8.10pm Chelmsford Tips & Betting Preview 15/08/2017

A seven furlong Class 3 handicap with more than £16,000 to the winner, filled with promising types for the future. This looks a race well worth following as the season progresses. Our expert tip and runner by runner preview are below.

IN SUMMARY: GOLDEN GOAL is a perfect 2/2 in his career, both wins coming over this course and distance. A stronger pace in a deeper race are going to suit him better here and just a three pound rise for his most recent win is unlikely to be enough to stop him. Important Mission looks his biggest danger, shaping better from a wide draw last time than the official result suggests while Majeste would have a great chance if able to replicate his 2016 form. Aventinus could potentially be the best of those at a double figure price, having shown smart form on the Polytrack in the past and likely to be better for his return from a break last time out at Glorious Goodwood.

1 VOLATILE – Sole win came over this course and distance in a backend maiden. He began his 2017 campaign with a smart run in a Listed race at Lingfield but has shown little since. Connections reach for first-time cheekpieces to try to sharpen him up. If they have a positive effect he has an each way chance, but is still a risky proposition at present.

2 AARDWOLF – Another who began the season in sound form, including a win off this mark at Doncaster. He has struggled badly since and his sole run on the All Weather saw him finish last of five runners in 2016. He has more than enough to prove at present and is tough to support.

3 AVENTINUS – Four solid runs from five on the All Weather, his only slightly below par effort came when trying Tapeta for the first time. A winner at Goodwood in June, he may just have needed the run at Glorious Goodwood from an eight week break. He should do better back on Polytrack now, holding an each way chance.

4 OPEN WIDE – Got his head back in front last time on his first try in this headgear combination. Jim Crowley takes the mount now, a solid booking choice for a horse who isn’t the easiest of customers, holding his head rather high under pressure. That win was over five and a half furlongs, well beaten on his only try over this trip, so he has more than enough on his plate.

5 JALELA – Two turf runs either side of her sole run on the All Weather are the best pair of her runs. She didn’t run badly per se on her only go on the sand, but the race didn’t really work out well. This is her handicap debut, with a step down to a sharper test at this seven furlong trip a positive. Holds a chance if she adapts to the Polytrack at the first time of asking.

6 MOOLAZIM –  A winner over this course and distance on debut, he was last seen when getting bogged down on very soft ground at Doncaster. The return to this surface is a positive for him, but this is a step up in class and he shapes as if a mile would be a more suitable trip for him now rather than this sharp seven furlongs.

7 MAJESTE – Only five lengths behind Rivet in the Group 2 Champagne Stakes as a juvenile, he has been a long way below that level of form so far in 2017. There are excuses as he was highly tried on a couple of occasions, as well as struggling on ground that was too soft the last twice. This is his first try on the All Weather and it would be no surprise to see him take a leading hand on his 2016 form.

8 VIA SERENDIPITY – Making his debut for Stuart Williams, he stayed on well over a longer trip than this on his final start for Hugo Palmer. That was a similar level of contest to this, so he will have no problems with this class. However, the step down in trip doesn’t look an obvious plus.

9 GOLDEN GOAL – A perfect 2/2 to start his career with both wins coming over this course and distance. He should be suited by this better quality field and the stronger pace that should go along with it, given that he was too keen in a race run at a steady gallop last time. There should be no shortage of pace here if that allows him to settle in the early stages to keep more in the tank for the finish. A three pound rise shouldn’t be enough to stop him from extending the unbeaten start to his career.

10 IMPORTANT MISSION – Quickly stepped back down to this trip having failed to stay a mile here last time. He didn’t shape as badly then as a 4 1/2 length fourth might suggest, forced to come the long way round from a wide draw, he covered far more ground than those in front of him. Will need to step up again to win this deeper race but, after just three career starts, there is surely more to come.

11 MISS SHERIDAN – Progressive this season, winning on three occasions. She is yet to win higher than Class 4 which is a concern in this deeper contest, while the three times she has been tried on an artificial surface have been a long way short of what she has produced so far on the turf.

12 MISSISSIPPI MISS – Just the four races so far in her career, she was beaten a long way in her first handicap. There will be races to be won with her, but they are going to be at a lower level that this for now.