Chelmsford preview: Excellent Guest to gain overdue success

David Metcalf | January 7, 2016

Excellent Guest has been knocking on the door of late and looks decent value to land an overdue success in the 7f handicap on this evening’s card at Chelmsford (20.10).

The George Margarson trained nine-year-old had some decent form to his name in hot handicaps earlier in his career, including when winning the 2013 running of the class 2 Victoria Cup off a mark of 93.

Excellent Guest also showed that he retained plenty of ability when winning a classified contest at Ascot in October 2014 off an official rating of 87 and is now able to race off just 78.

That gives the gelding major claims from a handicapping perspective, and Excellent Guest comes into the contest on the back of two solid efforts.

In the first of those over 1m at Lingfield, the son of Exceed And Excel was forced to make a move out very wide rounding the home turn before keeping on well to finish a never nearer 2 1/2 length third to Forceful Appeal.

Excellent Guest backed that up with a good two lengths third of 13 to Mexxontint over 1m at this venue, and the drop back to 7f could be the key to him getting his head back in front as it is a trip over which he has notched three of his five career successes.

Bet on that Thataboy

In the 6f claiming stakes that opens proceedings (17.10), Thataboy looks to have leading claims of landing the spoils now eased in grade.