'He'll need a lot of luck' - can Grand Karat overcome poor draw in valuable Chelmsford handicap?

This is as competitive a race as you could wish to see at Chelmsford. A maximum field was declared, and two key players are drawn wider than ideal.

Silver Samurai (stall 12) was a good second in a similar race at Kempton recently when sporting a tongue-tie. That appendage clearly worked, while Grand Karat (11) put a moderate effort at that track behind him with a solid fourth at Newcastle. 

Wider still is Sir Mark Prescott's interesting handicap newcomer Sheriff's Court (14). This French maiden winner is bred to be better than an opening mark of 82 and enjoyed a positive experience on Polytrack two starts back before not running as well on the grass at Windsor.

Cases can be made for plenty of the low-drawn runners. Signcastle City (stall one) has been knocking on the door for Richard Hannon this year. Physique (four), who caught the eye of the stewards when fourth in a big-field 6f handicap at Doncaster on his first run for Pam Sly in March, ran another promising race at Newmarket last time. Once he learns to settle, a decent prize can fall his way.

Perhaps the most interesting runner of all is Nibras Angel (stall five). She debuted for Alice Haynes in April and was an encouraging fourth at Kempton, where she needed to be switched around runners to mount her challenge. The expectation is that will have brought her forward, and she is well handicapped on her achievements from early last year. 

Nibras Angel ran respectably in two Meydan Group 2 races, but the Duke of Cambridge Stakes at Royal Ascot proved too ambitious. This will be more palatable for her.
Analysis by Robbie Wilders

What they say

Kevin Frost, trainer of Documenting
He's a superstar. It was a nice comeback run at Thirsk a fortnight ago and he's in good order. He's a 12-year-old now and there are bound to be some younger, better-handicapped rivals in opposition, but he always gives his running round Chelmsford and should run a fair race.

Alan O’Keeffe, assistant to Jennie Candlish, trainer of Probe
He won well at Chelmsford on his only previous start there. We stepped him back up to seven furlongs at Chester two starts ago and he did it nicely. He found the ground too lively at Thirsk last time, so you can ignore that. If he gets luck in running he'll go close. The big field and likely strong pace will suit him.

Harry Charlton, trainer of Grand Karat
He's got a good record on the all-weather and seems in good form. There aren't many other options for him. Sixteen runners round Chelmsford is pretty chaotic and he's drawn wide. He'll need a lot of luck.

Marco Botti, trainer of Silver Samurai 
He was unlucky not to win at Kempton last time but he could be better drawn. He still should be competitive and this is his trip.

Ruth Carr, trainer of Habrdi
We're going to need plenty of luck with his draw. He was very progressive last winter, winning three times, including at Chelmsford, and there should be more to come as a four-year-old. He ran okay at Kempton last time when probably needing the run a bit. Jimmy [Sullivan] will have to do some magic tricks from stall 16.

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