6.25pm Chelmsford Tips & Betting Preview 03/11/2016

Eight runners have been declared for the feature race on Thursday’s Chelmsford card, a Class 2 handicap over 1m2f. Read on for our experts’ betting tips and full race preview.

IN SUMMARY: Ijmaaly and Erhaaf are two 4yos that have raced only once since their winning debuts and are open to significant improvement. However, it’s tricky to weigh up both of them, given the former has been absent since May 2015 and returns with cheekpieces fitted, and the latter was slightly disappointing in a turf handicap on his second start. The market is likely to reveal some clues but, as things stand, a more appealing option is MANSON, who looks interesting on his first attempt at today’s trip, given he stayed on well for fourth over 1m on his latest outings and has some middle-distance stamina on his dam’s side. Brigliadoro made excellent late headway for second over C&D recently, his first run over 1m2f, and also needs to be taken very seriously.

1 Lord Ben Stack – Struck form and made all twice at Haydock (1m2f/1m4f) in September, and may not have been suited by the good to soft ground when below that form on last month’s hat-trick attempt; been treated quite sternly by the handicapper and is untested on the AW, but further progress not out of the question.

2 Ijmaaly – Cost 300,000gns as a yearling and made impressive debut when scoring by 12l at Lingfield (7f, good) in May 2015; absent since finishing down the field in Listed company later that month and it’s slightly unnerving to see first-time cheekpieces added here, but he remains unexposed and open to significant improvement.

3 Brigliadoro – Much better known for his exploits over shorter trips but, having been given his usual very patient ride, finished with a flourish to claim never-nearer second over C&D recently; reappears before 1lb nudge up the weights takes effect and could still have untapped potential over this distance; one to consider.

4 Niceofyoutotellme – Effective on Polytrack and now very dangerously handicapped on some of last year’s form in Pattern company, but has looked out of sorts during a fairly light campaign this season; always towards rear when last seen in September and needs to stage a revival.

5 Manson – Not very consistent and yet to race beyond 1m but is a half-brother to Irish Derby winner Jack Hobbs and shaped as though well worth a crack at today’s trip when staying-on fourth at Sandown (1m, good) in September; won his only previous Polytrack start and goes on the shortlist.

6 Erhaaf – Lightly raced 4yo who finished well for narrow-margin win in C&D maiden on debut in March; only fourth of six in Newmarket handicap on sole subsequent start (July) but retains obvious potential to build on his initial piece of form now back on Polytrack; debut for new trainer.

7 London – From an excellent family but needed six attempts to win a maiden for Aidan O’Brien, finally getting the job done at Dundalk (1m, AW) last month; subsequently changed hands for 30,000gns; unexposed over middle-distances trips but doesn’t look obviously well treated by today’s stable/handicap debut.

8 Mithqaal – Beat 19 rivals to take the Silver Cambridgeshire at Newmarket (1m1f, good to firm) in September and also ran when third (just behind Brigliadoro) over C&D recently; evidently in good heart but needs to find something extra to hit the target from 2lb out of the weights this time.

myracing Forecast Prices: 3/1 Brigliadoro, 7/2 Ijmaaly, 6/1 Manson, Erhaaf, Mithqaal, 8/1 London, 10/1 Lord Ben Stack, 14/1 Niceofyoutotellme