8.15pm Chelmsford Tips & Betting Preview 01/12/2017

IN SUMMARY: Connections will hope FIGHTING TEMERAIRE’s gelding operation has straightened him out and he can take this. The booking of Adam Kirby is positive and the drop in grade and switch to the All-Weather can pay dividends. Samharry could be his biggest danger but he’s been absent for 498-days and may need this run.

1 FIGHTING TEMERAIRE – Makes his first start following a gelding operation today. He was well-beaten in a decent handicap at Newmarket last time out and he’s been dropped 4lbs in the weights subsequently. This is his grade and the booking of Adam Kirby is a big positive.

2 CHESTNUT FIRE – Still seeks his first win in the UK since arriving from Ireland and he’s produced some mixed form. His placed effort in a Class 3 handicap at Newcastle earlier in the year off 5lbs higher makes him a danger here now dropping in grade.

3 FAMILY FORTUNES – Lightly-raced 3yo making his eighth career start today. He looks to be struggling off a mark in the mid-80’s following some mixed form in Class 4 company and stall 11 makes life much tougher today. Opposed.

4 ICE ROYAL – 2 wins from 22 starts isn’t much to shout about and he’s been well-held in this grade for much of the year. He hasn’t won since July 2016 and whilst sliding down the weights, doesn’t make much appeal today.

5 SAMHARRY – Won on racecourse debut at Doncaster back in July and he hasn’t been seen since. He was gelded earlier in the year and makes his first start since the operation and his first start in handicap company. He shaped with promise on debut but the lay-off is a concern. Market support would be significant.

6 WAARIF – Won a Dundalk maiden before transferring to the UK and the David O’Meara yard. He’s produced solid form in this grade at Newcastle this month with plenty of money about for him so he ranks as a danger with first-time cheekpieces tried today.

7 GENETICS – Won a weak maiden at Newbury last summer and he produced a moderate effort off a year break at Windsor in October. He’s 3lbs lower than his last start which came in a stronger race but the drop in trip is a concern for this middle-distance bred sort.

8 BLAZE OF HEARTS – Arrives here in search of a double following a Class 5 Yarmouth success in October. A mark of 78 remains fair but this looks much tougher than his last assignment and stall 9 is far from ideal. Best watched.

9 MARATHA – Poorly drawn in stall 12 and his form has been mixed this season. He produced his best effort when placing at Nottingham off a mark of 80 but he finished second last when well-supported last time out and he’s a risky prospect in this field.

10 HAMMER GUN – Went on an incredible run of success earlier in the year having landed a 100/1 surprise win at Southwell. A mark of 78 is still 3bs above his last winning mark and his latest effort suggests he’s not due to return to winning ways just yet.

11 LAGENDA – Sole success in 21 starts came in a Wetherby maiden in July 2015. He makes his first start for Kristin Stubbs today and he’s extremely hard to make a case for given his extremely inconsistent form and poor record. Best watched.

12 TRADING POINT – Broke his maiden for John Quinn back in October 2016 but he’s clearly had an issue having been off the track for nearly a year. He’s not returned in the same form and makes his first start for David O’Meara today. Needs to prove he’s 100% fit.

13 GLENDUN – Finally got his head in front at the tenth time at Kempton over a mile last time out. He’s dropped back in trip today and he has run well here before so he enters calculations. Needs to improve his overall form though to be in the mix with some of his stronger rivals.

14 CORKED – Won a maiden over 1m 2f here last month by 3 lengths at short odds. It’s not worth reading much into that success although her previous form suggests a mark of 75 is in the right area. Stall 3 is a great draw but the drop in trip is a concern.

15 LACAN – Won a Class 5 Kempton handicap by 1 3/4 lengths last time out and he’s been handed a 5lb rise for that success. He’s struggled in Class 4 company previously and Luke Morris will need to be at his best to navigate a horror draw in stall 15.