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Dukedom to seal Royal success at Chelmsford

3 minute read

The Platinum Jubilee weekend may be over, but there could still be plenty to cheer for fans of the Queen on Tuesday evening if Dukedom can open his account in the Betsi Maiden Stakes at Chelmsford.

Saeed Bin Suroor at Royal Ascot 2013 Picture: Racing and Sports

The gelded son of Dubawi is the most experienced horse in the field and chased home some classy operators during his extensive two-year-old campaign.

He also finished second to the highly-regarded Shining Blue on his reappearance at Leicester and Saeed Bin Suroor's charge franked the form on his next outing. The third at Leicester also went close when next seen at Chester and there is plenty to suggest that race could be a good source of winners moving forward.

John and Thady Gosden's string were a little off the boil in the early part of the season and it would be no surprise to see Dukedom take a huge step forward to open his account in Essex.

Also on the Polytrack, recent course and distance scorer scorer Sharpcliff can complete a four-timer for Derbyshire handler John Mackie in the Racing With Pride Handicap.

Having scored twice over 10 furlongs last summer, the five-year-old returned from a 300-day layoff to bring up a long awaited hat-trick last time and although a 4lb rise makes this tougher, he won with a bit more in hand than the neck winning distance would suggest.

In the opening William Hill Play Responsibly British EBF Restricted Novice Stakes at Salisbury, a step up to six furlongs can help Friday Already build on debut promise and get off the mark.

Clive Cox's Dragon Pulse colt was clear second best behind hot favourite Looking For Lynda at Nottingham a month ago and normal improvement will make him hard to beat.

Admiralty House was beaten less than a length by Derby runner Grand Alliance at Chelmsford last time and a repeat of that level of form may be enough to see the Alan King-trained gelding take the Sorvio Insurance Brokers Maiden Stakes.

At Brighton, Doc Sportello can follow up his recent course and distance victory under a 4lb penalty in the Download The At The Races App Handicap.

While very much in the twilight of his career at the age of 10, Tony Carroll's veteran proved the fire still burns bright when forging clear here a week ago.

The penalty he incurred for that victory is negated by the 5lb claim of rider Mollie Phillips and provided this does not come too soon, Doc Sportello has every chance of notching a 12th career win.

Kind Gesture was anything but for rider David Egan when a beaten favourite on debut at Nottingham, but has a chance for redemption in Wetherby's JM Finn Wealth Management Restricted Novice Stakes.

She caused Egan plenty of problems on the way to post and had every chance to win her race before falling victim to a more experienced rival.

However, the daughter of Decorated Knight is clearly a talented filly and is backed to come on plenty for that first racecourse experience to break her duck. If she has learnt what her job fully entails, she will be tough to beat here.

Elsewhere in West Yorkshire, back Galaxy Gazer to build on her Haydock second and put her experience to good use in the Coopers Marquees British EBF Restricted Maiden Stakes.

SELECTIONS:

BRIGHTON: 1.00 Nigg Bay, 1.30 Betweenthesticks, 2.00 Doc Sportello, 2.30 On The Nose, 3.00 Thunderoad, 3.30 Amjad, 4.05 Queen Sarabi.

CHELMSFORD: 5.00 Thunder Cat, 5.35 Embla, 6.10 DUKEDOM (NAP), 6.45 Sir Oliver, 7.20 Sharpcliff, 7.55 Buxted Too, 8.25 Jumira Bridge.

SALISBURY: 1.45 Friday Already, 2.15 Non Stop, 2.45 Cabinet Of Clowns, 3.15 Hurricane Helen, 3.45 Sunrise Valley, 4.20 Admiralty House, 4.50 Manor Park.

WETHERBY: 5.15 Galaxy Gazer, 5.50 Kind Gesture, 6.25 Rose's Girl, 7.00 Arcadian Nights, 7.35 Saulire Star, 8.10 Hellenista, 8.40 Yasmin From York.

DOUBLE: Dukedom and Friday Already.