4.40 Lingfield: Class 6 Handicap, 1m 4f 

First time out for a new yard, relatively unexposed Gendarme looks significantly overpriced today. On paper he hasn’t shown too much for Richard Hannon, however a closer look shows a horse slipping down to an intriguing mark over a trip that’ll be close to his optimum.

Still a maiden, but his last two runs were quite promising, in better class, over slightly shorter, on both occasions at Kempton Gendarme wasn’t beaten all that far, in races that have worked out quite well.

The most recent of those looks quite strong form. Gendarme travelled supremely well that day until the 2f marker and ran well to the line, though not having quite the speed to quicken as required against some good opposition.

Dropping down in class, an additional furlong with a bit less weight – given he has ran to consistent RPR’s around his current mark and achieved a significantly higher career highest TS rating less than a year ago, albeit on turf, suggests he may be ripe for a big run.

Selection:
10pts win – Gendarme @ 21/1 MB

………

6.15 Chelmsford: Class 5 Handicap, 5 furlongs

Jack The Truth is proven class here as a course and distance winner a 3-1-1 record. He’s in fine form, having ran to a career best in January at Southwell over 6f and following up with two excellent performances over 5- and 6f respectively here at Chelmsford.

Those were hot races, and he looked like the winner entering the final furlong lto, though found the 6f a bit too far eventually. Dropping back to the minimum trip, off a fair mark, Jack The Truth appears weighted to go really close.

With not too much opposition likely to be handicapped to win, he’s a rock solid choice and should be more like a 5/2 shot in my book.

Selection:
10pts win – Jack The Truth @ 7/2 MB

…….

8.15 Chelmsford: Class 7 Handicap, 1m 6f

This is a long-shot quite literally, but London Glory is interesting here for a new trainer returning from a break. He has been dropping significantly in the weights and you have to hope change in scenery can revive him – he may well have lost the appetite for the game.

But of his current mark, dropping into the lowest grade, over a suitable 1m 6f trip, he’s one not to underestimate if he can find back to somewhere close of his better form.

A year ago London Glory finished a fine runner-up at Wolverhampton over this trip and his record shows he ran six times to TS ratings similar or above his current handicap mark.

Selection:
10pts win – London Glory @ 23/1 MB