Expert analysis and trainer quotes for competitive sprint handicap

Credit must be given for the prize-money put into Chelmsford's card, which was commissioned on only three days' notice. A fund of £35,000 for this race has helped to attract a good field of sprinters. Many of them will be familiar even to those who only watch sprints when they are on ITV in summer.

Rosario was second in the 2023 Cornwallis Stakes and took in a Commonwealth Cup trial last year. We Never Stop, Amazonian Dream, Batal Dubai and others have all contested Heritage handicaps and all three of those have already won this all-weather season.

Blind Beggar does not quite qualify on either of those criteria, but he has been second in a Class 2 in recent months. He was also beaten a nose when last seen 12 days ago. His edge is that he is the course expert in this field. Unusually for a race this deep into the all-weather season, few of these have experience at the track. Blind Beggar is 2-4 at Chelmsford, making him responsible for two of this field's three course wins, albeit they were both over five furlongs.

Those looking for familiar names may overlook Sanat, who is 3lb out of the weights, but that may not be advisable. He has a sound pedigree, with sprinters and all-weather winners in there, and left Roger Varian with unfinished business.

Hardly any of that was resolved at Newcastle last week on his debut for Mick Appleby, when he finished with plenty of running left. The expectation is he will keep improving through the winter.

Concerns may be raised at Sanat's draw and inexperienced jockey, but neither should provoke too much concern. Wide stalls are a little disadvantaged over six furlongs at Chelmsford, but the angle tends to be overbet. And jockey Mason Paetel is yet to take off, but has been knocking on the door and has secured a lot of outside rides. A winner on ITV could be the profile boost he needs.
Analysis by Keith Melrose

What they say

Roger Teal, trainer of Rosario
He's in good form. He probably needed that run at Lingfield the other day. He was a bit slow – the stalls are his biggest problem – but if he can get out a bit quicker than he did the other week then hopefully he'll run a much better race.

Adam Ryan, assistant trainer of We Never Stop
I thought he ran a huge race at Newcastle last time and he's in great order. The track will suit him and we're expecting another big run.

Rod Millman, trainer of Amazonian Dream
He's had a very good season. He had a wide draw at Newcastle last time, but stall two this time is okay. He's a good, competitive horse and has been going nicely all season,

Mick Appleby, trainer of Blind Beggar and Sanat
Blind Beggar is in good form and ran well last time at Wolverhampton, so hopefully he'll have a decent chance. Sanat is similar as he also ran well at Newcastle and there wouldn't be much between them. He's also come out of his recent run well.

Jack Morland, trainer of Batal Dubai
He's in good form after his last run, when I thought Dan [Muscatt, jockey] gave him a superb ride to win. I'm dropping him back in trip and this is competitive, but he's come out of the race well.

Stuart Williams, trainer of Sevensees
We've not had him long and we're still finding out about him. It's a deep race, but we'll know a little bit more about him after it. He's a sweet horse, who has been training nicely, but he's ready to run.
Reporting by Liam Headd

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