Ninth Race 6.30pm

THE CHRISTMAS AT CHELMSFORD CITY RACECOURSE HANDICAP STAKES (CLASS 5)

for three yrs old and upwards x Total race value £10000 Owners Prize Money. 1st £4011, 2nd £2005, 3rd £1003, 4th £501, 5th £240, 6th £240. (Penalty Value £5076)

colours no horse age st- lb Draw

BETS AVAILABLE ON THIS RACE

CITY SELECTIONS BUGLE MAJOR arrives in good form after posting a creditable effort in defeat when second at Lingfield last week and could prove tough to beat off the same mark. Course winner Rhubarb Bikini may give the selection most to think about now returned to the all-weather, with Balgair lurking on a dangerous mark now 3lb below his C&D win last October. Mc’ted may fare best of the remainder if putting his latest disappointment behind him.

BUGLE MAJOR Rhubarb Bikini

Leading course trainer (17-22): M Appleby (76 wins from 634 runners, 12%) runs RICHARD R H B Trainer-in-form (last 14 days): M Appleby (5 wins from 31 runners, 16%) runs RICHARD R H B Weightwatcher: RICHARD R H B won off a handicap mark of 70, his rating is now down 5lb to 65. Longest Traveller: BARENBOIM trained by D O’Meara, Upper Helmsley, 205 miles.

Br Breeding O Owner B Breeder J Jockey T Trainer S Sponsor

1 BALGAIR (GB) (47) 0-35030 CD 8 10-1 (6)

Br Ch g Foxwedge (AUS) - Glencal O Newmarket Racing Club HQi

Joey Haynes J Tom Clover, Newmarket T B G. Doyle & Lord Margadale Newmarket Racing Club Ltd S TIMEFORMVIEWC&Dwinner.Belowformeleventhof20inhandicap(9/1)atNewmarket(9f,goodtofirm)47daysago. Usually goes well at this track. TFRHHHII BHA76 2 RHUBARB BIKINI (IRE) (59) 340244 C 5 9-12 (3)

Br B g Zoffany (IRE) - Pearlitas Passion (IRE) O Dare To Dream Racing

Robert Havlin J Michael Attwater, Epsom T B Mr M. Enright Crawley Trophies S TIMEFORMVIEWCoursewinner.PulledupinnovicehurdleatFakenham(16f,good,25/1)onNHdebut20daysago. Fairly useful on the all weather, creditable on last Flat run. TFRHHIII BHA73 3 BUGLE MAJOR (USA) (7) 320022 D BF 7 9-11 (5)

Br Gr g Mizzen Mast (USA) - Conference Call Luke Morris J

O Cooper & Webb

Archie Watson, Upper Lambourn T B Juddmonte Farms Inc Archie Watson Racing Ltd S TIMEFORMVIEW Remains a maiden after 18 Flat runs. Nineteen runs since last win in 2021. 10/3, creditable second of 9 in handicap at Lingfield (10f, AW) 7 days ago. One to consider. TFRHHHHI BHA72 4 BARENBOIM (GB) (2) 24-3012 D BF

Br B g Golden Horn - Labise (IRE) O Richard D.A. Hames & Mark Russell B Stetchworth & Middle Park Studs Ltd

4 9-11(in 5lb ex) (1) Jason Watson J David O’Meara, Upper Helmsley T

TIMEFORM VIEW Winner at Newcastle in October. Evens and hooded for 1st time, just denied when second of 9 in handicap at same course (10.2f) 2 days ago. Carries penalty. Obvious claims. TFRHHHHH BHA67 (+8) 5 RICHARD R H B (IRE) (29) 543430

Br B g Fulbright - Royal Interlude (IRE) O Peter R Ball & Gentech Products Ltd B Mr and Mrs.P McEnery 5 9-4 (2)

Frederick Larson (3) J Michael Appleby, Oakham T Trade Access Panels Ltd S TIMEFORM VIEW Seventeen runs since last win in 2020. 28/1, twelfth of 16 in handicap at Nottingham (10.2f, heavy) 29 days ago. First run for yard after leaving David Loughnane. Worth a market check. TFRHHHII BHA65

6 MC’TED (GB) (12) 461230 D Br B g Garswood - Granny McPhee O A J McNamee & L C McNamee B Mr Allan McNamee 4 9-4 (4)

Neil Callan J Joseph Parr, Newmarket T Love Toast Ltd S TIMEFORMVIEW Latest win at Newmarket in August. 7/2, tenth of 14 in handicap at this C&D 12 days ago, left poorly placed. Type to bounce back quickly. TFRHHHII BHA65 7 AR EL BEE (FR) (24) 30-6000 3 9-3 (7)

Br B g Le Havre (IRE) - Gregoraci (FR) O Ms E L Banks & Mr G Augustin-Normand

Sean Levey J David Menuisier, Pulborough T B Mr Sylvain Vidal Shinco Racing Limited S TIMEFORM VIEW Eleventh of 12 in handicap (16/1) at Yarmouth (8f, good to soft) 24 days ago. Back up in trip. Makes polytrack debut. TFRHHIII BHA67

Darragh Keenan J Mike Murphy & Michael Keady, Westoning T B Moyns Park Estate and Stud Ltd Old Palace Lodge S TIMEFORM VIEW Lightly-raced maiden. Hooded for 1st time, cheekpieces on for 1st time, sixth of 9 in handicap at Kempton (8f, 18/1), never nearer. Off 9 months. First run for yard after leaving Henry Spiller. TFRHHIII BHA65

DECLARED RUNNERS 8 2021: YOU’RE HIRED 8 9 3 Callum Shepherd 13-2 (Amanda Perrett) 6 ran Tongue Strap worn first time by No. 8. Hood worn by No. 1, 4. Visor worn by No. 2, 6. Stewards Note: RHUBARB BIKINI: Following its run on 14/10/2022 it was reported that the horse had a breathing problem. TEEKANA: Following its run on 29/1/2022 it was reported that the horse was slowly away.

Probable S.P’s: 6-5 Barenboim (GB), 5-1 Bugle Major (USA), 7-1 Mc’ted (GB), 10-1 Balgair (GB), 16-1 Rhubarb Bikini (IRE), 18-1 Richard R H B (IRE), 25-1 Ar El Bee (FR), 28-1 Teekana (GB)

PLAY SMARTER Having scored readily at Newcastle earlier in the month, BARENBOIM shaped best when beaten in a photo there on Tuesday, so he’s worth a chance to resume winning ways while still looking well in under a penalty. Bugle Major arrives on the back of a solid showing and looks a danger, while a return to form is expected from Mc’Ted.

TIMEFORM PREDICTION: 1.BARENBOIM 2.BUGLE MAJOR (USA) 3.MC’TED

RACE RESULT TIME:

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2nd DISTANCE:

3rd

4th

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