With the big Aintree meeting covered by the Podcast and Craigs review I am concentrating on what is a good quality card at Chelmsford.
That being said it is a track that i have always struggled to come to terms with , although that is probably explained by the fact that it is without doubt the course that the William Haggas has his poorest strike rate. 3 winners from the last 37 runners over the past 3 years and 0-13 in 2024 provides sufficient information
The stables Yaroogh goes to post in a high quality conditions race over 1m at 7.30 and cannot be dismissed lightly.
The 7 runner field is full of horses that have group race aspirations with entries in the classics, although Yaroogh does have a form edge winning a listed race in Chantilly last year, which was followed by an agonising Sh hd defeat in the Group 3 Horris Hill stakes at Newbury. He also has strong AW form, has had a race this season and is Timeform top rated, all reasons why he should go off favourite here and have a favourites chance of winning. I suspect the perceived potential of the Gosden trained Detain will see that horse head the market at least in the early shows.
Yaroogh’s run in Qatar proved to be something of a non event. The race was due to be run over a mile but was cancelled as the track being declared unfit and the race was transferred to a nearby track and could only be ran over 7F. This would not have suited Yaroogh who nevertheless ran well beaten just over 6l by the very well regarded Al Qudra.
That run was highly encouraging , confirming he had trained on and will be winning races in 2025.
However the make up of Thursday’s race worries me- I think he will make the pace and although Ceiran Fallon is a brilliant hold up jockey (Lake Forest and Godwinson) i am weary through past experience when he goes from the front as he can go too fast.
In addition there are 3 of the field Luther, Detain and Wolf of Badenoch that remain with potential to be high class Group horses. The available price will determine the betting strategy and once the markets settle down in the morning after 9.00am I will advise members in the Nu Library if I am getting involved.
and onto …. Midnightattheoasis who heads to post again in the 7.00 just 48 hours after a breath taking last gasp victory, providing us with our third winning bet in 7 days.
We have been to the Engagement Party, The Stag Night and the Wedding but i think we can miss the Honeymoon !!
Brendan Wilkie the 5lb apprentice takes the ride and the 5yo is now clear bottom rated by Timeform. Rebel Star a horse he beat a sh hd at Lingfield is 10lb better off at the weights. This is a weaker race than the Lingfield race on Tuesday but he is carrying a 15lb penalty on a track that greatly favours pace setters over sprint distances.
Had Rossa been on I might be tempted but there is just too many negatives and i am going to let my head rule my heart and bypass the honeymoon!
Midnightattheoasis NO BET Thursday
Footnote .A couple of scenarios he could be pulled out he is still only rated 59 by the BHA and possibly could be given another mark on Tuesday less than the 66 he runs off here although if he runs and gets beat that will almost certainly be the case
I suspect he will drift in the market possibly to around 4/1 or 5/1 or bigger.
Chrysalis Consortium 
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