THE bumper nine-race card at Chelmsford Racecourse on Thursday afternoon wasn’t short of variety; we had winning favourites alongside market no-hopers emerging victorious, but it was Edward Greatrex’s impressive treble of winners that became the main story of the day.
Read on for a full report on the Chelmsford card, courtesy of Boyle Sports, who provide all the latest horse racing odds.
Our first race was a six-furlong fillies’ novice (1.25), for which Ralph Beckett’s Zen Diva was favourite at 6/4. She raced in midfield and surged forward on the home straight, but she wasn’t able to get past the leading Lady Kodiac for James Tate, who put some distance between herself and the rest of the field under Jack Callan, and won by nearly three lengths.
Next was a handicap run over a mile and three quarters (2.00). Ralph Beckett must have been pleased with the result here, after his fancied runner in the first race was beaten, as his charge New York Minute won this race at 9/4 under Hector Crouch. Golden Garden led the field, and New York Minute had work to do as he chased the strong-finishing Cardinal Point, but the eventual winner employed a very impressive turn of foot inside the final furlong and won by a neck.
Race three was a five-furlong handicap (2.35). Jessica Macey’s Dark Side Prince was the 2/1 market leader, but he was hampered in the early stages after a messy start to this race, which scuppered his chances. This left Sir Rodneyredblood to lead, with David O’Meara’s Startling challenging down the home straight. Despite carrying a pound more than the leader, Startling battled home well under Edward Greatrex and ultimately provided the first leg of his treble at 9/4, winning by a head.
A six-furlong handicap followed (3.10). In what was billed as a fairly open race, the favourite was Sam’s Hope at 3/1 for Martin Dunne. Pinjarra led the field, but weakened quickly in the closing stages, allowing the favourite, Thismydream and Kodi Red to come to the fore approaching the line. It was Darryll Holland’s Kodi Red, however, who finished the most strongly by far, and he won easily by nearly four lengths under Neil Callan, followed home by Sam’s Hope and Wrath Of Hector in third.
Next was a seven-furlong handicap (3.45). This race was wide open, with the favourite being as big a price as 11/2 (Rokuni, ridden by Christian Howarth). Robert Cowell’s Poetic Jack led, and there were numerous in with a chance come the turn for home, but Mark Usher’s Almizan defied double-figure odds of 14/1, dispute being a pound out of the handicap, staying on well under Dougie Costello to win by a length and a half at 14/1.
Race six was the first division of a seven-furlong handicap (4.20). Here, we saw both a winning favourite and the second leg of Edward Greatrex’s treble, as his ride – George Scott’s Love Is The Law in first-time cheekpieces – galloped forward from the rear of the field to snatch the lead from 16/1 shot Bold Suitor, who was running a bold race under Georgia Dobie, but just got nosed on the line.
In the second division (4.50), Ed Dunlop’s Lessay was fancied to win under Hector Crouch, while Backspin led the field towards home. Lessay began to accelerate as the field turned for home, and was going well, but Mick Appleby’s Rascal Recknell was always going slightly better, and overtook the leader while always managing to outstay the favourite. This became the third leg of Edward Greatrex’s treble, much to the delight of connections.
The penultimate race was a mile maiden for three to five year olds (5.20). We had only six runners here, with a disparate betting market; the leading pair of favourite Blessed Star (30/100) and Shimmering Spin (11/4) were backed to the exclusion of the others, who all jumped out of the stalls at double or triple-figure odds. Shimmering Spin, though, led into the straight with Blessed Star struggling to challenge in second. The former finished strongly under a seven-pound claimer to win by nearly five lengths.
Finally, we concluded racing with a mile handicap (5.50). This race was the biggest market upset of the day, with Charlie Clover’s Polar Rebel the favourite at 5/1 under Alexandra Egan, who had just ridden Shimmering Spin to victory in the previous race. It was Harry Davies, though, who rode the 40/1 outsider Iftikhaar to take the lead, somewhat by surprise, in the final furlong, and finish a length ahead of runner-up Adace, who was chased home by 8/1 shot Crownthorpe.
Chelmsford results – Thursday:
1.25 – Lady Kodiac (7/2)
2.00 – New York Minute (9/4F)
2.35 – Startling (9/4)
3.10 – Kodi Red (11/2)
3.45 – Almizan (14/1)
4.20 – Love Is The Law (3/1F)
4.50 – Rascal Recknell (4/1)
5.20 – Shimmering Spin (11/4)
5.50 – Iftikhaar (40/1)
