Horse Racing Tips: Thursday’s best bets at Chelmsford as Murphy & Buick go head-to-head

* All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.

17:30 Copperknob

COPPERKNOB caught the eye when fifth on his nursery debut at Kempton last week, finishing with a flourish to pass the post only two lengths behind the winner. He is 1 lb lower in the weights here and the way he stayed on suggests this longer trip will play more to his strengths. Still relatively lightly raced, he can find more improvement to get off the mark at the fifth attempt.

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18:00 Tollard Royal

TOLLARD ROYAL looked a useful prospect when making a successful debut at Kempton in August, quickening clear in the straight to land the spoils by three and a half lengths in taking style. He is sure to progress and looks well capable of defying a penalty on his way to bigger and better things. The booking of James Doyle, who has a 25% strike rate at Chelmsford in recent seasons, also catches the eye.

18:30 Notions

NOTIONS shaped with plenty of promise when second on his debut at Windsor in August, doing his best work at the finish after briefly being held up in his run. That form reads well in the context of this race and there should be more to come from him as he gains in experience. Therefore, he rates a solid option to open his account under Oisin Murphy, who is still involved in that fascinating battle with William Buick for the jockeys’ championship.

19:00 Riknnah

RIKNNAH provides William Buick with a good chance of firing in a quick reply in this handicap. She won three times earlier this year and shaped as if back top form when fifth on her latest outing at Kempton. On that occasion she was forced to use up too much energy by racing wide throughout and it was a good effort under the circumstances to be beaten only three and a half lengths. She still looks on a fair mark and could be worth a chance to resume winning ways.

19:30 Lord Lovelace

LORD LOVELACE has made a promising start to his career, making a winning debut at Kempton in August before filling the runner-up spot in a novice event over this course and distance four weeks ago. His form is working out well as the horse who beat him last time, the exciting Sunray Major, followed up on his next start at Ascot, while the third has also won since. This looks just an ordinary race on paper, so it will be a surprise if Lord Lovelace can’t defy a penalty this time to give William Buick another winner on the card.

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20:00 Montather

MONTATHER is still relatively unexposed and this looks a good opportunity for him to resume his progress now back on the all-weather. He has won both his starts at this track and showed useful form when making a successful handicap debut over a longer trip here in June. Below his best in three subsequent starts on turf, he should find these conditions more to his liking and a BHA mark of 95 still looks lenient judged on the balance of his form.

20:30 Smart Connection

SMART CONNECTION was strong in the betting and duly produced a career-best effort to belatedly get off the mark at Lingfield two weeks ago, keeping going well to win by nearly two lengths. It’s still early days with the Alice Haynes yard and he has looked an improved model since being fitted with cheekpieces. He is 5 lb higher in the weights here, but another bold effort is expected.

Tips for Chelmsford on Thursday

17:30 Copperknob
18:00 Tollard Royal
18:30 Notions
19:00 Riknnah
19:30 Lord Lovelace
20:00 Montather
20:30 Smart Connection

* All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.

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