CHELMSFORD Racecourse’s usual Thursday night meeting looks as busy and competitive as always and there are plenty of betting puzzles to solve. The card consists of seven races; six handicaps and a maiden.
Read on for a preview of and tips for the Chelmsford card, brought to you by the experts at GrandNational.org.uk.
We begin with a six-furlong three to five-year-olds’ maiden (5.30). Five of the 11 runners have been seen at a racecourse before, the best of which being James Tate’s Blue Deveron, who was a close second on debut and third last time out. He will likely benefit from having an extra furlong to travel here. Mick Appleby is having a good season so far, though, and his Moscow Power could be well placed here.
Over the same trip, race two is a handicap (6.00). Combustion has recently completed a hat-trick but starts here on a less likely looking mark. Supreme King was denied a clear run last time and can hope for better luck this time around but is higher in the handicap this time. Hunky Dory is consistent but on a tricky mark now, though a recent change of scene may have helped him. Gold Star Hero is well drawn in stall one and, on a competitive mark after a break, could win for the in-form Michael Bell.
Next is a three-year-olds’ six-furlong handicap (6.30). Mark Loughnane’s In Denial ran well on handicap debut at Wolverhampton last time and remains on the same mark here, while Hurricane Ann looks interesting with Harry Vigors’ seven pounds in hand. Course and distance winner Saeculamation, though, is now within two pounds of his latest winning mark and is drawn suitably to get another win on the board now.
Race four is a handicap run over one and three quarter miles (7.00). Olly Murphy’s Dynamite Defense went well last time at Lingfield and, running off the same mark this time, should have a chance up in trip. El Ghaawy, though, has come down sharply in the weights since gaining his handicap mark but looks better for the longer trip.
A five-furlong handicap follows (7.30). Diamond Dreamer was a close second last time out, similarly to Initial Blue who was beaten by the same distance of half a length in third when last seen at Wolverhampton. Clover Time is a consistent sort who should be able to win in this company and could be well drawn for his running style in the innermost stall.
The penultimate race is a seven-furlong handicap (8.00). Jim and Suzi Best’s course and distance winner My Boy Harry looks likely to go well again, but is still a way off his latest winning mark. Ivan Furtado’s Macarone, though, wears a first-time visor here and is back on a winnable mark in addition to being nicely drawn in two, so he has a good chance.
Finally, the racing concludes with a 10-furlong handicap (8.30). Jamie Osborne’s Aneirin’s Sword has been phenomenally consistent so far this year, either first or second in six starts since the New Year. He looks capable of going well once again here, but James Fanshawe’s Engross could be a danger, stepping up to 10 furlongs for the first time, which he has the breeding to do best over.
Chelmsford selections – Thursday:
5.30 – Moscow Power
6.00 – Gold Star Hero
6.30 – Saeculamation
7.00 – El Ghaawy
7.30 – Clover Time
8.00 – Macarone
8.30 – Engross
