NAP of the Day: Boatman set for another good run at Chelmsford

There are several meetings taking place across the UK and Ireland on Tuesday as we welcome the month of July.

The 18:30 at Chelmsford catches my eye for the Nap of the day, as a six-time all-weather winner, which includes this same race 12 months ago.

18:30 Chelmsford Odds

THE THAMES BOATMAN returns to CM3 to compete in this Class 3 race , having triumphed in it one year ago - beating Star of Lady by a head.

The five-year-old is rated 2lbs higher on this occasion which is not expected to have too much of an impact. This bay gelding keeps threatening to shed his maiden status on turf in recent showings but he has fallen just short, with second-place finishes in his last three appearances at Salisbury, Brighton and Bath.

Two of them saw him come close to victory as he was one-and-a-half lengths out from Lil Guff at Bath, before a half length defeat to Safari dream last time out in Salisbury in what was a field of 10.

Trainer Richard Hughes will be pleased from what he has seen in these recent showings and perhaps senses being back on a track familiar to The Thames Boatman may just help him land his first victory since Lingfield in September. The going has been good to firm in the last three outings so Hughes and jockey Finley Marsh will have everything crossed for the same again on Tuesday.

The past two runs have been over 6f but like Bath, this one is over 5f, and given the outcome in this race last year, it may just play into his hands.

A rivalry with Almaty Star is set to be renewed here, with the Robert Cowell-trained five-year-old finishing third in this race in 2024, losing out by half a length. He then had to settle for second behind The Thames Boatman in his victory at Lingfield, which again was a close contest with the winning margin being by a head.

Another tight affair could be in store with Hollie Doyle aboard Almaty Star, but there has been a different jockey for his past two rides. Consistency for The Thames Boatman and Marsh may once again give them the edge.

Another runner they need to be wary of is Ziggy's Missile, who is fresh off a C&D victory on June 19. However, I think the stage is set for a triumphant return for Hughes' runner at Chelmsford and that is who I am backing here.

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