December 08 / 20.30 Chelmsford (AW)

20.30

Standard

chelmsfordcityracecourse.com Handicap

  • Prize money: £5076
  • 1m 2f 0y
  • Class 5
  • 8 runners
RTV
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chelmsfordcityracecourse.com Handicap

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Flat AW

Surface: Polytrack

Weather: Showers

4/1 (Won)

  • Win: £4.50
  • Place: £1.60

Form: 7200-5

Last run: 19 days

W: 9st 12lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 73

Form & Verdict
Made a winning debut in a 7f maiden at Kempton last April; mixed bag afterwards but he returned from 282 days on the sidelines with an eyecatching effort over 1m2f at Lingfield 19 days ago, dropped in from a wide draw and poorly positioned before running on well under a hand ride in the straight; perhaps not entirely straightforward (can pull and has hung) but more than enough ability to play a part.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

3

(4)

12th Mar 2026

Standard

1m 2f 0y

Class 3

17:30 Chelmsford (AW)

Storm Catcher

9st 6lb

J: Jack Mitchell

T: Simon Pearce

Multiple C&D winner, the latest last August when rated 5lb higher; obvious chance if anywhere near that level but he has been struggling more recently; the return to 1m2f will help but not a solid option.

14/1

6th

1

(3)

6th Feb 2026

Standard

1m 4f 51y

Class 3

16:52 Wolverhampton (AW)

Storm Catcher

10st 0lb

J: Jack Mitchell

T: Simon Pearce

Has done nearly all his winning at about 1m2f, most recently last August; inconsistent since but drops back in grade off a workable mark; stayed on for creditable effort in sole attempt over 1m4f.

16/1

11th

6

(9)

16th Jan 2026

Standard

1m 2f 42y

Class 2

14:50 Newcastle (AW)

Storm Catcher

9st 1lb

J: Jack Mitchell

T: Simon Pearce

Eight-time AW winner and first and second in two of his four races here; didn't run at all badly last time at Lingfield (1m2f) but looks vulnerable at the minute in a race of this nature.

40/1

10/1

  • Place: £2.00

Form: 262194 CD

Last run: 128 days

W: 9st 2lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 63

Form & Verdict
Both his wins have come over C&D but in Class 6 company; he wasn't at his best in two turf runs in the summer and others in today's field look more compelling.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

1

(5)

30th Apr 2026

Standard

1m 3f 23y

Class 6

17:52 Southwell (AW)

The Bay Warrior

9st 9lb

J: Rose Dawes

T: Mark Usher

Dual C&D winner; has slipped to 6lb below his last winning mark (1m4f, Lingfield) and wasn't beaten far when having the run of the race under Rose Dawes at Wolverhampton (1m4f; third of seven, 7-2) last week; foolish to discount.

5/1

3rd

1

(3)

21st Apr 2026

Standard

1m 4f 51y

Class 6

18:30 Wolverhampton (AW)

The Bay Warrior

9st 9lb

J: Rose Dawes

T: Mark Usher

Has seven wins on AW and is now 6lb lower than for the last of those last September; doesn't look ready to take advantage though.

5/1

3/1

  • Place: £1.40

Form: 531

Last run: 19 days

W: 9st 10lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 71

Form & Verdict
Improved effort at the third attempt on the Flat (had shown promise in bumpers) when overcoming a wide trip to get up late over 1m at Lingfield 19 days ago; moves into handicaps with untapped potential and this trip should suit; more appealing than most.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

4

(6)

25th Jun 2024

Good To Firm

1m 3f 0y

Class 5

16:22 Newbury

Far Horizon

9st 10lb

J: Morgan Cole

T: Charlie Longsdon

Lingfield novice winner (1m, AW) for Michael Scudamore in November 2022 and placed in three of his first four handicaps at up to 1m4f, but he only beat one home on stable debut after a year off at Nottingham (1m2f, good to firm) this month; will need to improve plenty on that in the first-time tongue-tie.

25/1

8th

3

(2)

5th Jun 2024

Good

1m 2f 50y

Class 5

16:57 Nottingham

Far Horizon

9st 9lb

J: Aidan Keeley

T: Charlie Longsdon

6yo with a record of 1-10; had only three runs last year but he finished placed in two of them including a third at Chepstow (1m4f, good to firm) in June; returns for new yard after a year off but this drop back in trip should be fine and he needs watching in market.

12/1

2nd

4

(4)

2nd Jun 2023

Good To Firm

1m 4f 0y

Class 5

15:35 Chepstow

Far Horizon

9st 3lb

J: Aidan Keeley

T: Michael Scudamore

Competitive in 1m2f/1m3f Polytrack handicaps this winter after winning his novice; four months off before fair sixth of 14 in handicap at Bath (1m2f, good to soft) 18 days ago and might have come on since that run; not ruled out back up in trip.

7/1

9/1

Form: 9340

Last run: 31 days

W: 9st 13lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 76

Form & Verdict
Showed some ability in a Wolverhampton novice (April) and a Windsor maiden (October) but he was well beaten into tenth on his handicap debut at Wolverhampton last month (extended 1m1f); drops in class and now tried in headgear; early days but needs to pull out more.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

3

(4)

22nd Dec 2022

Standard

1m 0f 13y

Class 5

19:30 Southwell (AW)

Vidhaata

9st 11lb

J: Kevin Stott

T: Marco Botti

Lightly raced 3yo; best effort to date when a 2l fourth in Lingfield handicap (1m2f, AW; cheekpieces added) two weeks ago; needs to build on that but he shaped as though this drop back at 1m could suit; blinkers on.

16/1

4th

1

(5)

8th Dec 2022

Standard

1m 2f 0y

Class 5

20:30 Chelmsford (AW)

Vidhaata

9st 13lb

J: Daniel Muscutt

T: Marco Botti

Showed some ability in a Wolverhampton novice (April) and a Windsor maiden (October) but he was well beaten into tenth on his handicap debut at Wolverhampton last month (extended 1m1f); drops in class and now tried in headgear; early days but needs to pull out more.

9/1

10th

8

(13)

7th Nov 2022

Standard

1m 1f 104y

Class 4

21:00 Wolverhampton (AW)

Vidhaata

9st 9lb

J: Neil Callan

T: Marco Botti

Thrice-raced colt who is the least exposed contender; ran well over C&D in April then had a layoff until returning with a respectable effort at Windsor last month; open to progress in handicaps; interesting.

10/1

Form: 225264

Last run: 91 days

W: 9st 9lb

3 yo Gelding

OR: 72

Form & Verdict
Still seeking his first win after 12 attempts but there have been several near misses along the way, including at this track; has a three-month absence to contend with but he holds each-way claims once again.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

7

(7)

17th Jul 2023

Standard

1m 5f 219y

Class 5

18:00 Wolverhampton (AW)

They Dont Know

10st 3lb

J: Miss Sarah Bowen

T: Tony Carroll

in rear

14/1

9th

7

(5)

5th Jul 2023

Good

1m 4f 6y

Class 4

18:20 Epsom

They Dont Know

9st 13lb

J: Miss Sarah Bowen

T: Tony Carroll

Seven seconds but no wins in his 23 starts; has raced over this far only twice, with a fair third of six on AW this March but this season's 1m2f form is better.

16/1

3rd

3

(1)

16th Jun 2023

Good To Firm

1m 2f 0y

Class 5

13:40 Chepstow

They Dont Know

10st 7lb

J: Miss Sarah Bowen

T: Tony Carroll

took keen hold, prominent, lost position over 8f out, headway 5f out, ridden over 2f out, no extra from over 1f out

5/1

Form: 492446 C

Last run: 35 days

W: 9st 10lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 71

Form & Verdict
Front-runner who reserves his best form for this track; 0-9 over 1m2f+ though, including when a well-beaten sixth over C&D last month; others appeal more.
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

7/2

Form: 77-531 D

Last run: 170 days

W: 9st 7lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 70

Form & Verdict
Confirmed the promise of his Goodwood third in June but running out the easy winner of a small-field handicap at Brighton 11 days later; still capable of better but such progress will be needed if he is to defy a 6lb rise against stronger opposition.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

5

(6)

16th Dec 2022

Standard To Slow

1m 3f 219y

Class 5

17:15 Kempton (AW)

Copperknob

9st 7lb

J: Anna Gibson

T: Gary Moore

Confirmed the promise of his Goodwood third in June by running out the easy winner of a small-field handicap at Brighton 11 days later; off the track until a low-key return at Chelmsford last week (reared at the start); still has time to do better but Junkanoo may be the stable's main hope.

8/1

7th

7

(2)

8th Dec 2022

Standard

1m 2f 0y

Class 5

20:30 Chelmsford (AW)

Copperknob

9st 7lb

J: Tom Queally

T: Gary Moore

Confirmed the promise of his Goodwood third in June but running out the easy winner of a small-field handicap at Brighton 11 days later; still capable of better but such progress will be needed if he is to defy a 6lb rise against stronger opposition.

7/2

OUR TIP

10/1

Form: 108030 D

Last run: 29 days

W: 9st 12lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 73

Form & Verdict
Two of his three wins have come in France but he has a 1m2f AW win to his name at Lingfield; contender if back to the level he showed at Newcastle in October but his two runs either side of that haven't been so good.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

8

(2)

25th Feb 2023

Standard

1m 4f 0y

Class 5

12:55 Lingfield (AW)

Chateau dIf

9st 5lb

J: Stefano Cherchi

T: Amy Murphy

Both turf wins have been in France, but his other success came on this surface (1m2f) early last year; beaten just over a length into fourth of ten behind Forge Valley Lad over the same trip back here this month (attempted to make all), but is yet to prove he wants this far; cheekpieces return.

12/1

4th

5

(6)

3rd Feb 2023

Standard

1m 2f 0y

Class 5

15:20 Lingfield (AW)

Chateau dIf

9st 8lb

J: Stefano Cherchi

T: Amy Murphy

C&D winner last January and added a soft-ground handicap in France to his tally in the summer; inconsistent of late but down in the weights and new headgear is given a spin today.

20/1

9th

7

(2)

8th Jan 2023

Standard

1m 0f 13y

Class 5

13:00 Southwell (AW)

Chateau dIf

9st 5lb

J: Billy Loughnane

T: Amy Murphy

Two of his three wins have been in France, the other coming at Lingfield (1m2f, Polytrack) a year go; just behind Star Shield when third of ten at Newcastle (1m, Tapeta) in October, but this may be an insufficient test for him now.

20/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £32.70
Straight Forecast £28.35
Tricast £101.06
Trifecta £131.20

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Far Horizon

RP Ratings:

Storm Catcher

POSTDATA:

Chateau d'If

LAMBOURN:

The Bay Warrior

The Times:

Storm Catcher

Daily Mirror:

Storm Catcher

Telegraph:

Far Horizon

The Guardian:

Far Horizon

Daily Mail:

Far Horizon

D Express:

Far Horizon

The Sun:

Far Horizon

The Star:

Far Horizon

Daily Record:

Far Horizon