6.15pm Chelmsford Tips & Betting Preview 01/04/2017

This could turn out to be a smart maiden, see our betting tips and the full race preview below.

IN SUMMARY: Although disappointing on debut, BLESS HIM should now take a big step forward with that racecourse experience under his belt and win this. Connections clearly want to get an early win into him and this well-bred horse can get off the mark here with race fitness assured. The dirt-bred Mudaarab should love this track and trip whilst Bahar needs close attention in the betting.

1 SO HAPPY – 42,000 Euro yearling who’s clearly taken time to come into himself making his debut aged 4. He has to give plenty of weight away to his rivals in this although his trainer isn’t unknown to sending out maiden winners and he’s worth a market check. He’s by Fastnet Rock so is likely to appreciate every yard of this trip although this is a tough assignment on debut.

2 BAHAR – Bought for $35,000 as a yearling and was then sold on for 150,000 Euros as a 2yo so he clearly shows something at home. Connections will be disappointed therefore with his debut at Wolverhampton last November where he was comfortably beaten having been sent off at 8/1. He’s been gelded over the winter which shows he isn’t the most straight forward and he’s probably best watched here off a break. Yard have been in good form of late (19% strike rate).

3 BLESS HIM – This Sea The Stars colt cost a whopping 600,000 Euros as a 2yo and it’s easy to understand why he was sent off at 4/9 on debut earlier this month. He was disappointing that day, finishing second to a once-raced rival who’s probably not the worst type but who’s certainly not a world beater. He was keen and ran fairly green throughout and whilst that racecourse experience should see him do better here, it was only 15 days ago. Obviously has an excellent chance on paper but debut was a shade disappointing.

4 FREE FORUM – Half-brother to an ex-Aidan O’Brien runner who achieved a rating of 107. He’s by Holy Roman Emperor so will appreciate this trip and further and he’s the second runner for David Simcock who has an excellent 21% strike rate here. The yard have been slightly out of form of late but this 180,000GNS purchase is another to keep a really close eye on in the market.

5 HIGHLAND CRADLE – Interesting Bated Breath colt who’s related to plenty of decent winners. It’s interesting he’s stepped up in trip given his sire but his trainer has trained types just like him and should know what will suit him inside out. He couldn’t do much on debut at Yarmouth over 7 furlongs finishing well-held but he should do much better this season although he’ll probably just need this run. Respected but others make more appeal today.

6 MUDAARAB – Has a dirt pedigree (by Distorted Humor) and he’s the another runner for Sir Michael Stoute in this. He should be well-suited by today’s trip and it’ll be interesting to see how forward he is on debut for a trainer with a £6.98 profit from all his runners here at Chelmsford. Jim Crowley takes the ride under his new retainer and he’s been in good form of late with 6 winners from his last 15 rides.

7 REDGRAVE – Had three runs so far and they came in slightly tougher maidens than this back on the turf. He was at the front of the betting on his last two starts (11/4 twice) and there should be more to come from this Lope De Vega gelding this year. Others make slightly more appeal in this and connections apply a first time hood in order to try and get him to settle better.

8 TRENCHARD – On ratings, he’s 4lbs inferior to Redgrave and he’s proven to be nothing out of the ordinary in three starts to date. He has bumped into a couple of nice sorts on the last two occasions (Harlow and Giant’s Treasure) so he’s not been running without credit. He will appreciate this step back up in trip today having done his best work late last time out over 7 furlongs but others are less exposed and make more appeal. Blinkers are applied for the first time in order to bring out some more improvement.

9 ZOFFANY BAY – Related to a couple of nice winnners and he was purchased for 42,000GNS as a yearling and makes his debut here. His yard aren’t renowned for first time out winners although he has got an excellent strike rate at Chelmsford (21%) and that makes him of interest here. A hood is applied for racecourse debut and others make more appeal.