Chelmsford Horse Racing Tips for Thursday: Tight turns to suit Blackjack

It's one of the biggest nights in Chelmsford's calendar on Thursday as the Listed Chelmer Fillies' Stakes takes centre stage on a card where five races are sponsored by bet365.

The latest horse racing betting tips for tonight's all-weather card at Chelmsford from Racing Post tipster Graeme Rodway.

Thursday's Chelmsford Horse Racing Betting Tips and Odds

7.30 - Pandora's Gift @ 9/2
8.00 - Above @ 10/1
8.30 - Blackjack @ 9/1

7.30 - Pandora's Gift @ 9/2

The Listed Chelmer Fillies' Stakes (7.30) is a cracking race and there looks to be an outstanding bet in the feature as Pandora's Gift is on a roll on the all-weather and has a fitness edge on her rivals.

The Stuart Williams-trained filly has won three on the bounce on sand, including a novice over course and distance in December, and she was better than ever on her handicap debut at Lingfield last time.

Pandora's Gift blew away her rivals by four and a quarter lengths and the runner-up, Mart, has since come out and twice ran well in defeat. That was a career-best effort from the selection and there should be plenty more to come on what will be only her fifth career outing.

This is a huge step up in class against rivals like Soprano and Jabaara, who competed in Group 1 company last time. But they have been off the track for 215 days each and Pandora's Gift comes here with plenty of recent runs under her belt.

Provided she continues to improve, she can make that count.

8.00 - Above @ 10/1

The Each Way Extra At bet365 Handicap (8.00) is a wide-open contest and the value might lie with Above, who has dropped to the same mark as when last successful at Newmarket in August last year and can take advantage.

Above is a course-and-distance winner and he shaped like he would improve for the outing when beaten four and a quarter lengths into ninth at Newmarket last month on his first run since January.

He was second off a mark 4lb higher than this on Tapeta at Southwell in December, so is evidently well handicapped if he can build on that reappearance, which came over a trip (5f) short of his best.

Four of his five wins have come over further than that distance, including two at this trip and track, so this should be a far more suitable assignment for Above.

There is every chance he can bounce back.

8.30 - Blackjack @ 9/1

The Best Odds Guaranteed At bet365 Handicap (8.30) is another sprint around the tight turns at Chelmsford and that might suit Blackjack, who returns to the scene of his last victory.

The seven-year-old recorded that course-and-distance win off a mark of 65 and there is little doubt that he is handicapped to go close again now that he has dropped to just 1lb higher here.

Blackjack was beaten just half a length into third over 7f at this course in February off a mark of 69, so should be going close if he can repeat that effort back at this venue off just 66 this time.

His last three runs have come at Newcastle and Southwell on Tapeta, but he seems better suited by the Polytrack at this course.

Trainer Alan Brown fits a tonguestrap for the first time in addition to his usual blinkers and that combination might do the trick for Blackjack.

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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.