8.00pm Chelmsford Tips & Betting Preview 25/05/2017

This is a Class 2 handicap over 1m 2f, see our betting tips and the full race preview below.

IN SUMMARY: Mick Appleby’s BANCNUANAHEIREANN isn’t exactly hiding anything from the handicapper at the grand age of 10 but he may have snuck into this off a nice mark. He’s 4lbs lower than when beaten on his last start on the All-Weather in a similar contest to todays and he can win this with Alistair Rawlinson’s 3lb claim. Dark Red is a justified favourite based on his form whilst any money for What About Carlo would be of interest off a 5lb higher mark.

1 FANCIFUL ANGEL – Won a Meydan handicap in January off a mark of 103 and he’s struggled since racing off higher marks. He’s been dropped a pound for an eleventh placed finish in a 21-strong field at Newbury in April and he’s stepped up in trip to 1m 2f for the first time today. He should get that distance based on breeding but he hasn’t been crying out for this longer trip and others are preferred today.

2 KYLLACHY GALA – Didn’t find much success at Meydan over the winter and he returned to the UK with a good effort over a mile in a similar handicap to this. He’s stepped back up in trip today to 1m 2f which looks positive given he finished a head second off 1lb higher at Lingfield in January and he looks to be on a fair mark now. George Wood continues to claim 5lbs which will help but others make more appeal on form.

3 ABAREEQ – Won a 1m 4f handicap in March by 2 1/2 lengths which saw him shoot up the weights on the sand. He’s down a pound following a sizeable defeat at Newcastle in April and he’s been handed a horror draw in stall 12 today which makes life much more difficult. It will require a career best effort to score here off this mark and it may be worth opposing him on these terms today. Mark Johnston is operating at a 7% strike rate at present.

4 WHAT ABOUT CARLO – Connections flirted with the possibility of taking him hurdling over the winter but he was comfortably beaten on two occasions and he’s returned to the flat here. He is 5lbs higher for a success at Newbury in a decent contest at the end of last flat season and he’s struggled off this mark in the past which is a small concern. He may just need this off a break and others make more appeal.

5 HAMELIN – All four career success have came over 1m 4f so this drop back in trip is an obvious concern. He was beaten 3 1/4 lengths in a Class 2 handicap last time out off this mark and that isn’t the worst form in the world although he’s also been handed a horror draw which will inevitably damage his chances of success here. The stable are yet to send out a winner at Chelmsford and the percentage call is to oppose him in this.

6 NOBLE GIFT – C&D winner on his last start earlier this month. He was well-supported that day and the handicapper has only raised him 4lbs for that success which entitles him to run another fine race here in this tougher grade. He has winning form in Class 2 company over slightly further and stall 4 is ideal so there is plenty to like about his chances with Callum Shepherd claiming 3lbs today. Respected.

7 CAPRICIOUS CANTOR – Lightly-raced filly who was beaten by a fair margin in a Listed and Group event last summer. She’s been off the track since last June and returns to action off a 12lb higher mark which gives her some questions to answer now racing in handicap company for the first time today. Stall 1 is fine and she should continue to improve but she’s likely to need this run and others are preferred.

8 BANCNUANAHEIREANN – Without a win since November 2015 and he was comfortably held in a Class 2 handicap at Newmarket earlier this month. He’s 4lbs lower than his last start on the All-Weather and he was only beaten 1 3/4 lengths by a smart enough sort so he has some claims at today’s weights now stepped back up in trip. He’s vulnerable to a few improving sorts but should run his race from stall 8 and looks like value at the prices in this.

9 DARK RED – Ran a pleasing race on his seasonal return to action just 5 days ago when he was beaten 6 lengths at Newbury in a Class 2 handicap. This represents a slightly easier affair and the booking of Pat Cosgrave is eye-catching off what looks to be a fair mark. Stall 10 is another unhelpful draw so his jockey will have to make his mind up fairly early on but he will improve for that run and connections are keen to get him out quickly.

10 REPRECUSSION – Performed to a moderate level for Andre Fabre in France last season and he was bought for £40,000 before being sent to Charlie Fellowes. He ran a nice enough race on his UK debut in a competitive handicap at Newmarket over a mile but went backwards when well-beaten at York subsequently. He remains on the same mark today and this will certainly be easier but he’s hard to recommend on the back of that last run today.

11 QAFFAAL – Has been in fine form all winter with a host of victories and placed efforts. He remains on a mark of 91 having looked to have found his peak level but he was only beaten 3/4 of a length over this C&D in March and he can’t be written off in this at a track he clearly loves. This is certainly tougher than many of his winter assignments so he may just come up short although Mick Easterby has an excellent 27% strike rate at the track.

12 VAN HUYSEN – Races from one pound out of the handicap today and David Egan takes over in the saddle to claim 7lbs. That leaves him with a tiny weight to carry but his overall form needs improvement to match it with the best of these given his successes have come in a weaker grade than this. The yard have sent out one winner from 9 runners at Chelmsford and others are preferred.