A busy day of racing finishes with a decent card at Chelmsford where we have four tips preceded by some nice info for Leicester and Catterick.
3.00 Leicester – 6f Fillies’ Nursery Handicap
Mraseel
All of her form is on quick ground and with underfoot conditions likely to soften right up by Tuesday afternoon that doesn’t really help us. She has been consistent though.
She Believes
Hard to know how she’ll handle softer going but she did well to win a novice event last time and she can come on a little from that performance.
Queen Of Kalahari
A course winner on the soft back in May, natural improvement now upped to 6f would see her right up in the front rank here. The yard is in good form, especially with those showing speed.
One For June
Ignore her run in the Weatherbys Super Sprint, she was highly progressive before that and won easily on good-to-soft ground at Lingfield over this trip. More to come.
Song Of Summer
A speedy type who is not ground dependant and a last time out winner who can go well.
Peace Prevails
No win in three attempts so far but weighted accordingly. May show significant improvement now in a handicap.
85 One For June
84 Queen Of Kalahari
84 Peace Prevails
81 Song Of Summer
81 Mraseel
81 She Believes
Summary
A tight nursery but one in which William Haggas’ ONE FOR JUNE could come out on top. He has enlisted the help of Danny Tudhope and Paul Hanagan for his two runners on the card and will expect at least one win. Queen Of Kalahari and Peace Prevails are not far behind in terms of ratings.
3.15 Catterick – ABF Soldier’s Charity Perpetual Trophy, 1m6f Handicap
Be Perfect
Loves this track which we have to bear in mind and has no trouble with this trip. Not at his very best these days but the drying ground will help.
Pumblechook
The dryer the conditions the better for this one who needs to recover from two awful runs of late but before that had shown excellent progress. Won very easily at HQ but had little in the way of competition, very difficult to get a handle on how he will perform but back on turf on decent ground we should be positive and expect a big performance.
Tenzing Norgay
Just needed those first two runs of the season and can resume progress now. Conditions look OK and he’d likely be a strong favourite if it weren’t for the spectre of Pumblechook.
Ingleby Hollow
Very much up and down this term and would need to be at his very best.
94 Pumblechook
88 Tenzing Norgay
86 Be Perfect
86 Ingleby Hollow
Summary
Given the likely conditions, it is easy to see Mark Johnston’s PUMBLECHOOK resuming his improvement and if he does then he looks particularly well in. Tenzing Norgay is likely to be the biggest danger.
4.30 Leicester – 7f Handicap
Childesplay
Took a big step forward last time at Newbury with a big margin win, though that was on very soft ground and things here may be different.
Bahamian Bird
Ran well over course and distance last time and she’s still getting better overall. Another step forward here would see her have a great chance.
North Creek
A fine, consistent season so far for Chris Wall’s 4yo but it’s all been on synthetic surfaces. In theory he could be well-in on turf, but there is precious little evidence that he handles it the same way.
Zefferino
A lightly raced Frankel colt whose speed figures have steadily got better yet shows his best form on slightly softer ground. Conditions here could be perfect for another improved showing and his best so far is likely to come today.
Traveller
A lightly raced horse from the Charlie Hills stable, 7f looks ideal but so does faster ground.
Peach Melba
Typically of a Mark Johnston horse she has squeezed in 7 races since late May but progress has been slow and steady, culminating in an easy win at Chepstow last time on softened ground.
87 Zefferino
83 Peach Melba
82 Bahamian Bird
80 Traveller
78 Childesplay
75 North Creek
Summary
Peach Melba is typically game and perhaps progressive, though fellow three-year-old ZEFFERINO looks like he has plenty more to offer and can take this before going up in grade.
5.50 Chelmsford – 7f Nursery Handicap
Kit Marlowe
Despite winning last time it can be argued that Mark Johnston’s colt has regressed since his debut over 5f in May.
Joe’s Spirit
It’s been a mixed bag for Michael Bell’s entrant so far and he’s had two goes in nurseries already.
Coastal Drive
One of very few who looks trustworthy enough to give his best running or perhaps even improve. The decent ground will help and a new career high is on the way.
Sardenya
No win in three but getting better all the time. Now has headgear and a step up to seven furlongs and her speed figures are up there with those at the top of the weights. Huge chance.
87 Sardenya
84 Coastal Drive
80 Joe’s Spirit
77 Kit Marlowe
Summary
It’s a pity Joe’s Spirit appears to be so inconsistent and that Kit Marlowe hasn’t really gone on, though Coastal Drive can go better now handicapping and SARDENYA may prove even better.
6.20 Chelmsford – 1m Novice Stakes
Beringer
Galloped on well when winning over 7f last time and could appreciate this distance. Does carry penalties though.
Aussie Wind
Won nicely at Newcastle over 7f and that track takes some getting, so the mile here looks ideal. Beat Ibn Al Emarat last time but there is a weight pull for that one now.
Ibn Al Emarat
Ran on well when 2nd to Aussie Wind at Newcastle and can show up better here. The weight pull is handy and he himself can improve further. Strictly speaking he should beat his old rival now but didn’t run anywhere near as well when making his debut at this track.
Mail Order
A Nathaniel filly who will love this distance but who did not run too encouragingly on debut and needs a big step up here.
80 Ibn Al Emarat
78 Aussie Wind
78 Beringer
70 Mail Order
Summary
Working on the assumption that the slightly different surface to Newcastle will be OK, IBN AL EMARAT may be able to turn the tables on old rival Aussie Wind now.
6.50 Chelmsford – 1m Handicap
Tumbaga
Down in the weights now after some under-par performances this year. Still plays at a good level though and likes it round here.
Qassem
Ran really well at York back in May and will probably appreciate the drop to 1m.
Kharbetation
Remains a very interesting prospect as a 4yo with only two runs under his belt despite obvious problems. Beaten favourite on his belated return but will surely have needed the run and can shape up much better now.
Mutarabby
Improving in lumps now and another step forward can be expected here after a fine course and distance win last time. He was also third to Stradivarius at Newcastle last November so has been mixing it with some good types.
Mukalal
Just in behind Mutarabby here last time when seeking a hat-trick, still in great form and not one to dismiss.
La Rav
Won easily at Newbury last time but that was in a small field.
Thomas Cranmer
Doesn’t seem quite the same horse on the all-weather and needs a huge improvement in form anyway.
Casimiro
Made a very fine debut at Lingfield in April before a reasonable run on unsuitably soft ground next time. Returned to this sort of surface a lot more can be expected and we have no idea what he could be yet.
Moolazim
A debut winner here in the spring and has improved since then, every chance returned to this surface.
109 Casimiro
106 Mutarabby
104 Tumbaga
102 La Rav
101 Moolazim
101 Kharbetation
101 Mukalal
100 Qassem
96 Thomas Cranmer
Summary
The unexposed three-year-old CASIMIRO looks the one to concentrate on here from a decent draw. He will like the return to this sort of surface and can make light of his handicap mark. Mutarabby looks progressive too while Godolphin’s other horse Tumbaga may yet come good.
7.20 Chelmsford – 1m2f Fillies’ Handicap
Sagely
Despite having only had 13 races, we pretty much know her level now although she is getting better this term with each race.
Glittering Jewel
Didn’t have to be extended to win her maiden last time but before that was showing up well against better opposition and in this grade should be much more comfortable.
Mia Tesoro
Was coming along nicely last backend and makes a belated reappearance. Interesting contender.
Prosper
Showed up better last time but a little in and out and on the balance of her form she doesn’t look well enough handicapped.
Blushing Rose
Sir Michael Stoute’s Dalakhani filly is an obvious contender and an almost certain improver over this trip.
96 Glittering Jewel
94 Blushing Rose
93 Sagely
92 Mia Tesoro
87 Prosper
Summary
Given the potential for improvement over this distance and the form of the yard, Blushing Rose will be popular here but could be vulnerable to GLITTERING JEWEL. Charlie Appleby’s contender has plenty more to give and has been contesting races well above this level.