July 09 / 17.40 Chelmsford (AW)

17.40

Standard

Essex Horse & Pony Protection Society Handicap

  • Prize money: £13500
  • 0m 5f 0y
  • Class 3
  • 9 runners
RTV
View Course
Essex Horse & Pony Protection Society Handicap

Runners: 9 runners

Type: Flat AW

Surface: Polytrack

Weather: Showers

1st
7 (6)

7/2 (Won)

  • Win: £4.50
  • Place: £2.10

Form: 321853 D

Last run: 27 days

W: 9st 5lb

3 yo

OR: 86

Form & Verdict
Usually races prominently; 5f wins at Wolverhampton and Thirsk this season; now only 1lb higher than for the latter win but he might not find it easy trying to dominate in this field.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price
No Results Found

11/2

  • Place: £2.20

Form: 0-1344 D BF

Last run: 25 days

W: 8st 12lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 79

Form & Verdict
Both wins at Wolverhampton, latterly a 5f handicap in February off 3lb lower; strong handicap form when third at Southwell in March (not clear run) and York in May (did best of those drawn high); reportedly unsuited by the ground when disappointing at Yarmouth last month; still has a bigger effort in him and he's of major interest back on AW.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

6

(8)

1st Jun 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 21y

Class 4

17:05 Windsor

The Thames Boatman

9st 1lb

J: P J McDonald

T: Richard Hughes

Multiple AW winner; quirky sort who often starts slowly but he finally got off the mark (in a change of headgear) on turf in 5f Goodwood handicap last month; up 3lb but he can make his presence felt again.

4/1

1st

2

(6)

2nd May 2026

Good

0m 5f 0y

Class 5

15:20 Goodwood

The Thames Boatman

9st 8lb

J: Finley Marsh

T: Richard Hughes

All seven wins have been on AW; record of 0-16 on turf but he was only beaten a nose off this mark at Bath (5f, firm) on Monday; has leading claims if he can repeat that form and he's versatile ground-wise; regular hood is removed and cheekpieces return.

11/4

2nd

1

(7)

27th Apr 2026

Good To Firm

0m 5f 10y

Class 5

16:00 Bath

The Thames Boatman

9st 9lb

J: Finley Marsh

T: Richard Hughes

Multiple AW winner; hindered by being hampered on Good Friday last time; 0-15 on turf but ran creditably (finished second) in this race last year; place claims off same mark.

3/1

11/2

Form: 3-9167 C

Last run: 114 days

W: 10st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 92

Form & Verdict
Consistency not a strength in the last year but he showed a fire still burned when winning at Southwell in January; only 1lb higher today but he has struggled at Newcastle twice since and now returns from 114 days off.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

7

(7)

21st Dec 2023

Standard

0m 4f 214y

Class 2

16:10 Southwell (AW)

May Sonic

8st 9lb

J: William Cox

T: Charles Hills

held up in rear, no impression from 2f out

14/1

6

(5)

22nd Nov 2023

Standard

0m 5f 21y

Class 2

18:30 Wolverhampton (AW)

May Sonic

9st 1lb

J: Kieran Shoemark

T: Charles Hills

Much better on AW than turf; recent PB when going down by a neck at Southwell in September but didn't run his race back on an artificial surface at Kempton a fortnight ago; has just second run here.

16/1

11th

3

(3)

8th Nov 2023

Standard To Slow

0m 6f 0y

Class 2

19:00 Kempton (AW)

May Sonic

9st 5lb

J: Rob Hornby

T: Charles Hills

midfield

12/1

Form: 613-88 CD

Last run: 20 days

W: 9st 6lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 82

Form & Verdict
Two wins from ten starts, both victories coming at this track; down the field twice at Windsor this season but can do better back at this venue.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

4

(6)

16th Oct 2025

Yielding

1m 2f 0y

15:35 Curragh

Bear Profit

9st 9lb

J: Colin Keane

T: Gerard O’Leary

Has won five races up to 1m1f from 34 Flat starts; fine runs in defeat in premier handicaps at Leopardstown and Galway over the summer but was a bit below that level in the Cambridgeshire here last time; can be keen so needs to settle better.

7/1

7

(8)

30th Aug 2025

Good

1m 0f 0y

16:37 Curragh

Bear Profit

9st 2lb

J: Nicola Burns

T: Gerard O’Leary

Progressive 6yo won at Leopardstown in June and has stepped forward again in thee runs in defeat since, latest when beaten a head in Colm Quinn BMW Mile at Galway; 5lb higher but remains very much one to keep on side.

6/1

12

(3)

29th Jul 2025

Yielding

1m 0f 123y

18:40 Galway

Bear Profit

8st 12lb

J: Nicola Burns

T: Gerard O’Leary

Progressive 6yo won at Leopardstown last month and most recently career-best at same venue when staying on third to Slieve Binnian in premier handicap, having not had the clearest of runs; each-way claims.

12/1

Form: 723461 CD

Last run: 17 days

W: 8st 12lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 74

Form & Verdict
5f on Polytrack ideal; most of his victories have come from the front but he was content to stalk the pace when scoring easily (form franked) over C&D 17 days ago; up 5lb in a better race and that may find him out.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

10

(1)

25th Feb 2026

Standard

0m 5f 6y

Class 6

14:42 Lingfield (AW)

The Defiant

8st 9lb

J: Jack Dace

T: Luke Dace

Not the force of old and, although he retains some ability, others in this field have more pressing claims.

10/1

4th

3

(5)

12th Feb 2026

Standard

0m 5f 6y

Class 6

15:08 Lingfield (AW)

The Defiant

9st 1lb

J: Jack Dace

T: Luke Dace

Multiple 5f winner down the years, including over C&D, but his powers appear to be on the wane; a couple of respectable efforts last month but more will be needed to win.

8/1

10/1

Form: 718-00 D

Last run: 16 days

W: 9st 9lb

3 yo Gelding

OR: 90

Form & Verdict
Straightforward opening when winning his only AW run last summer (2-11f); looked very good when winning a Haydock nursery in September and he's only 2lb higher today; well short of that level twice this year but those runs have been in better races than this; a danger to all if back to the Haydock level.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

5

(7)

3rd Aug 2023

Good To Soft

0m 5f 0y

Class 3

17:55 Goodwood

Rogue Spirit

9st 1lb

J: Tom Marquand

T: Tom Clover

swerved left start, pressed leaders

12/1

6th

2

(8)

9th Jul 2023

Standard

0m 5f 0y

Class 3

17:40 Chelmsford (AW)

Rogue Spirit

9st 9lb

J: Adam Farragher

T: Tom Clover

Straightforward opening when winning his only AW run last summer (2-11f); looked very good when winning a Haydock nursery in September and he's only 2lb higher today; well short of that level twice this year but those runs have been in better races than this; a danger to all if back to the Haydock level.

10/1

23th

9

(22)

23rd Jun 2023

Good To Firm

0m 5f 0y

Class 2

18:10 Ascot

Rogue Spirit

9st 1lb

J: Adam Farragher

T: Tom Clover

Won two of his first three 2yo starts and ran well for third in the Super Sprint last July; really impressive in a Haydock nursery last September (5f, good to soft) but had his limitations exposed in the Cornwallis Stakes on final run in 2022; low-key return at York last month; needs to return to the Haydock level to be competitive.

33/1

Form: 562166 CD BF

Last run: 15 days

W: 9st 7lb

4 yo Filly

OR: 83

Form & Verdict
Four wins since Christmas, one of them over C&D, and she has had excuses on her last two starts (bled when a close sixth in the Dash and lost a shoe last time); one to consider.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

(1)

15th Aug 2025

Good To Firm

0m 5f 42y

Class 5

15:25 Yarmouth

Angle Land

9st 8lb

J: Silvestre De Sousa

T: Robert Cowell

No great love for softer surfaces these days, but her present good heart still carried her to second at Lingfield latest (good to soft); record of 13412 in C&D class 5s includes June's win (good to firm); chance.

7/2

2nd

4

(5)

22nd Jul 2025

Good

0m 4f 217y

Class 5

15:45 Lingfield

Angle Land

9st 8lb

J: Silvestre De Sousa

T: Robert Cowell

Refound some form last two outings for first and second at Yarmouth; best efforts last year were better still but, despite form on testing ground earlier in career, she came last of six on last season's two runs on soft.

3/1

2nd

1

(1)

27th Jun 2025

Good To Firm

0m 5f 42y

Class 5

14:00 Yarmouth

Angle Land

10st 0lb

J: Marco Ghiani

T: Robert Cowell

Won this race last year off a 5lb higher mark and came back to form when pulling away with one other over C&D a fortnight ago; has had her moments at the stalls and isn't the most consistent but will rightly be popular.

2/1

OUR TIP

Form: -43800 CD

Last run: 36 days

W: 9st 8lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 84

Form & Verdict
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

12

(2)

30th Jul 2024

Good To Soft

0m 5f 0y

Class 2

16:10 Goodwood

Lord Riddiford

8st 4lb

J: Hollie Doyle

T: John & Sean Quinn

Has a stunning record at this meeting, winning four of his five attempts, including this race for the last three years (soft, good and good to soft); well held of late but he ran no worse last time out than he had in his prep race before the 2023 win and he's weighted to have a big chance despite being 3lb wrong; Hollie Doyle rode for his 2021 win; drying ground could be the sticking point, however.

5/1

6th

4

(5)

20th Jun 2024

Standard

0m 5f 0y

Class 4

14:50 Chelmsford (AW)

Lord Riddiford

9st 7lb

J: Jason Hart

T: John & Sean Quinn

bumped start, midfield, switched right and some headway 2f out, weakened from 1f out

10/1

12th

10

(3)

1st Jun 2024

Good To Soft

0m 5f 0y

Class 2

15:45 Epsom

Lord Riddiford

8st 2lb

J: Paddy Mathers

T: John & Sean Quinn

Unplaced in this race in 2021 and 2023 and short of his best when last seen on AW in February; his last three wins have come in the same 5f handicap at Glorious Goodwood and that race looks a better fit than today's.

20/1

Form: 14-407 D

Last run: 34 days

W: 9st 7lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 83

Form & Verdict
Did well dropped to 5f over the winter, completing a Tapeta hat-trick in November/December; only 1lb higher than for the third leg after a couple of quiet runs over 6f; revival possible returned to this trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

2

(8)

17th Apr 2026

Standard

0m 6f 20y

Class 6

14:08 Wolverhampton (AW)

Twilight Madness

9st 11lb

J: Alistair Rawlinson

T: Simon Hodgson

Ten-time sprint winner who scored at Bath (5f, good) two weeks ago and the quick turnaround may have caused his downfall at Kempton three days later; has claims if he can recapture that penultimate form and his four runs over C&D include a win and two thirds; dangerous.

7/2

9th

1

(3)

8th Apr 2026

Standard To Slow

0m 6f 0y

Class 6

20:00 Kempton (AW)

Twilight Madness

9st 11lb

J: Ashley Lewis

T: Simon Hodgson

Often a front-runner and dual C&D winner who has been in good form lately, including scoring by a neck at Bath (5f, good) on Sunday; has a 4lb penalty for that, but is well drawn to attack and much respected.

7/2

1st

5

(7)

5th Apr 2026

Good

0m 5f 10y

Class 6

15:45 Bath

Twilight Madness

9st 6lb

J: Alistair Rawlinson

T: Simon Hodgson

Front-runner; two wins in December and in the money on his last three starts; just 1-15 on turf as opposed to 8-37 on AW; others appeal more for win purposes.

7/2

Non-runners

Lord Riddiford

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £14.20
Straight Forecast £14.43
Tricast £63.81
Trifecta £66.40

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

The Thames Boatman

Telegraph:

The Defiant

The Times:

Democracy Dilemma

NEWMARKET:

Rogue Spirit

LAMBOURN:

May Sonic

D Express:

Democracy Dilemma

RP RATINGS:

The Thames Boatman

TOPSPEED:

The Thames Boatman

POSTDATA:

The Thames Boatman

Daily Mirror:

The Defiant

The Star:

The Defiant

Daily Record:

The Defiant