7.50pm Chelmsford Tips & Betting Preview 13/03/2017

This is an interesting maiden at Chelmsford, see our betting tips and the full race preview below.

IN SUMMARY: The Richard Hannon duo of Kassandra and Sawlaat could turn out to be anything and they both have lovely pedigrees but it’s worth giving another chance to RAG TATTER. He let himself down on his seasonal return in a winnable race but he may not have been as fit as he could have been that day and he’s worth another chance at a fair price now stepped back up in trip to 6 furlongs.

1 SLIPALONGTREVASKIS – Beaten 19 lengths on debut over today’s C&D and will probably prefer further in time. Could take a long time to find his feet in racing given he only made his racecourse debut at the age of 4 and has to give a stone away to much better rivals. Hard to envisage success here.

2 CINQUE PORT – Ran a huge race on debut finishing second at a massive 50/1 at Kempton last September. He couldn’t build on that when beaten a long way on his next start but he should do better now given time and he could be a decent type for his stable this year. Trainer has had 2 winners in the last fortnight and he’s worth a second look in the betting now dropping back in trip to today’s 6 furlongs.

3 EDDIEBET – Made a fair impression on debut last month when a never nearer fourth. He was very green that day and looked bewildered at the half way mark but did stay on to his credit and he should have learnt plenty from that run. Shelley Birkett claims 3lbs which is a big positive although this yard has a poor strike rate here (6%, 4 winners from 69 runners). Best watched today and will do better with experience.

4 FANTASY KEEPER – Went close over the minimum trip on two occasions over the winter following an okay introduction to racing on the turf in November. He was well backed last time out off a small break and he should strip slightly fitter and more knowledgeable about his task today. The step back up in trip to 6 furlongs has to be taken on trust but the booking of Silvestre De Sousa looks positive (22% strike rate, 8 wins from 37 rides last 14 days) although he probably has a little to find with a couple in this.

5 HARLEQUIN STORM – Not beaten far on two occasions over 6 furlongs at Wolverhampton last month for the Dean Ivory yard. There was plenty of money around for him on his last start but he could never quite get to the leaders and he’s going to need to find a bit more again to be competitive again. 6 furlongs looks the right trip for him at this stage and money always has to be respected in these races so the market may provide clues again today. Trainer without a win in 9 attempts in the last fortnight.

6 HAVELOCK – Has become very frustrating with five placed efforts in 6 starts and couldn’t get his head in front when he had the run of the race last time out. He steps back down to 6 furlongs today and that is at least one positive given he likes to dominate from the front although he’s drawn slightly wider today which makes things slightly harder. He’s respected again but it’s difficult to make a case for him with his frustrating record although he will pop up in a race of this nature at some point.

7 RAG TATTER – Four placed efforts in five starts and has been sent off 2/1, 100/30 and 8/13 on his last three starts. He’s entitled to come on now for his seasonal reappearance and he should strip fitter here and he can be given another chance now connections have got a run into him. He steps back up to 6 furlongs having looked a shade outpaced last time out and the yard are in good form with a 19% strike rate in the last 14 days. Respected.

8 SAWLAAT – £185,000 purchase as a yearling and looks very interesting on paper as a son of Clodovil. He is a half-brother to a useful type that won over 6 furlongs and any money for him in the betting would be very significant. The yard are in okay form with one winner from their last 9 runners and it’ll be interesting to see how he handles his racecourse debut. He could end up being better than all of these but it’s only his first day at school today and it’s tricky to know what to expect.

9 ANNA MEDICI – Well beaten on debut over 6 furlongs at Wolverhampton and that only came 7 days ago so this Sir Percy filly may not be seen to best effect here turned out so quickly. She’s relatively well-bred with some decent enough relations including a winner over 6 furlongs so she’s not completely without hope although her yard generally do well with these types when entered into handicaps. Betting will be interesting and may be one to keep an eye on in the market.

10 KASSANDRA – This Dandy Man filly was bought for £85,000 as a yearling and she’s a full-sister to a 6-furlong maiden winner who went on to do well at Royal Ascot in 2013. She couldn’t get involved on debut and was another that looked a tad green and she wasn’t entirely clued up about her job. She’ll know much more today with that run under her belt although she does arrive here off a seasonal break and her fitness isn’t confirmed. The booking of Andrea Atzeni is a big positive and she does receive 5lbs from 8 of her 9 rivals which could make the difference here.