All-weather expert Jamie Maynard highlights his best bets at Chelmsford this evening, with a good night predicted for Dean Ivory.
Jamie's best bets:
1900 totequadpot Races 3 to 6 Fillies’ Handicap:
A small field event over six furlongs features only the one previous course winner, Reedanjas. That victory came on her penultimate start when handed a soft lead but she was unable to apply the same tactics next time when challenged up front and she ended up behind both Pulsating and Very Honest. There’s not a lot of pace on offer here today though so she may well be able to dictate and could be tough to claw back if given too much rope.
Pulsating looks as though the handicapper had caught up with her before winning at Kempton but a further 2lb rise in the weights looked too much at the same venue last week and the one I think that will take all the beating is Brett Johnson’s VERY HONEST. This mare snatched defeat from the jaws of victory two starts ago when the aforementioned Pulsating flew home to steel a nose victory on similar terms. However, the five-year old followed that defeat up with a hard fought victory over this trip at Lingfield a fortnight ago and the form of that race has been franked by both the second and fourth placed horses winning subsequently.
She’s only up 2lb and Callum Shephard again claims a handy 3lb on a horse he’s been unfortunate to only have had the one success on having gone close on three separate occasions when partnered together. She looks the type that will improve further and providing Reedanjas doesn’t stretch the field out too much I can see her doubling up for an in-form yard.
2030 Happy 90th Birthday Ashley Handicap:
Surrey Hope has improved markedly since switching to handicaps on the synthetics and is currently 2/2 in these conditions but has been handed a 7lb rise for a two-length success over course and distance a month ago which isn’t ideal but would rate the main danger here. Father Ailbe won over two furlongs further a week ago and is turned out under a 6lb penalty and though he’s still unexposed the drop in trip might not play to his strengths.
The selection then goes to DARK FREEDOM for Charles Hills. Although still a maiden after eight starts, he’s produced his best two runs to date when upped in trip with the latest coming over track and trip when caught in the shadows of the posts and is still open to further improvement over middle distances despite carrying 5lb more than the last day. Robert Winston keeps the ride and this son of Canford Cliffs is taken to turn over the progressive favourite in receipt of 3lbs and shed this maiden tag.
Recommended bets
2pts win Very Honest in 7.00 Chelmsford at 9/4
1pt win Dark Freedom in 8.30 Chelmsford at 9/2
