RACING returns to Chelmsford on Thursday evening with another bumper nine-race card. The night plays host to seven handicap races and a couple of novice contests.

Read on for a preview of and tips for the Chelmsford card, courtesy of Betway.

Up first is a nursery handicap over five furlongs (4.30). This looks to be a warm handicap with plenty of good form on show, but the one to side with may be Alice Haynes’ Filly Foden. The daughter of Ardad should be able to make her current mark work for her here and jockey Kieran O’Neill gets a good tune out of her. 

Next is a six-furlong fillies’ novice (5.00). We have three newcomers in the mix here, who – as unknown quantities – could take this race in any direction. Karl Burke’s debutant, Three Non Blondes, will attract plenty of attention due to his excellent strike rate with juvenile first-timers, but this particular filly looks better suited to a longer trip in the future. Ed Dunlop’s Zoustar Dreams might be the one to choose instead, having improved run on run in three starts so far and could go better here. 

A mile fillies’ novice follows (5.30). With a number of powerful stables represented, this race could develop into a hot contest, but John and Thady Gosden’s Symbol Of Majesty is the standout currently. Though she has a wide draw to overcome, the stable have the best strike rate with two-year-olds on the all-weather, so it usually pays to side with their runners.

Race four is a five-furlong handicap (6.00). Panelli won his last start and makes a stable debut for Stuart Williams, but it might be that the winner is Havana Rum, who is down to what may be a workable mark. The Richard Fahey-trained gelding is given seven pounds by his rider, which aids his case and, if he starts quickly, he could get the right position to win this. 

Following is the first division of a six-furlong handicap (6.30). This is not an overly strong-looking race and, therefore, it may prove to be the case that Stuart Williams’ Invincible Melody, a maiden from 12 starts so far, has his opportunity to win here. He has come down to a tempting mark now and has the visor reapplied, which can be effective for him, particularly over this trip. 

In the second division (7.00), which looks a more competitive contest, Charlie Wallis’ Due Date has won his last three starts and looks competitive again, but might find this new mark a step too far. Havana Gila could be a better option, now down to a workable mark and with a nice draw in four for trainer Harry Eustace. 

Race seven is a handicap run over seven furlongs (7.30). Tam Lin and Onemorenomore both won their last starts, but with 12 runners to choose from here, an each-way chance might yield some results. Trained by John Ryan, Chloe’s Courage could do better than her price suggests in first-time blinkers. She is down to a potentially workable mark and could run well from stall one. 

The penultimate race is a 10-furlong fillies’ handicap (8.00). This is a fairly open race, but it might be that the topweight, Lady Of Arabia, is able to defy her handicap and win for Eve Johnson Houghton under Billy Loughnane. The five-year-old wears a first-time visor and is, in fact, two pounds down in the weights from her last start, so has a real chance from stall three today.

Last of all is a 10-furlong handicap (8.30). Though a number of the 14 runners come here on the back of promising runs, one who may outrun her odds is the Daniel and Claire Kubler-trained Lady Aiyana, who ran well on her last two starts but might have the luck of the draw here in three. She could get to the front under Rob Hornby.

Chelmsford selections – Thursday (via Sporting Life):

4.30 – Filly Foden

5.00 – Zoustar Dreams

5.30 – Symbol Of Majesty

6.00 – Havana Rum

6.30 – Invincible Melody

7.00 – Havana Gila

7.30 – Chloe’s Courage

8.00 – Lady Of Arabia

8.30 – Lady Aiyana