7.00pm Chelmsford Tips & Betting Preview 16/02/2017

Ten runners go to post for this very competitive stayers’ 0-85 handicap over two miles at Chelmsford City racecourse. A pot of £6,469 is up for grabs and it is the type of race where the national hunt trainers generally have a lot of success. Read on for our full analysis and free tip for the contest.

IN SUMMARY: Jamie Osborne’s Silver Quay must have a great chance off the same mark as his second at Lingfield on Saturday but has to prove he likes a trip this far. Midtech Star looks a horse on the improve in this sphere but our vote goes to DUKE STREET who was third in this race last year off the very same mark. Luke Morris is back on board the horse who has been doing his trade over hurdles and he will take a lot of beating off this mark as fitness won’t be an issue.

1 SILVER QUAY – Five year old gelding trained by Jamie Osborne who responded very well to headgear in the hands of Adam Kirby at Lingfield on Saturday, going down by a length in second, going off a well backed favourite. The cheekpieces remain on, George Baker takes over in the saddle, he gets to run off the same mark (86) and he should be in the mix if he stays this far.

2 RIDGEWAY STORM – Non Runner

3 COTTON CLUB – Hit a high of 170 in-running on the exchanges when scoring at 18/1 at Wolverhampton over two miles last time out, with Zakatal back in second. He is up another three pounds for that so runs off 85 here and he has never won off a mark this high in the past so the percentage call is to oppose on this occasion.

4 ZAKATAL – Eleven year old gelding trained by national hunt trainer Rebecca Menzies. He ran a great race at Wolverhampton over the extended two miles when just behind Cotton Club two starts back off a mark of 84 and he ought to be thereabouts once more off just one pound higher. Respected.

5 LUV U WHATEVER – Andrew Mullen is the most sought after jockey on the all-weather at the moment and he rides this seven year old Michael Attwater gelding who was fourth here over shorter last time out, fading in the closing stages. He has failed every time he has been stepped up to this sort of trip and has a lot to prove.

6 DUKE STREET – Trained by Dr Richard Newland, Luke Morris is an interesting booking on this five year old who was third in this race last year behind Albahar and Zakatal off a mark of 83. A course and distance winner back in the day, he hacked up in a juvenile handicap hurdle at Newbury over two miles and two furlongs in April 2016. He arrives here off the back of two second place efforts at Kempton Park and Market Rasen over hurdles and looks certain to take a hand in the finish here tonight.

7 GLAN Y GORS – High Chaparral five year old gelding who hasn’t been seen for 158 days so fitness will have to be taken on trust. His last three runs last season were woeful, beat a combined 102 lengths over trips between a mile and a half and two miles. He will need to show a lot more to be considered a betting proposition.

8 MIDTECH STAR – Stayed on really well to win here at this track over one mile and six furlongs at 4/1 last time out. Ian Williams is in fine fettle at present over the jumps and flat and he looks a horse on the upward curve. Adam Kirby remains on board and another good run looks on the card up in trip and up in the weights.

9 CHARTBREAKER – Chris Gordon won this race last year with Albahar but this six year old Shirocco gelding has to show a lot more to win the 2017 renewal. Tailed off on all three starts this season (two over hurdles and one on the flat), he was beat 19 lengths over this course and distance in November and will have to find mass improvement to compete here.

10 ALDRETH – Mick Easterby trained six year old who won narrowly over this course and distance last month off a mark of 75. He is only gone up two pounds for that narrow win so ought to make his presence felt once more but he may well be up against much better rivals on this occasion for all he is respected for a shrewd trainer.

11 CAVALIERI – Rated just 67, this Philip Kirby trained gelding runs off a featherweight of just 8-10. He was a course and distance winner off a mark of 61 back in November but looks well out of his depth in this line-up, even taking the weight into account. Easily opposed.