A new area for racing in the UK starts today. Well, kind of. Chelmsford Racecourse opens its doors for their first meeting since the course was closed a couple of years ago, back then still referred to as Great Leighs. A massive redevelopment project took place over the time, with new facilities built as well as a grand stand. All is set and go, trails took place and the course has been approved. The BHA allocated fixtures, and now it's time to let the horses lose! Be prepared for Chelmsford playing a substantial role in our daily racing, from now on. For their first meeting, the course has put together a strong card, which will kick-off with a 20k Handicap! So, let's try to find the winner...
12.50 Chelmsford: Class 2 Handicap, 10f
Rebellious Guest: Fair third lto at Lingfield, on realistic mark without being overly well handicapped. Won over 10f once but trip probably not his optimum. Big weight to shoulder. First time headgear
Spes Nostra: Bit unlucky lto at Wolverhampton when short of room at crucial stage, beaten in final strides penultimate start. High enough in the mark but likely pace angle in the race.
Docs Legacy: Impressive winner when last seen at Wolverhampton in November. Thriving on the All-Weather. Career highest required today.
Swing Alone: Didn’t take to fibresand lto and outstayed at Lingfield over 12f. Won well over preferred 10f at Lingfield in December. Consistent, optimum trip today and on fair mark.
Tryster: Very promising last summer but green and badly hanging when last seen at Newmarket after travelling strongly. Absence since a worry. Should take to AW on pedigree.
Gaelic Silver: On a four-timer, in spending form, optimum trip today but much more required as well a career highest.
Tatting: Looks very much up against it and didn’t seem to stay 10f in the past.
Godolphin's lightly raced Tryster proves to be a popular choice in the betting and it is easy to see why. He could easily the one with the most improvement and talent in this field. On the three occasions he appeared racing last summer, he showed potential. A good debut, followed by an impressive maiden success, while on Handicap debut he travelled like the winner until suddenly hanging his chances literally away. Considering that he was off for half a year, though, one has to be cautious and for that reason I'm happy to oppose him for a very short price.
Rebellious Guest appears to me to be still too high in the weights, in order for him to win this competitive race. While his mark comes down, he has still to shoulder a huge top weight today and that may see him struggle. Gaelic Silver has been in tremendous form lately, question mark is if he can improve again to be competitive in a strong race as this is? His price tag is too short for me to give him the benefit of the doubt. Docs Legacy looks the rock solid choice in contrast. He won so well when last seen, that he could well be able to defy a 5lb rise in the mark. He is a fair price.
Two horses are potentially overpriced here in my mind: Spes Nostra is the first one. He loves the All-Weather and was massively progressive on this surface over the years. One can forgive him his latest run, where he found himself short of room at a crucial stage, while in his penultimate start he made all in a very competitive race and just got beaten in the dying strides. He is the pace angle in this race. Says he is likely to be the only one who wants to go forward and that may give him an edge if the field allows him a soft lead. Spes Nostra has yet to win off a mark as high as the current one, but I give him the benefit of the doubt to prove today that he is up to this rating off 90. The other overpriced horse is Wing Alone. He is on a very fair mark, has won races off marks in this range in the past and is back to his optimum 10f trip. Southwell the last time is a form to ignore as he didn't take to the surface, and he was outstayed over 12f before But he won off 88 at Lingfield in fine style before against a runner-up who finished 3rd in a Listed contest as well as being successful in a hot Handicap subsequently.
Spes Nostra @ 6/1 PP - 5pts win
Wing Alone @ 14/1 VC - 5pts win
2.50 Chelmsford: Conditions Stakes, 1m - Interesting little race with some promising sorts, however I feel it is easy to narrow down the field to the two Godolphin runners. Anonymous John is consistent, but would need to find some substantial improvement for the step up in trip in order to trouble the two boys in blue, and that is not the likeliest thing to happen. Princess Of Paris has a good deal to find while My Mistress is obviously open to improvement but this is also a big ask on her only second start now against the boys.
Super Kid's Maiden win is a standout form, since he left subsequent Group 3 winner Maftool behind him that day. He went on to finish runner-up to an excellent stablemate in a conditions race at Linfield when seen the last time back in November. Not stepping up in trip, one would hope he could improve for the mile and the pedigree gives him a chance to do so. First time blinkers may help him to stay focused in the closing stages. However given his very short price tag, I believe Tempus Temporis offers better value. The Gosden trained runner left his maiden form behind at Kempton last month when he stormed home to land a class five Handicap. The change of gear was impressive and the way he won with ease was eye-catching. Blinkers first time fitted clearly worked. More is required today, but he should have much more improvement left in him. Tempus Temporis wasn't a cheap yearling, coming at $300k and is obviously nicely bred. So there could be more to come and given that he is more than double the price of his well fancied stable mate, I believe the 7/2 for him are too big.
Tempus Temporis @ 7/2 VC - 5pts win
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