPEED:

Above

The Guardian:

Ayr Harbour

The Star:

Royal Parade

Daily Record:

Red Mirage

Telegraph:

Rhythm Master

Daily Mirror:

Rhythm Master

The Sun:

Rhythm Master

RP Ratings:

Tiger Crusade

POSTDATA:

Tiger Crusade