8.45pm Chelmsford Tips & Betting Preview 06/04/2017

This is an interesting Class 4 handicap over 6 furlongs, see our betting tips and the full race preview below.

IN SUMMARY: Plenty with chances in this and BROTHER TIGER is a tempting price here. He’s 4lbs lower than his last winning mark and this represents his easiest task for a very long time. He should improve for his seasonal return and could be a bit of value here. Lightning Charlie looks on a fair mark with decent form to his name at the end of last season whilst Fujin continues to improve.

1 LIGHTNING CHARLIE – Just touched off over today’s trip at Goodwood back in October and that form would give him an excellent chance in this. He was only beaten 3/4 of a length by a nice enough sort and the handicapper hasn’t been harsh and has left him just 1lb higher. That followed up two really good placed efforts in similar company to this and he should be right there if he is fit off a break. Big claims here on the All-Weather.

2 CAPTAIN LARS – Got the better of a well-handicapped rival last time out at Chelmsford over 5 furlongs. He’s turned out quickly under a penalty before the handicapper reassesses him and that may explain why he runs over today’s 6 furlongs and not the minimum distance which he was won over 3 times. The extra distance makes him less appealing today although the yard are in red hot form (5 winners in the last fortnight).

3 BROTHER TIGER – Multiple winner over 5 and 6 furlongs but he’s struggled of late with some below average runs. He made his seasonal return over a furlong shorter back in March where he finished last of eleven, beaten 9 1/4 lengths. He should do better with that run under his belt and he drops another 4lbs in the weights which should make him more competitive. This is a step down in grade and a return to fortunes may be possible here.

4 NOUVELLI DANCER – Second runner for David Griffiths here and this 4yo filly has struggled in three outings since arriving at her current yard. The last two efforts have come in better company than this so a drop in grade and a 2lb drop in the weights will help her cause. Drop down to 6 furlongs doesn’t look like an obvious move and others are preferred.

5 QUICK LOOK – Lightly-raced 4yo for Mick Easterby who has his first run for this stable today. He showed some modest form for his previous trainer over this trip on similar marks to this and Nathan Evans’ claims puts him lower than marks he’s been competitive off in the past. Worth a look at a decent price but others more appealing in this although the yard does have an excellent 29% strike rate here.

6 FUJIN – C&D winner back in January and he’s done well for this yard since the turn of the year with three victories. He’s risen from a mark of 63 to today’s rating of 80 which is going to make life much tougher and he’s forced to step up in grade here so there are plenty of angels into opposing him. Likely to run his race again but he’s vulnerable now off this higher mark in better company.

7 ATHASSEL – Another that’s thrived this year, recording a hat-trick in March including one race over C&D. The handicapper looks to have finally got a hold of him and he’s 5lbs higher than his last winning mark. It’s no surprise to see him drop to 6 furlongs today and he’ll need a really good gallop to aim at to come out on top and he’s not guaranteed to get it. Katherine Glenister claims 7lbs again.

8 VIMY RIDGE – Losing sequence extends a long way right back to July 2015. He’s slipping to a more workable mark now having seemingly found his level again with a couple of decent placed efforts since the turn of the year. He was only beaten a length by Verne Castle back in February and he should be capable off the same mark here. Cannot be ruled out but yard have a poor strike rate here (2 wins from 72 runners).

9 VALLARTA – Two efforts on the fibresand at Southwell so far this year and he was only beaten 3/4 of a length by a decent enough sort on his last start. He’s on his last winning mark and should be another in this that’s able to get involved. He is kept at 6 furlongs today back on a faster surface and the yard have had two winners from 12 runners here. Receives plenty of weight today.