Thursday Racing Tips: Owen’s charge to go one better at Chelmsford

A mixture of flat and jumps racing is scheduled across the UK on Thursday, with four meetings taking place following the abandonment of Clonmel’s card in Ireland.

The jumps action kicks off at Taunton, followed by Leicester. Flat-all weather racing starts at Lingfield before they go at Chelmsford in the evening. Amongst our Thursday fancies is one for trainer James Owen who went close on his recent return. 

13:05 Taunton - Way Of Stars @ 7/1

Way Of Stars reached a useful level on the flat and caught the eye on his debut over hurdles at Exeter having joined David Pipe’s yard.

He was entitled to need that outing, which saw him finish third, after a couple of months off the track. The form has been franked by the winner and the second has since run well in a Juvenile Grade 2. The son of Sea The Moon can only improve for that experience and will be suited by this larger field with a hood on.

This appears a good opportunity if he is able to transfer his flat ability and he returns with his yard operating at a 31% (4-13)  strike rate over the last couple of weeks.

15:25 Taunton - Constellation Walk @ 7/1

Harry Fry’s Constellation Walk has shown ability in three runs in maiden company behind some useful rivals, including Hurricane Pat and Listed winner Act Of Innocence, and he appeals as a potential improver on this switch to handicaps.

The son of Walk In The Park will need to learn to settle to fulfil his potential but the steady pace he has encountered in his maidens has counted against him and he ought to get a stronger run in now.

This is a useful contest and further improvement will be needed, but he may be worth taking a chance on against more exposed rivals. He receives weight from the rest of the field and has the potential to rate significantly higher than his opening mark of 114.

18:30 Chelmsford - Carlton @ 5/2

Carlton ran a big race on his return from a break when pulling clear with an unexposed rival at this track last month. A 3lb rise for that narrow defeat is frustrating but is offset on this occasion by the 5lb claim of Ashley Lewis.

Owen’s gelding should be spot on after that run and has been kept to a track he loves. This six time course winner has his ideal conditions, he appeals as the solid option in a field where a few of his rivals have something to prove.

Tryfan would be a danger if bouncing back to the form of his win in this grade in September but he hasn't matched that level since and isn't proven at the track.

Machete is yet to race over a trip this far, while the same is true for Crackalackin, who was well held when favourite last time out.