Jamie Maynard previews the pick of the action at Chelmsford, where Luxford is fancied to go close for John Best.
7.15 Chelmsford preview
Click here for racecard & free video form
The feature race on the card at Chelmsford is a competitive class 3 handicap being run over seven furlongs.
Cliffs Of Capri was an impressive three-length winner on handicap debut and has since switched to the in-form Jamie Osborne team. He’s stepping up a grade here but he’s likely to improve despite carrying an extra 8lb.
Both Gilgamesh and Golden Goal have terrific strike-rates over this distance and the latter has only been beaten the once on Polytrack from four starts. Both are still relatively unexposed and can make their presence felt.
Course specialist Pearl Spectre is worthy of a mention having won again over course and distance last week but may find life tougher stepping up in grade under a 6lb penalty, so the suggestion is the Ian Williams-trained BOY IN THE BAR.
He arrives here off the back of a solid third on Kempton’s Polytrack, beaten by a 105-rated horse. Prior to that he was a very respectable sixth in a class 2 handicap and both those efforts suggest that a step up to seven furlongs can see him go very close.
He has a nice low draw and Josephine Gordon gets the leg up again having already won twice on the six-year old. She was out of luck at the track on Thursday but can make up for it here.
7.45 Chelmsford preview
Click here for racecard & free video form
LUXFORD won over track and trip on her penultimate start and although only fourth next time off this mark at Lingfield, the return to this course could see her gain a fourth career victory.
She’s receiving weight all round and the fact she has a recent win to her name is key against this bunch. The step up to a mile and a half trip has proved the right move for this filly and the form that’s come out of that win here has been boosted a couple of times since.
Jack Of Diamonds once won a handicap off a mark of 88 and is now rated 21lb below that and a couple of recent efforts (a first and second) have hinted that the ability is still there, the only issue seems to be this longer trip, whilst Rayaa is shortlisted on her third start for Michael Appleby as she was a close second over course and distance two runs back off 2lb lower.
However it's Luxford, slightly unfortunate last time but with everything in her favour here, who looks the solid each-way bet in the race.
Recommended bets:
0.5pt e.w. Boy In The Bar 7.15 Chelmsford at 17/2
1pt e.w. Luxford 7.45 Chelmsford at 13/2
Click here for our transparent tipping record
Posted at 0920 GMT on 17/11/17
