Chelmsford best bet: Lunarscape bidding to convert near misses into overdue win
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After an afternoon of jumps racing, Chelmsford’s all-weather track takes centre stage on Thursday night, with this one-mile handicap offering one of the most intriguing races on the card.
19:00 Chelmsford: It’s Never Ordinary at Bet365 Handicap (1 mile)
Early market leader Ivasecret took advantage of the handicapper’s leniency at Kempton eight days ago, and while looking worth every bit of his one-and-three-quarter-length victory, he might be posed more questions now with his five-pound hike taking him back to his previous more challenging mark.
Should the favourite fail to deliver, then Monkmoor is poised to strike under Oisin Murphy after a near-miss third of eight at Wolverhampton 23 days ago, while all-weather specialist Rossa Ryan is more capable than most of bringing the best out of Roscioli, who has enjoyed a seven-week break since finishing a creditable third in an eight-runner handicap at Wolverhampton in early January.
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Catching the collective eye of a host of pundits in the Tipstrr camp, however, is the Mark Loughnane-trained four-year-old Lunarscape, who is looking to snap w 12-race winless streak that stretches back to a six-furlong turf success at Goodwood in August 2022.
That’s not so say there haven’t been a fair few near misses along the way, with his four runner-up spots including his last-time-out effort over this course and distance three weeks ago, when he ran on well to come within a length and a half of serial winner Wadacre Grace.
Billy Loughnane has not always been in Lunarscape’s saddle, but he returns here in good heart after landing a couple of wins and a runner-up spot from his last seven rides, and with the help of re-applied cheekpieces he maybe well be about to guide another into the winner’s circle here.
Suggested best bet: Lunarscape in the 19:00 at Chelmsford
- Tip advised by OutsiderSpeedPicks on Tipstrr
READ MORE: Chelmsford racing tips: Best bets for Thursday February 29