4.00pm Chelmsford Tips & Betting Preview 21/11/2016

One of two feature races on the card today at Kempton and for a big pot of £22,642 on offer expect them to go off at a good clip. Read on for our experts’ thoughts and betting tips.

IN SUMMARY: Sir Maximilian won a decent Listed event at Dundalk a couple of years ago and has run respectably since in much better company. He can make his presence felt but coming off the back of a 160-day absence may struggle to contain KIMBERELLA who was third behind Lord Of The Land in a Listed event at Lingfield 9 days ago and with that run behind him, can find a bit more with fitness on his side. Aleef isn’t without a chance returning to the AW having had a good season so far.

1 Sir Maximilian – Has run 27 times in the last 4 seasons yielding 7 wins the last being here back in March comfortably besting a field of 8 to score by 4 lengths. Last seen finishing down the field in the Group 1 King’s Stand at Ascot behind Profitable but was a Listed winner on the AW at Dundalk and can run them close here. Been off since then but should give it a good shot on reappearance and solid each-way shout.

2 Kimberella – Won easily by 1 ¾ lengths in a Handicap at Ripon in September before flopping on next start at Ascot. Has improved in 5 runs since including a good 3^rd behind the progressive Lord Of The Land at Lingfield 9 days ago losing out by a length and half. Will keep on improving and could be tough to beat for his trainer who excels with sprinters.

3 Bowson Fred – Has won over C&D in the second of back-to-back wins in the summer. Fair form since and has often run well in defeat but no so good when finishing last of 20 in a Handicap at Doncaster 72 days ago. Trainer remains in good form but hard to fancy judged on that.

4 Bosham – Has won over C&D 4 times in his career and run well this season so far with 6 wins from 16 runs. Came 14^th of 15 runners last time out Haydock over a fast 5f and could bounce back now returned to the AW. Tongue-tie left off today and has a solid place chance under Joe Fanning.

5 Encore D’Or – Won back-to-back races in the Spring, beating Bowson Fred by ¾ length at Wolverhampton and then by half a length at Lingfield next time out. 9^th of 11 in a Handicap at Newcastle on last start 150 days ago and tough ask on return from that lay off. Has cheek-pieces on for the first time but others look to have a better chance.

6 Doctor Sardonicus – Won at Yarmouth in July and a previous C&D winner who ran them close when finishing 2^nd of 12 in a Handicap here 26 days ago. Has a 2lb rise to contend with and his stable remain in good form but wide draw today and that may be tricky in this company with plenty of pace ahead of him.

7 Huntsmans Close – Has struggled since joining this yard and only 19^th of 21 in a Handicap at Doncaster last time out and hard to envisage getting involved.

8 Quatrieme Ami – Won on three consecutive occasions last year but not showed anything like that form in 5 runs this year. Only 5^th in the Handicap in which Doctor Sardonicus was 2^nd here 26 days ago and looks up against it despite drop back in trip.

9 Aleef – Held on to win at Ascot 24 days ago although didn’t beat much that day. Return to 5f should suit and having won so easily on his last start on the AW at Lingfield he should get a good toe into the race and dangerous to rule out.

10 Guishan – Has won here before and won back-to-back races at Haydock and then Newmarket in June. Nowhere near best at Nottingham 54 days ago and would probably prefer 6f.

11 Brother Tiger – Finished 2^nd in this race last year off a 3lb lower mark. Winner over C&D and only 7^th of a 9 runner Handicap last time at Kempton. His form has been progressively worse in the last 4 runs and that is worrying in the context of this race.

12 Upavon – Won twice here last April and scored back-to-back wins at Newmarket and Brighton in May and then again at Yarmouth and Brighton in August. Had excuse last time out at Windsor when not best placed to try and go and win the race and on a fair mark given his number of wins this year. All of those have been at 6f though and may just a few too good today dropped back to a fast 5f.