THE all-weather action continues on Thursday at Chelmsford with a packed nine-race card on offer for punters heading to the track.
The card kicks off at 4pm with a mile and a quarter maiden stakes before coming to a close at 8.15pm as nine runners tackle another mile and a quarter contest, this time a class six handicap.
Read below for a full rundown of the Chelmsford card on Thursday courtesy of Sporting Life.
Up first is a seven-runner maiden stakes in class five (4.00). The well-bred Noble Journey made a promising start at Newmarket and can open his account with improvement coming over this longer trip for trainer Charlie Appleby and the Godolphin team. Sea And Sun is an appealing newcomer for trainer Charlie Johnston and it will be interesting to see strength behind him in the betting ring.
Race two on the card (4.35) is a nursery contest over the five furlong trip. The Andrew Balding-trained Mad Unicorn was a winner at Wolverhampton and can follow up here under a penalty. Redditzio has been a runner-up over course and distance previously and can make his presence felt once again, finishing behind Mad Unicorn at the weekend.
A division one handicap is up next at 5.10 and ten runners will take on the six furlong distance. Fantasy Master ran creditably in a stronger Ascot race 12 days ago for trainer Darryl Holland and could be worth chancing from a tempting mark having won on his last go over course and distance.
Division two of the same discipline marks race four of the evening at Chelmsford (5.45) and the Hamad Al-Jehani-trained Evening Saigon makes his handicap debut for the powerful Wathnan Racing team after a long absence, providing all is well since the lay-off he could prove hard to beat. Course and distance winner Mesaafi is feared most.
Kitaro Kitch looks the way to go in race five (6.15) for trainer George Baker, with four all-weather wins earlier in the year – including over this course and distance – and looks ready to strike again off a second at Kempton six days ago, while race six (6.45) see Match Anthem get the nod, who is lurking on a good mark and is also a previous course and distance winner so enjoys this surface.
A field of ten will take on the seven furlong handicap in class four at 7.15 and the William Muir and Colin Grassick-trained Morte Point is the selection, thriving at this distance after a win at Newbury and a strong second at Doncaster, before finding only one too good last time out as well.
Fire Flame was a good winner at Thirsk in August and rates the main danger here.
The penultimate race of the evening arrives at 7.45 and preference heads the way of My Boy Harry for the Jim and Suzi Best yard, a winner of a 13-runner handicap at Kempton six days ago and has obvious claims again under a penalty, while the finale of the evening (8.15) can go to the in-form Wyld Bill, who looks well-placed to win again, a winner at this track 28 days ago and a good second at Newcastle last time out.
Chelmsford selections – Thursday
4.00 – Noble Journey
4.35 – Mad Unicorn
5.10 – Fantasy Master
5.45 – Evening Saigon
6.15 – Kitaro Kitch
6.45 – Match Anthem
7.15 – Morte Point
7.45 – My Boy Harry
8.15 – Wyld Bill
