Mezzotint to make his mark at Chelmsford

Today's runners in the second race at Fontwell. Picture: Getty

Good luck was certainly in short supply on his last run at Wolverhampton last week, but that wrong can be righted in division two of the Bet totetrifecta At betfred.com Handicap.

The gelded son of Diamond Green arrived at Dunstall Park in top trim, having won so well over this course and distance on October 10.

Sent off the 7-2 favourite three days later, it all unravelled late on as Mezzotint encountered a pretty rough journey deep inside the final furlong.

Jockey Oisin Murphy was forced into evasive action – he had to switch his partner right – and was eventually beaten two lengths into fourth place.

There was, though, little question Stuart Williams’ inmate would have got much closer to the winner with a cleaner passage.

A credible argument can also be made which suggests this step back up to a mile will also suit him better.

Mezzotint returns to Chelmsford just 3lb higher than when he struck on his penultimate start – a fact that is hardly the end of the world as he is still favourably treated if his turf-winning form a few years ago is taken into account.

Slovak could be of interest in the Countryside Day 7th November At CCR Fillies’ Handicap over a mile.

The Iffraaj filly looked capable of running up a bit of a sequence when she pounced over seven furlongs at Wolverhampton, but she could not kick on back at the same track a month later.

There were, however, perhaps extenuating circumstances behind that fourth-placed finish as she was slightly shuffled back at one stage from what was a bad draw.

Slovak runs at Chelmsford off the same mark and might not be done with back against her own sex.

It will also be interesting to see how she gets on in what is a more extensive test of her stamina.

TIPS

CARLISLE

2.20 Western Miller

2.50 Alto Des Mottes

3.25 Cooking Fat

3.55 Orange Nassau

4.25 Pied Du Roi

4.55 Quito Du Tresor

5.25 Gully’s Edge

CHELMSFORD

5.25 Loading

5.55 Tenzing Norgay

6.25 Black Bess

6.55 Rock Lobster

7.25 Mezzotint (nap)

7.55 Gold Beau

8.25 Emirates Comfort

8.55 Slovak

LUDLOW

2.10 Light Breaks

2.40 Just A Feeling

3.10 Lyric Street

3.45 Ascotdeux Nellerie

4.15 Dabinett Moon

4.45 Gowanauthat

5.15 Breaking Bits.

SOUTHWELL

2.00 Shantou Tiger

2.30 Larkhall

3.00 Good Vibration

3.35 Over The Air

4.05 Stormbay Bomber

4.35 Bilzic

DOUBLE

Mezzotint

7.25 Chelmsford

Slovak

8.55 Chelmsford