Murhib the bet at a track that he loves

Murhib 6.00 Chelmsford, 1m5½f handicap

Lydia Richards has her small team in good order. She had a winner at Lingfield on Tuesday with Smith, and she has a good chance of doubling up here with course specialist Murhib.

He’s gone seven races without a win, but has edged down the weights as a result, and now gets to compete off a mark of 71 – 2lb lower than for his latest win which came over this course and distance in April.

In total he has won three times at this venue, and there were signs at Kempton last time out that he was getting back to his best, when he was a good third to Liberated Lad over an inadequate trip.

Everything is in place for a big run here and there doesn’t seem to be anything particularly frightening amongst his rivals.

The pick of the others looks to be Crimson King who finished second at Wolverhampton on his latest start. He was still beaten over four lengths there, however, so didn’t immediately look like a winner waiting to happen. Best alternative: Crimson King

Avoir De Soins 1.52 Market Rasen, 2m3f handicap chase

In a race where nothing looks particularly solid, Avoir De Soins is worth chancing on his first outing for the Jonjo O’Neill team.

This will be his first start for 235 days, and his first for the Jackdaws Castle operation, having hitherto been trained by Anthony Honeyball.

He was something of a disappointment for that yard but he did manage a win in a 2m4f handicap chase at Lingfield in November 2020 and he is only 2lb higher now, running off 93.

Things didn’t go his way in three subsequent starts, but he does start back here off a rating he should be competitive from, and it would be no surprise if the change of yard had managed to extract some sort of improvement out of him.

Only a seven-year-old, and a lightly raced one at that, this well-bred type can go in on his return.

Nocte Volatus has yet to win a race of any description, but he has shown flashes of form here and there, and a first-time tongue-tie might help him put in a better display. He is still young and could be the biggest danger.

Best alternative:

Nocte Volatus

Delire D’Estruval

1.07 Leicester, 2m4½f selling hurdle

Recommending a horse who has pulled-up on his last four starts isn’t normally a good thing to do, but Delire D’Estruval has an obvious chance on the figures in the selling hurdle.

Up until recently he had been very consistent, and a pretty good chaser on his day, reaching a peak rating of 146 in Februay last year and running at the Cheltenham Festival.

Non-completions there, and previously in a Grade 3 at Kempton are easy enough to excuse as they are competitive events. It is harder to excuse his last two runs, including back over hurdles at Fontwell last time out, but dropping into selling grade where he is massively favoured by the weights gives him a chance.

The blinkers are back on again and connections must feel there is something still there otherwise they would have retired him.

He is 7lb clear of Weebill on ratings yet they race off level weights here, and Largy Mouth could be a bigger danger.

Best alternative:

Largy Mouth

Sir Rodneyredblood

6.30 Chelmsford, 5f handicap Man of the moment Marco

Ghiani has struck up a great rapport with Sir Rodneyredblood, and together the pair can notch a quickfire course-and-distance hat-trick.

Last time out the selection beat Jack The Truth comfortably, despite being sent off a relatively unfancied 9-1 shot.

There won’t be fancy prices around this time, but something appears to have clicked for the four-year-old of late, and his roll can continue.

The best alternative and biggest danger is Henry Spiller’s Expert Opinion.

He ran well over six furlongs here last time out behind Fauvette and is probably more effective over the minimum trip.

Best alternative: Expert Opinion