CHELMSFORD Racecourse hosts its latest meeting on Thursday with an eight-race offering for punters heading to the Essex track.

Racing gets underway at 5pm with a maiden stakes contest in division one before the action comes to a close three-and-a-half hours later at 8.30pm as seven runners tackle the mile handicap in class six.

Read below to discover the latest tips and a full meeting preview of Chelmsford’s card on Thursday courtesy of Punters Lounge, who offer the very latest horse racing betting throughout the season.

The opening contest of the evening sees nine runners tackle the seven furlong maiden stakes in division one of class five (5.00). Easily Convinced was a third on debut at Kemption which was an encouraging effort for the Marco Botti-trained runner so he is taken to go a couple of spots better in Essex. Of his rivals, Song Of Dubai rates the next best for trainers Simon and Ed Crisford, sixth of ten on debut at Wolverhampton ten days ago needing a stronger gallop and should get that here.

Race two on the card (5.30) is in division two of the same discipline as the opener, with preference heading the way of One Horse Town, an interesting Flat runner runner for trainer Harry Derham that changed hands for 34,00 Guineas in December and with the booking of top jockey Billy Loughnane, is one to seriously consider here.

A small field of five will head to the stalls for race three of the evening to contest the seven furlong handicap in class six (6.00) and Star Pupil looks to be the one to side with in this one, a creditable third at Lingfield last time out and is off a 1lb lower mark in the weights here that should see him get the victory with blinkers fitted once again.

Jesse Luc is the way to go in race four (6.30) off the back his impressive course and distance success last time out, though fellow C&D winners Tilsworth Ony Ta and Lord Daniel are also worthy of consideration, while race five of the evening (7.00) should go to Cressida Wildes for the Philip McEntee yard, who ran well 54 days ago at Newcastle and makes an all-weather debut here.

Eight runners will tackle the class five handicap over the five furlong sprint trip for race six of the Chelmsford card (7.30) where Gogo Yubari looks on a workable mark and confirmed she is in good fettle with a third at Lingfield not too long ago so is narrowly preferred to Merrimack, a respectable fourth at Kempton 29 days ago when last seen.

Eight runners will tackle the mile and a quarter handicap in class four in the penultimate race on the card (8.00) where the reliable Etretat can follow up a career-best having scored at Lingfield just under a fortnight ago for trainer Charlie Johnson, while the finale of the evening (8.30) can head to The Spotlight Kid, a good third at Wolverhampton 26 days ago and a winner at Kempton back in November.

Chelmsford selections – Thursday

5.00 – Easily Convinced
5.30 – One Horse Town
6.00 – Star Pupil
6.30 – Jesse Luc
7.00 – Cressida Wildes
7.30 – Gogo Yubari
8.00 – Etretat
8.30 – The Spotlight Kid