Unfortunately we don’t have any Royal Ascot runners this year but we have two good chances in £20,000 handicaps at Chelmsford this afternoon. The Essex track provides excellent prize money and deserves to be supported and we have enjoyed plenty of luck there this year with three winners and a second from just four runners.
SIR RODERIC – Chelmsford 2:55 ATR
After a winless 2017 running in some tough handicaps, his last two thirds have been strong steps in the right direction and arguably should have won last time out when his apprentice rider didn’t kick in time at Kempton. However, it was pleasing to see him run to the line and off the same mark he has every chance this afternoon from a decent draw in stall 4.
MASTER CARPENTER – Chelmsford 3:30 ATR
Now seven years old, Master Carpenter (pictured) has been an absolute star for the yard, his career highlight winning the £150,000 John Smiths Cup at York back in 2015. While he is not in quite that form nowadays, his win at the Dante meeting last year shows he retains plenty of ability but struggled with a subsequent 10lb rise, a year ago he was carrying top weight in the Duke of Edinburgh at Royal Ascot off 105. Now rated 91, he is handicapped to win again but needs ease in the ground and that hasn’t been easy to find so he makes his all-weather debut this afternoon! His recent fourth at York was strong form but the concern today is stall 9, he could be stuck wide which isn’t ideal but hopefully his class will help him over come that and go close.