Jamie Maynard is sticking with the in-form Espresso Freddo as he previews the action from Chelmsford on Thursday evening.
Recommended bets
1pt win Celtic Artisan in 8.00 Chelmsford City at 9/2
1pt win Espresso Freddo in 9.00 Chelmford City at 7/2
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8.00 Bet totetrifecta At betfred.com Handicap
This handicap over the mile trip looks wide open with over the half the field currently sitting on marks lower than which they've previously won from.
That said, I can confidently rule at least a quarter of this 12-strong field out either on recent form or for their disliking of the Polytrack surface.
Of those that may go close we have previous track and trip winner Samphire Coast, who is eased in grade after being held at Newcastle latest but is running under the same conditions as when successful on his penultimate start from a 4lb lower mark, so a return here could help.
King Oswald has escaped a penalty for last week's win in an apprentice handicap and Beepeecee returns to a more favourable trip but the one I'm siding with is the northern raider CELTIC ARTISAN.
Rebecca Menzies makes the long trip down from Durham with this seven-year-old and her record here reads quite well with only two of her runners failing to finish in the first four from 15 visits.
Her three victories in Essex have all come from this chestnut gelding and he's only been put up a pound for a sound second at the beginning of the month meaning he's still 4lb below his highest winning mark.
They've re-applied the blinkers which have worked so well previously, he's nicely drawn and hopefully P J McDonald can get him into a good prominent position early in an attempt to lay down his challenge at the business end.
9.00 Going Racing? Stay At Channels channelslodge.co.uk Handicap
Usually these small-field events can be quite tactical but there looks to be plenty of pace on offer in this and it should hopefully be a truly run handicap over the seven-furlong trip.
Poet's Society arrives here having gone down by a head at Wolverhampton ten days ago and although he's back on a winning mark he's done all his winning over sprint distances.
Prior to that recent second he'd been soundly beaten in four starts since a five-furlong success in September and I personally feel this trip will be too far for him so he's opposed at the odds.
The main threat looks likely to come from six-time distance winner Call Out Loud who supplied a fine effort against slightly better opposition at Kempton recently. Alistair Rawlinson keeps the ride (won five times on this gelding) and is a previous course winner so can play a role at larger odds but the one to be on is the last-time out course and distance winner ESPRESSO FREDDO.
He stalked the pacesetters that day from a strong pace, took it up at the furlong pole and although those in behind were coming to him this four-year-old was always holding them.
He's up 4lb for that and this is marginally tougher but this is his best trip, all his wins have come whilst wearing the cheekpieces and Adam Kirby is booked again (3/4 when riding for Robert Stephens), all reasons to be confident of following up here.
