Wednesday 8 February 2017

2:30 Chelmsford Racing Tips (8th February) WINNER.CO.UK BEATEN BY A LENGTH FREE BET MAIDEN AUCTION STAKES (CLASS 5) (3yo)


A Maiden Auction Stakes over 1m on Standard going.

Quite a restricted race type for these seven three-year-olds. By all accounts, this race offers very good win prize money: £5,175 

Four horses have limited race experience with three debutantes adding to the mix. I can't say I have any strong opinions about this contest. We will take them by race card order:

Mystery Of War is trained by George Scott who proved quite disappointing with his two-year-old last year. A number were well backed on debut and proved hard work. This bay gelding is a son of Canford Cliffs. This £26,000 yearling purchase races in the silks of The Foundation Partnership.He is priced 8/1 in the betting. It would give greater hope if seriously backed.

Micheal Appleby fields Touch Of Faith who is making his debut. This son of Zoffany cost just 7,550G when purchased at two. Apprentice, Alistair Rawlinson, takes off a valuable 3lb. Best watched. 

One of the more experienced horses in the field is Driver's Girl, who is still a relative newcomer with just two starts to date. This filly is sired by Candy Ride who hails from Argentina out of a once-race Dynaformer mare. This February foal was relatively fancy on debut when heading to Leicester [2016]. She made her return in January belying odds of 33/1 to finish second at Kempton. The hood is applied for the first time. Looks more likely than most.

Jose Santos doesn't have the greatest of strings but he is one of few to have trained a 200/1 winner. Flying Flynn is a chestnut gelding. This son of Byron cost just 1,200E when purchased as a yearling. He is owned by the trainer. Little ability was seen when racing over 6f at Wolverhampton. He ran better second start when stepping up a furlong to finish third. 

Never Folding was substantially backed when making his debut at Wolverhampton over 7f. This daughter of Requinto ran on well giving the impression better could be expected this second start. 

Philip McBride is one of my favourite trainers. In general, I take note of his runners on their second start. Miami Sunset is a bay daughter of Archipenko and cheap yearling purchase at just 5,500G. The prize tag doesn't inspire confidence. I'd take a watching brief. 

Mick Quinn doesn't have the largest string of horses. Interesting that he gets a few from Raymond Tooth who has had his share of talented horses. Circuit is a bay filly and daughter of Foxwedge. She was purchased by Raymond Tooth for 4,000G at the yearling sales. Not show much ability in two starts and unless you fancy a 40/1 winner, best watched. 

Conclusion: Decent prize money for what looks an average race. Driver's Girl has shown the best ability and should go well but there isn't too much meat on the bone. If a few of these drift in the market, Botti's charge could be odds-on. Mystery Of War may hold claims if backed although I don't have much faith in Scott. Never Folding is likely to improve although she was a pretty short price on debut which gives me the impression it was a pretty poor race.