Chelmsford preview: Guilty Twelve gets the verdict

Guilty Twelve shaped with stacks of promise when runner-up on debut and can go one better to open her account in the 1m 2f maiden on this evening’s card at Chelmsford (20.20).

The filly, who hails from the in-form yard of trainer Roger Varian, ran on strongly under tender handling to be beaten two lengths by Talwat in a 1m 1f contest at Wolverhampton when showing distinct signs of greenness.

It was a most taking performance which signalled out the well-bred daughter of Giant’s Causeway as a sure fire future winner, and the step up in trip looks sure to suit.

The form of the race has also worked out well with the fourth home Heaven’s Eyes, who finished two lengths behind Guilty Twelve, going on to score twice since.

Another plus is that Varian has a strike rate of just over 27 per cent with his runners at the venue in the past 12 months, and with improvement looking assured Guilty Twelve can take this before going on to better things.

Mitraad looked one to keep onside when scoring last time out and can defy an 8lb rise in the weights to maintain his unbeaten record in the 1m handicap (19.20).

The William Haggas trained gelding created a good impression when scoring on debut at Newmarket back in 2013, but subsequently suffered an injury and was on the sidelines for 651 days.

However, the lengthy absence didn’t stop Mitraad from making a mockery of his opening handicap mark of 87 when scoring in impressive fashion at Newmarket last month.

After being held-up off the pace, Mitraad encountered all sorts of trouble in-running before squeezing through a gap and quickening smartly to beat Express Himself by a length.

The four-year-old was value for much more than a winning margin, and it was a performance which suggested he was a pattern performer in the making.