3 minute read

Sam King returns with two selections for you on Thursday evening…

Chelmsford 6.45 – Local Music

Matt Crawley looks to have a progressive filly on his hands in the shape of Local Music and she gets the vote to take this rise in class in her stride this evening. A convincing winner of a Class 6 handicap over a mile at Chelmsford in April, she's done nothing but improve since, scoring at Lingfield in June before filling the runner-up spot here a month later.

Following a short break, she returned to action seven days ago and posted a clear career-best effort when quickening up smartly to land the spoils in a Class 4 course and distance handicap. She picked up in the manner of a filly that was only just beginning to find her way over seven furlongs, leaving the impression that she could easily be effective in stronger grades.

A 5lb penalty for that commanding success leaves her 4lb well-in at the weights and while there's no doubt the likes of How Impressive and Bell Shot will provide stiffer competition, I'm almost certain she can cope with the rise in grade, especially given she's likely to get the run of the race from a good draw in stall five.

Odds – 6/4

Chelmsford 7.45 - Sir Les Patterson

Later on the card, it could be worth taking a chance on the Harry Eustace-trained Sir Les Patterson in the six-furlong Betfair Exchange Handicap at 7.45.

The gelded son of Zoustar has been bitterly disappointing since switching to turf after he carried a penalty to victory in a seven-furlong Kempton novice race back in April. He gave the runner-up and third-place rivals, who are both currently rated 86, plenty of weight and a beating that day and there's certainly reason to believe he could bounce right back to form now returned to an all-weather surface.

Harry Eustace was also going through a bit of a quiet spell in August, but he appears to have turned a corner with a healthy four winners from eighteen runners over the last two weeks. Given how strongly he can travel in his races, the drop back to six furlongs looks like an interesting move and if the first-time blinkers also help spark a revival, he could be dangerously treated from a kind starting berth in gate three.

Odds – 7/1