A low-key card at Fairyhouse will be the only action over jumps in Britain or Ireland today after both Ludlow and Fakenham were forced to abandon their scheduled meetings this morning due to the freezing weather. The British Horseracing Authority’s decision to schedule an extra meeting at Chelmsford this afternoon has therefore proved to be a shrewd one, which will support betting turnover on an afternoon when it might otherwise have dwindled away ahead of the evening action at Wolverhampton.
Just three go to post for the opener at the Essex track, but the rest of the card is competitive and the sprint handicap at 4.00 is an interesting puzzle. Five of the six runners have a chance on their best form, which in the case of Duke Cosimo is a win over today’s trip at Newcastle last week. Preference, though, is for Excellent George (4.00), who posted an impressive time when successful off 75 at Chelmsford in December and ran well to finish a close third in a stronger race than today’s off his new mark of 79.
Firesnake (3.00) was successful over today’s course and distance back in August but went off the boil afterwards and now races off 47, 5lb lower than his last winning mark. He showed definite signs of a return to form last time and is worth backing to confirm that today, while Touch The Clouds (4.30) should also go well in the last.
Unforgiving Minute (6.25) is an eyecatcher at around 9-1 at Wolverhampton. John Butler’s runner lost all chance at the start last time out when Kieran O’Neill was slow to remove his blindfold, but his previous run to finish a close second over today’s track and trip is a match for any form on offer against him. Unforgiving Minute still finished within three lengths of the winner last time despite giving up several more than that at the start, he has a useful draw in stall one and certainly appears to have a better chance than his current odds suggest.
Chelmsford City: 1.55 Dragon Mall 2.25 Tasaaboq 3.00 Firesnake
3.30 Volturnus 4.00 Excellent George (nb) 4.30 Touch The Clouds
Wolverhampton: 4.55 Temeraire 5.25 Willyegolassiego 5.55 Madame Jo Jo 6.25 Unforgiving Minute (nap) 6.55 Sir Lancelott 7.25 Satchville Flyer 7.55 Kelly’s Dino 8.25 Run With Pride
