2.20pm Chelmsford Tips & Betting Preview 22/12/2016

Today’s feature race sees 10 horses going to post for this Class 2 Conditions Stakes over 7f and carrying a top prize of £28,012. Read on for our expert’s thoughts and betting tips.

IN SUMMARY: This should be run at a good clip with a couple of likely front runners set to blaze a trail. Realize can go well after being drawn poorly in a Listed contest at Lingfield last month and is likely to be involved along with Dragon Mall if he is ready to go after short break. He has been running in good company throughout the Summer and should be able to make his presence felt here if putting his best foot forward back on the AW. FANCIFUL ANGEL is another who has been running in hotter races this year and on best form he can get his head in front for this. He is on a good mark and has run well after a break before. He is a dangerous opponent to all in this field and everything looks set for a big run.

1 C Note – Has been gelded since winning his second of two races at Leicester in October after which he reached a decent RPR of 104. Makes his AW debut in this after two moderate runs up to 1m. Needs to prove himself on this surface making his debut after fifty-four days off and probably best watched for now unless the market speaks in his favour.

2 Dhahran – Won three of his four starts but hasn’t won since landing a Listed event at Doncaster last October. Hasn’t run well on his last two starts in better company since a decent third of a conditions race at Kempton two starts ago and needs the removal of blinkers to help him in this (worn at Kempton). Hard to see him being the mix for this on most recent form.

3 Donjon Triumphant – Has some good form to his name at the highest level having won the Rockingham Listed race at York then a Group 2 at Masons-Lafitte last year. Finished runner up in the Prix Maurice De Gheest at Deauville next time out but has been well below his best on turf and the AW since dropped into this company. Could easily outclass this lot if on a going day but that hasn’t been for a while and he looks set for minor money again.

4 Dragon Mall – Has won on this track before, snatching a Class 2 conditions event in September last year and has run well in defeat on turf since including a good fourth behind the useful Thikriyaat in a Group 2 at Goodwood (Good/Firm) in July. Been off the track since finishing fifth of 9 at Salisbury (Good/Firm) in a Listed race at Salisbury in September and one to watch if ready to go after two months off.

5 Fanciful Angel – Has run well, including up to Group 1 level and won a good handicap at Medan in January, reaching an RPR of 108 in the process. Has run respectably in some very competitive handicaps since and can get involved on his best form. Has run well after a break before so his absence of 126 days should not be too much of an inconvenience and has won over 1m on the AW at Lingfield before. Big player.

6 He’s No Saint – Bagged a couple of wins albeit in lesser company this year and ran a career best to get up at Lingfield fifteen days ago by a short head. He did win a trail for the Medan Classic in the earlier part of his career but looks held in present company, for all that he comes here at the top of his game and can be ruled out today.

7 Hold Tight – AW winner at Lingfield in January but hasn’t been seen to best effect in his last two runs and was disappointing at Goodwood (Good/Firm) on his last start 145 days ago. Hood back on today and could get involved on best form. NON-RUNNER.

8 Realize – Won here a year ago and followed up by landing a couple of decent handicaps in this grade at Lingfield two starts later. Struggled at that track over 6f in a Listed race last month when drawn badly but not that far behind Lord of The Land finishing seventh of 12. Does have a few classy rivals to beat but should be able to make his presence felt again today. Solid place claims.

9 Valbchek – Winner three times on the AW at Lingfield and hasn’t won at that track since April last year. Did win a Listed race earlier in his career when trained by Jeremy Noseda but has only shown minor promise in his last three runs at this level and needs a career best and his rivals to under-perform to get involved today.

10 Golden Amber – Twice a winner at this course last year up to 0-95 level and on a handy weight against male rivals today. Has run well in her last two starts in Class 2 company without winning and will need a lot more here in what looks a hotter race.