Chelmsford Racecourse: Doubles for James Owen and Ashley Lewis 

Chelmsford Racecourse offered another competitive Thursday evening of racing and the seven-race card yielded three winning favourites, but the main story of the occasion was a pair of winning doubles for trainer James Owen and rider Ashley Lewis. 

Read on for a full report of the Chelmsford card, brought to you by Racing TV, where you can find Cheltenham free bets. 

We began with a mile novice (5.00). This race was won by the hot favourite; Felix Gem at 6/4. Trained by Eve Johnson Houghton and ridden by Callum Hutchinson, he made good progress having raced in the rear, taking the lead inside the final furlong and keeping on well to win by over a length. Tamashal was second and Golden Muse third.

Next was a mile selling stakes (5.30). With just five runners taking part, the favourite was Keiran Burke’s Zoffandia, but she was disappointing. Instead, Karl Burke’s City Of God came to the fore under Sam Hames and kept on well in his first-time cheekpieces to win by a length. Good Banter was second, followed in by Epictetus. 

Race three was a five-furlong handicap (6.00). Another market leader obliged here, as Mick Appleby’s Arklow Lad finished ahead by nearly two lengths, having jumped out the stalls at 11/10. Ridden by Jason Watson, the four-year-old kept on well in the final furlong despite edging left and was chased home by General Assembly. 

The fourth race was a handicap run over a mile and six furlongs (6.30). This was an open race, but the Dylan Hogan-ridden Smokey Malone came home as the winner, just a head in front of runner-up Sullivan Bay, who was chased in by the market leading 3/1 chance Not So Sobers. 

Next was a six-furlong classified stakes race (7.00). Here, Ashley Lewis rode the first leg of his winning double, as the Mark Hoad-trained Henry Tudor kept on well from stall eight to win by over two lengths. In second was Flicka’s Girl and Hannah’s Return was third. 

The second to last race was a seven furlong handicap (7.30). James Owen had the first of his two winners here, as Captain Parma crossed the line over two lengths ahead under Mason Paetel. Signcastle City was the favourite but made no impression.

Finally, racing concluded with a 10-furlong handicap (8.00). Ashley Lewis and James Owen had teamed up here to bring Silkies Sib in as the winner, completing both their doubles on the night. The winning distance was just a neck to 11/1 shot runner-up Pablo Prince, followed home by Graffiti. 

Chelmsford results – Thursday:

5.00 – Felix Gem (6/4F)

5.30 – City Of God (9/2)

6.00 – Arklow Lad (11/10F)

6.30 – Smokey Malone (100/30)

7.00 – Henry Tudor (13/2)

7.30 – Captain Parma (4/1)

8.00 – Silkies Sib (13/8F)