Chelmsford Tips: The Dean of Chelmsford?

NINE races from Chelmsford's all-weather Polytrack surface on Thursday, between 16.30 and 20.30.

We're in very decent nick at present - last time I was penning such columns on Tuesday we tipped up 11/2 and 13/2 winners, and the all-weather is being kind to us at present. Long may that continue!

Some superb jocks are in action - among them regular favourites Rossa Ryan, Billy Loughnane, David Probert and some very big hitters like Oisin Murphy.

18.00 - Hot Chestnut each-way @ 13/2

A 7f Class 4 handicap, for 3-yr-olds and upwards.

My selection is the 5-yr-old mare Hot Chestnut, who is trained by Dean Ivory in Hertfordshire and will be ridden by the excellent David Probert. Last time at HQ she ran a blinder, only being narrowly denied, and races here off just a pound higher.

She's a course-and-distance scorer, and has a handy draw (6) to work with. Had a nice rest (40 days) since that cracking Newmarket effort, and together with her winning familiarity with Chelmsford it's not difficult to get excited about her prospects.

Four places on offer, so we're sensibly taking the e/w angle.

19.00 - Adace @ 4/1

Well - I didn't imagine when I sat down to pen this piece I'd end up going for a Dean Ivory double, but here we are!

Adace is a 5-yr-old mare and performed very creditably here two weeks ago over a furlong further, finishing a close-up third. I don't think the step down will trouble her - in theory she should just be hitting the line stronger, perhaps. She's evidently in good heart and maybe this is the only race for her at this venue just now, while she's thriving?

Rab Havlin rides, who's been on board several times previously. She's allowed to race off the same mark, 53, as last time; and being beaten less than a length she surely has a very bright chance of going in for the first time since scoring at Windsor in August, with a degree of ease, off 48 - and under this jockey.

Outreach and Pontius will probably shade her in the betting but I wouldn't swop her for any of 'em.

More Horse Racing tips from Betfred Insights