CHELMSFORD Racecourse presents its latest all-weather meeting on Thursday evening, with an eight-race card consisting of two novices, a maiden and five handicaps.
Read on for a full preview of the Chelmsford card, courtesy of Betano, who provide all the latest horse racing odds.
We kick off with a mile novice for two-year-old fillies (4.30). We have three newcomers here in the field of seven; Urban Law, Iceni Queen and Nebbia, but it looks best to side with previously run fillies here. Ollie Sangster’s Red Tsarina won over course and distance last time out and should have a decent chance of reproducing that form here, but Willie Haggas’ Wild Dahlia may be a danger, stepping up to a mile from a seven furlongs.
Race two is a six-furlong novice, again for two-year-old fillies (5.05). Four of the 13 runners are newcomers, with the Sir Mark Prescott-trained Sunlit Sea looking to be the best of them on paper. David Loughnane’s Sashay Away should have a chance, stepping down in trip from seven furlongs having been a good fourth of 10 last time out, but Whiskey Kisses might be the winner here. This George Scott-trained filly was last seen finishing fourth of 13 over course and distance and she could do even better with five pounds in hand from rider Liam Wright.
Staying with the juveniles for race three, we have a seven-furlong nursery handicap next (5.40). Jack The Tooth won a maiden at Leicester in June but hasn’t managed much since, but if the new addition of cheekpieces does the trick then he could recapture his best form under Luke Morris. Flying Macs might do well here, having come down a couple of pounds in the handicap, while Houdini Miss looks to have the best conditions and could be our winner.
The fourth race is a seven-furlong maiden for horses aged three and older (6.15). We have just five runners here, and Oliver Cole’s Kartini is the only one not to have run before. A daughter of Dark Angel and half sister to the smart black-type performer Makinmedoit, she could prove to be decent quality, but others make more appeal at present. Mallorca, a half-brother to Champion Two-Year-Old Too Darn Hot, comes from John and Thady Gosden’s prominent stable and, having been narrowly beaten on his sole start in December, he looks extremely promising and should be the winner.
Next is a seven-furlong handicap (6.45). Brian Toomey’s Flag Carrier is a course and distance winner as of March this year, and still might have a chance despite being four pounds higher in the handicap now. Archie Watson’s Summertime Blues seeks a hat-trick, but it looks a stiff ask as he has risen so far in the handicap as a result. He is proving to be very consistent, though, and this race might be coming at just about the right time.
Race six is a handicap over six furlongs (7.15). Rusheen Boy could go well here, having won over seven furlongs at this track two starts ago, and is just three pounds above that mark now. Sir Rodneyredblood is a course and distance winner who could have a decent chance, given five pounds by rider Jack Callan. James Owen’s new recruit, Profit Street, may prove to be the one to beat, though, as the trainer has a great reputation for freshening horses up.
The penultimate race is a mile and a quarter handicap (7.45). Another for James Owen, Parish Councillor seeks a hat-trick under a five-pound penalty, having won his last two starts on the all-weather over a mile. Already proven over this trip, he should have little reason not to run another great race. Fit from a hurdling campaign, Fillyfudge looks capable of getting involved and could have an each-way chance.
Last of all is another handicap over a mile and a quarter, only this time it’s a fillies’ race (8.15). Stuart Williams’ Sansanetti, a course and distance winner in June, has been improving this term and, if she keeps up her usual level of consistency up in class, she could be our winner under Sean D Bowen. Hughie Morrison’s Mythical Bird looks to have a nice chance also, staying on the same mark last time when she wasn’t beaten far over a mile at Kempton.
