Jamie Maynard previews the pick of the pick of the action from Chelmsford this evening and Boom The Groom is one of his two selections.
1pt win Boom The Groom in 7.00 at 4/1
1pt win Glorious Army in 7.30 at 100/30
A cracking handicap over the minimum five-furlong trip which is the feature race on this evening’s card. Tropics has been in fine form in recent months which has resulted in a couple of victories over six-furlongs but this drop back in trip doesn’t look likely to suit as his two previous attempts at this distance have seen him well held. Just The Lord was a good winner in a novice event last month and he’s previously gone close in a couple of 0-105 handicaps back in 2016. The five-year old would be of interest on that evidence but he has been handed a tough draw. Dynamo Walt thrives over this trip with his victory tally in the double figures with six of them coming at this course but Compass Scoobie is 15lb higher than when last successful on the all-weather. The one I’m sweet on is the seven-year old BOOM THE GROOM who, despite not winning on the synthetics since February 2016, has hinted that his next success is just round the corner with some very creditable efforts in better company recently. He’s been eased to a grade in which he’s won once and been beaten twice by a head, so the fact he’s slipped to a 2lb lower mark than for his last all-weather success along with a nice low draw and the booking of Adam Kirby, I can see Tony Carroll’s charge going close to adding to the recent good form of the yard.
Aquarium has had three starts to date in which he’s managed one victory over a mile and now tries this seven-furlong trip for the first time. He has to carry a penalty again here which he struggled to overcome the last day and may well do so again this time round. Evince was a good third on debut over this trip but struggled when stepped up to a mile next time so dropping back a furlong should help whilst any market support for the returning Elysees Palace should be noted. However, despite going off at odds of 66/1 on debut, GLORIOUS ARMY wasn’t beaten far in fifth on debut at Kempton and is open to much more improvement with that experience under his belt. The horse in second that day has come out and won since boosting the form and this son of Declaration Of War could well build on the promise shown on debut to open his account before going on to better things.