7.15pm Chelmsford Tips & Betting Preview 21/09/2017

A strong looking seven furlong handicap for the grade, with a number of unexposed three-year-olds towards the bottom of the weights. Our runner by runner preview and expert tip are below.

IN SUMMARY: TOBRAVE looked like a winner in waiting when making a belated return at Kempton last time out. That race has worked out well so he has a strong winning chance in this contest from just a pound higher. He looks ahead of his mark, with plenty more improvement to come. Blue On Blue is sure to be popular for the John Gosden/Frankie Dettori combination. He has a chance but his level of form isn’t as strong as the selection, yet he has to give him weight. Dark Side Dream doesn’t know how to run a bad race so needs each way consideration once more, while Steal The Scene is fascinating at a big price given his record on the sand.

1 ARLECCHINO’S LEAP – This is his trip and he’s finding his way back down to a workable mark. All his form on the sand has come on the Tapeta at Wolverhampton which means that it’s best to look elsewhere on this occasion. However, he is worth noting from a similar mark in the coming weeks when back on his favoured surface.

2 STEAL THE SCENE – Almost two years since he last got his head in front, that coming over this trip at Kempton. For a horse who has done all his best work on the Polytrack, it is a surprise that he has run on it just once in his last 14 starts. The blinkers tried last time are swiftly removed and, while he has plenty on his plate on his 2017 form on turf, the return to this surface is fascinating.

3 FIELDSMAN – Has run up a strong sequence of placed form in recent weeks over this trip on turf, his challenge just flattening out close home. He ran well enough the only time he has been seen on Polytrack to think that he will have his chance from a fair perch, but should find a couple of the more progressive ones going past him.

4 SAKHEE’S RETURN – Had to slip a long way in the handicap before finally cashing in at Catterick in August. He is still fairly treated on his best despite that win, but his sole effort at Chelmsford was not one of his better runs, He lacks consistency and, with the doubt over the surface, he is easy enough to pass over.

5 NOSTALGIE – Has really come into her own since joining James Tate, proving her effectiveness on this surface last time out when runner-up. She looked all over the winner there when swooping to the lead, so it was a little disappointing to see her get picked up relatively easily in the final hundred yards. She may need to be produced at the last second so at least a big field should allow her to stay covered up long enough.

6 DANDY FLAME – Twice a winner at this trip in lesser company, he has shown better form this summer when dropped to six furlongs. The surface is no issue for him, but the step back up in trip from a career high mark at this level should combine to stop him from making the frame on this occasion.

7 DARK SIDE DREAM – Superbly consistent, failing to make the frame just twice in his last 16 races. He has been running well over this course and distance of late, although the majority of his best form has all come over a little shorter. Not a horse that can be dismissed out of hand given his record, but probably needs a career best if he is to win this.

8 GOLD HUNTER – Just a single smart effort on the sand, those all coming at Wolverhampton. Has been in good form this year on the turf with the pick of that form over six furlongs. He is a stone below his peak so is feasibly weighted to make the frame if able to cope with being back on an artificial surface, but should find at least a couple too good.

9 PLUCKY DIP – Very tough horse to win with; he has a record of just 5/70 in his career. He won off three pounds higher at this track over six furlongs in May so there are no doubts about him here with regards to surface or trip, with a mile win to his credit earlier in his career. He has run poorly in all starts since that win, including in a worse contest earlier this month. Tough to support him here.

10 ENVISAGING – Nine race maiden is consistent without really progressing, going close on a regular basis but unable to get his head in front. Fourth last time out at Wolverhampton behind Rouge Nuage, he was beaten three short heads after having drifted left under pressure. It was to the right he went at Goodwood when off the bridle so, despite having the ability, he clearly isn’t straightforward. Has an each way chance once more to continue the solid run of places.

11 ROUGE NUAGE – Picked up the thread once more at his favourite track last time. All six of his wins on an artificial surface have come at Wolverhampton, so despite placing a couple of times on Polytrack, he would make an awful lot more appeal if this were on Tapeta. He is at least still well enough treated on his best, but that shouldn’t be enough.

12 BLUE ON BLUE – Produced a career best when breaking his maiden tag over seven furlongs on quick ground. The step down to six was against him last time, but connections have opted to geld him since. The return to this trip should see him in a better light with better still to come from this lightly raced horse. He needs a little more to win this and, given connections, he runs the risk of being over-bet and under-priced.

13 CHELSEA CORSAGE – Steadily progressive when trained in Ireland, coming closest to getting off the mark on the Polytrack at Dundalk. She hasn’t been seen on the track for almost a year so is fully entitled to need this outing while she would appeal more when stepped up in trip, with seven furlongs looking on the sharp side.

14 TOBRAVE – Improved massively for a gelding operation when running on strongly to grab second at Kempton in August. That was his first outing of the season, so it’s fair to think that there is plenty more improvement in the tank. The form of that contest has worked out well, with a pound rise in the weights perfectly fair. He is drawn wide, but as a hold up horse that shouldn’t be an issue. Huge player here to improve past this field.

15 CAINHOE STAR – Rapid improver this season, only grabbed on the line at the end of August over this course and distance. The two pound rise he receives for that is perfectly fair given his performance, however this is a considerably deeper race. So although he has an each way squeak, he is going to have to step forward once more if he is to win this.