Miss Dusky Diva features among Jamie Maynard's best bets as our man previews the pick of the action at Chelmsford this evening.
7.30 Bet trifecta At totesport.com Handicap
One of the tightest handicaps you're likely to see with only 4lb separating the six runners and this looks set to be a cracking race over seven furlongs.
There's no better place to start than the rapidly-improving Spare Parts for local trainer Phil McEntee who has strung together an admirable run of efforts since the turn of the year with form figures 1111231.
There was a suspicion that the handicapper had caught up with the four-year-old before going in again on Saturday but he's up another 6lb in a stronger race and this may be one race too many after a busy six weeks, though I can't completely rule him out.
Siege Of Boston is a dual course and distance winner who has been eased 2lb in the ratings on the back of a four-length defeat on the fibresand over a furlong shorter. He's entitled to go close now back up in trip and returning to this track whilst the battle-hardened Loyalty is looking well handicapped now and is a five-time course winner, but I'm quite keen on Anthony Carson’s CAINHOE STAR.
This gelding failed to see out the mile trip at Kempton last time but was only beaten just over two lengths and remains on the same mark now dropping back to a trip at which he's already won twice.
His penultimate start saw him go down by a half length over track and trip from 2lb lower and the form of that race has substance to it with a couple of winners coming out of it.
He's got good course form, a nice low draw and in the hope that first-time cheekpieces can eke out more improvement, I can see him playing a leading role in an open contest.
9.00 totepool Bets At totepool.com Handicap
This Chelmsford finale is a staying handicap over a mile-and-three-quarters and amongst the runners features Volturnus, who produced a devastating performance in identical conditions here last week when landing the spoils by 12 lengths.
It's not a surprise to see the cheekpieces kept on after the wonders they performed a week ago and he's rightly installed as a warm favourite despite carrying a 6lb penalty, but on his penultimate start he was six lengths behind MISS DUSKY DIVA when receiving 10lb and the pair now re-oppose on much closer terms so at the prices I'm siding with the latter.
This six-year-old has finished second and third (a winner has come out of the latter race) on two subsequent starts off this mark of 55 which she's previously won off so is still handicapped to win a race of this nature.
The mare's two wins have been over two miles but with some pace in the line-up the race may well be run to suit this stayer who could pick up the pieces when others have had off.
Navajo Star is another course winner who is on an unchanged mark for a recent second here and Koubba is very unexposed, but it's David Drinkwater’s gelding who could provide the most resistance to the favourite having already got the better of him in that previous meeting.
Posted at 0750 GMT on 15/02/18.
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