7.00pm Chelmsford Tips & Betting Preview 25/07/2017

This is a Class 3 handicap raced over a 6f, see our betting tips and the full race preview below.

IN SUMMARY: Dean Ivory’s KADRIZZI can get back to winning ways today now he drops in grade. He was raced over a trip too far last time out and he will be much more at home in today’s conditions and given he’s 5lbs below his last winning mark, he should be tough to peg back today. Sign Of The Kodiac can give him a run for his money back in conditions that he loves off a reasonable mark.

1 LEADER WRITER – Henry Spiller races an intriguing French import who has contested some decent Stakes races. He has raced twice this year in France on the turf and he was only beaten 1 1/2 lengths last time out over a mile in Soft ground. He should be suited by today’s conditions although he’s been handed a poor draw in Stall 11 and he may just need this run. Worth attention in the betting.

2 SIGN OF THE KODIAC – Has won both starts over C&D and James Given’s runner attempts to make it a hat-trick today. The blinkers are left off today having made no impact last time out in the Epsom Dash and he will be better suited back on the All-Weather. He remains on his last winning mark of 94 and he should go well today for a yard with a 25% strike rate in the past fortnight.

3 UDONTDODOU – Useful performer on the All-Weather with two victories from three career starts on the surface. He’s been raised 6lbs for a comfortable success over C&D last time out and that was fairly impressive having made light work of the opposition in a Class 3 event. He won’t find life as easy today off a career high mark and Robert Winston gets off him to ride Kadrizzi today. The yard have failed to send out a winner from their last 13 runners.

4 RUSSIAN SOUL – The Jamie Osborne yard has been out of form over the past fortnight, failing to send out a winner from their last 17 runners. That record doesn’t look set to be bettered in this given their runner is 4lbs higher than his last winning mark against some well-treated sorts. He was only beaten a length last time out in a race similar to today’s but he’s not getting any younger and he may find this too much today.

5 KADRIZZI – Dean Ivory’s runner is now 5lbs lower than his last winning mark and he drops in grade to Class 3 company today which could see him take this. He was only beaten 8-lengths over a trip too far last time out and the drop back to 6 furlongs could see him bounce back to form today. He has course form with a win over 5 furlongs here and Robert Winston is back on-board today. He deserves plenty of respect in a much easier race.

6 CAPTAIN DION – Didn’t disgrace himself when upped in grade to Class 2 company at Kempton earlier this season but he’s been off the track since then which is a concern. He remains on a mark of 90 and Lewis Edmunds claims a useful 5lbs today so he looks fairly treated at the weights although he may have had some issues and the market may guide best today.

7 MAZZINI – James Fanshawe’s runner ran a fine race in a Class 2 handicap at Newcastle earlier this month when sixth in a 13-strong field. That was a decent performance off a career-high mark and he should fare better today in this weaker grade off the same mark. Cheekpieces are applied for the first time which could bring out more improvement and he deserves respect in this.

8 UPAVON – C&D winner who has been a good servant to connections with 10 wins from 45 career starts. He’s 2lbs lower than his last winning mark on the All-Weather and the step back up in trip to 6 furlongs should see him improve today having been narrowly beaten over this trip at Wolverhampton on two occasions earlier this year. You can forget his last run on Good to Soft ground on the turf and it would be no surprise to see a much-improved effort here.

9 STANGHOW – Won a Class 4 Beverley handicap earlier this month by a nose but he couldn’t follow that success up off a 6lb higher mark next time out. He wasn’t beaten far at York over the minimum trip so it’s a surprise to see him stepped up in trip to a distance that may not be ideal for him. The yard haven’t sent out a winner from their last 13 runners and he may bump into one again today in this Class 3 event.

10 CAPTAIN LARS – Another trip dependent horse and Derek Shaw’s runner is still without a win from 14 starts over 6 furlongs. That raises major doubts about him today although he likes the course having won a 5f event here back in April. He beat a well-handicapped sort that day but he remains 3lbs higher than that winning mark and others are preferred today.

11 BROTHER TIGER – Has been on the downgrade for a while now but he did show signs of life at Wolverhampton 8 days ago when he finished fourth of an 8-strong field at Wolverhampton. The first-time cheekpieces looked to have halted his decline and connections will be hopeful of a good run here although he’s up in grade and he’s not guaranteed to follow up that effort.

12 MAAKAASIB – Lightly-raced 3yo who is well-treated on these terms with his weight-for-age allowance. He beat some moderate sorts at Kempton earlier this month when there was money about for him and a 5lb rise looks enough on what he achieved that day. He is a C&D winner which is an obvious plus and he should go well again today although this is evidently tougher than his most recent assignment.

13 DUTIFUL SON – One pound higher than his last winning mark which came over 6 furlongs at Kempton earlier this year. He’s been well-held since over varying trips and he arrives here on the back of a poor run last time out. He’s not terribly treated at the weights but his form needs drastic improvement and others are preferred.