3.30pm Chelmsford Tips & Betting Preview 08/02/2017

A classy field of seven go to post for the feature race of the day at Chelmsford, a Class 2 conditions stakes and fast track qualifier for the All Weather Championships on Good Friday. See our betting tips and the full race preview.

IN SUMMARY: This is certainly a very smart field with Group 3 winner Ashadihan and Buying Trouble both bringing very solid form into the race, this however can go to Godolphin’s MISE EN ROSE. Winner of a Newmarket handicap in June, she competed in pattern company for the rest of the season and wasn’t disgraced to finish second in the Sceptre Stakes at Doncaster in September. She is suited by the surface and is likely to run a big race for the Charlie Appleby yard with William Buick taking the ride.

1 ASHADIHAN – Has a good record fresh and has some very encouraging form in the book. Highly tried last season, she won the Chartwell Fillies’ Stakes (Group 3) back in May 2016 (7f, Std) and wasn’t disgraced in the Cornoation Stakes at Ascot (Group 1) in June (1m, Good to Soft). She also ran well to finish fifth in the Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket in July (1m, Good to Soft), though was last seen finishing a poor 10th in the Rosemary Stakes at Newmarket in September (1m, Good to Firm). Has proven she handles the all weather in the past and likely to go well today despite conceding weight all around, though that will not be easy against a field of other talented fillies and mares and it’s possible it could be her undoing today.

2 BAHAARAH – Finished second on two occasions in the summer in competitive handicap races at Newbury (1m, Good to Firm) and Newmarket (7f, Good to Firm) which were both good efforts. Makes her all weather debut today and will need more if she’s to be troubling the market principles today, rated 8lb inferior to the front two in the betting. Others to have stronger claims and she’s entitled to need this run; so is likely best watched.

3 BUYING TROUBLE – Lightly raced four year old who ran was running well when last seen in the summer, posting a career best at Newmarket in August when second in a listed race in August (6f, Good to Firm). The switch of surface is no problem as she ran well on the all weather at the start of her career, winning at both Kempton and Lingfield on her first and second starts. Has to be considered for David Evans and inform jockey Adam Kirby and likely to run a good race if fully revved up for today.

4 GOLDEN AMBER – Rated 95 and needs much more in the context of this race, soundly beaten by Volunteer Point at Wolverhampton in November (7f, Std) on these terms. Hasn’t been at her best the last twice either, weakening badly at Kempton on her latest start in January (6f, Std to Slw), and it’s very hard to recommend Dean Ivory’s six year old when all is considered. Likely best watched in this sort of company on these terms.

5 MAKE MUSIC – Produced a career best to win at Lingfield on her latest start (7f, Std), but even that form is nowhere near enough to challenge for a race like this. Rated 22lb inferior to some of these and very hard to make a case for her on that basis alone, as she would need an enormous jolt of progress to even be involved for the placings. Would be a shock winner and best ignored for Andrew Balding.

6 MISE EN ROSE – Close second in the Sceptre Stakes last season (7f, Good) among other good efforts in pattern company last season for Charlie Appleby. First run since October but she won on her return last season in comfortable fashion and is suited fine by the all weather surfaces, as she was a winner here over the mile on said return. Lightly raced four year old for powerful connections (Appleby/Godolphin) who was bought for $240,000, so is almost certainly capable of better yet with William Buick taking the ride. Receives 5lb from Ashadihan who will perhaps be her toughest challenge and likely to be tough to beat when all is considered.

7 VOLUNTEER POINT – Has a good record of six wins from fifteen on the all weather including a win here, though hasn’t been at her best the last twice when soundly beaten at Deauville (7f, Std) and Newcastle (7f, Std), which is far from encouraging. She is certainly capable of much better than that and Mick Channon’s five year old seems a likely candidate for the placings with how consistent she usually is on the all weather surfaces, though she is certainly vulnerable for win purposes. Likely to be a good each way price and may well reward backers with a place.