7.45pm Chelmsford Tips & Betting Preview 05/01/2017

Only a field of seven for this maiden stakes worth £5,175 to winner in the penultimate race at Chelmsford tonight. Read on for our expert’s thoughts and betting tips.

IN SUMMARY: John Gosden does well with his horses on this course especially those wearing headgear for the first time and the likely front two in the market are the pair to concentrate on given they fit that profile. DRAW SWORDS looks set to make it fifth time lucky following form figures of 3323 with the first time blinkers sure to help him settle better.

1 DRAW SWORDS – Dansili colt who has an official rating of 80 following four starts on the All Weather since August. Makes his Chelmsford debut here today and steps back up in trip having found himself one paced over 8.5 furlongs last time out. Form from Kempton should transfer well here and with first time blinkers to help him settle having pulled hard last time out in a much better race than this, it looks an excellent opportunity to record his first win.

2 KESWICK – Similar pedigree to the favourite and a full brother to the impressive Martlet who was twice won at this course. Makes his racecourse debut here wearing a tongue tie, but early betting suggests he is the stable second string and hard to oppose the favourite given what he has shown so far.

3 MAMBO DANCER – Only two runs so far and was well beaten when tenth of 13 in a Wolverhampton maiden nine days ago over an extended mile. Up in trip today and hard to fancy against some classier looking rivals.

4 SPEEDO BOY – Just two career runs and ran his best race so far when third of 9 in a maiden at Wolverhampton over shorter in November. Seemed to benefit from being held up that day and if similar tactics are employed he could get into the money if one of the front two flop.

5 STAR GENERAL – Colt by Galileo and related to some fair winners up to 6f. Yard not known for having many first time out winners on the AW and best watched for now.

6 UPGRADE – Has had eight career runs so far and only eighth of 14 in a Class 5 nursery at Kempton over 1m last month when cheekpieces were left off. They remain absent again for this and he needs a lot more improvement without them and upped in trip against some potentially classy rivals. One of only two horses in the race with an official rating (71 versus the favourite’s mark of 80) but has Each Way chances at a big price thanks to past experience and the likelihood he attempts to make all.

7 VRIKA BAY – Filly by Mastercraftsman who improved from her disappointing first run when eleventh of 12 at Goodwood in July to run well on her first AW start when fourth of 9 at Kempton last month after a five month absence. More needed for place purposes but should do well in time.