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14:00 Chelmsford This handicap sees a few maidens trying to shed that tag and there is one of them that I’ll be siding with. No doubt that Captain K for Gordon Elliot will be a warm order after his second over further than this mile trip at Wolverhampton last time. He’s been put up 2lb for that effort but he isn’t one I could fully trust backing. Conrad Allen’s filly Moving Robe gets the vote. Eight races and is yet to win but has knocked on the door in a few races here at Chelmsford. Her last effort was a good one over seven furlongs and she shaped that the extra furlong would suit. The third from that race Moayadd won yesterday giving that form some credence. Her previous effort at this course saw her finish third off this mark when staying on late, so is worth taking to hit the frame from a low draw in a race that should be ran at a good gallop. Afkar has been consistent since returning from a break but his three career wins have been over seven furlongs, which suggests that the mile will test him. He’s drawn in stall six and will be looking to lead but may get taken on for that with Randall’s Allannah in stall four, so they could set a strong pace for our selection. MOVING ROBE (E/W if 9/2+) – NAP
14:50 Carlisle This Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle looks to revolve around three runners but of the trio I’m going for the bigger priced one. Pomme returned to the course after a 413-day absence and was fourth in a strong Maiden Hurdle at Doncaster. The winner of that contest looks a very smart type for Paul Nicholls in the shape of Brio Conti but Nigel Hawke’s charge wasn’t disgraced after such a lay-off. There was a worrying moment for Danny Cook that day when she blundered and he lost an iron but there were signs of ability to suggest she could win a race of this nature and if able to continue in the same vein of form then this six year old can definitely place a part in this contest. Which One Is Which showed plenty of promise in a Novice Hurdle at Exeter 55-days ago and readily won a bumper on debut in June 2015. She finished that race strongly and is likely to be ridden quietly by Aidan Coleman before mounting a late challenge. It’s worth noting that Jonjo O’Neil has a good strike rate here where sending his hurdlers up from Gloucestershire. Lastbutnotleast was able to dictate at Hexham when making all and winning cosily. She stays in a mares’ only event but the fact she has to give weight away all round has to be a concern. She handled worse ground on that day and seemed to have some gears against what was probably an average field but overall she could be vulnerable in this. POMME (WIN)
by Matthew Kirby
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NAP Selections:
Dean Kilbryde: Icing On The Cake (WIN) – 15:10 Ludlow
Graeme Lafferty: Top Boy (WIN) – 16:05 Chelmsford