Eight races on Chelmsford’s all-weather Polytrack take place on Thursday, Oct 19th, between 17.00 and 20.30.

Some of the biggest names in the sport are here – Ryan, Murphy, Turner, Crowley, Probert; to name but a few. Decent field-sizes too, and a cracking evening’s sport looks assured.

19.00 – Batal Dubai @ 5/2

Not hard to get excited about this one. An ordinary enough Class 4, 6f handicap, but our selection Batal Dubai is undoubtedly a promising individual who finds himself a pound lower than his last winning mark, and with the same pilot, the outstanding Oisin Murphy, back on top.

The horse steps down into a Class 4 here after his last seven appearances at a level or even two above this. The Charltons train for Middleham Park Racing, and he ran very well over course and distance just over a month ago.

He’s been completing with purpose in recent outings, and this track rewards powerful finishes, with plenty of opportunity to get organised and galvanised up a wide, scrupulously fair home straight. Take Oisin to deliver a telling, late challenge and take this cosily.

19.30 – Socially Shady @ 6/1

A vastly-experienced 6-yr-old gelding, trained by Jim and Suzi Best in east Sussex, and previously with Karl Burke.

Staying trips are his game – and last time over 2m here a fortnight ago he finished a close-up 3rd to another of today’s rivals, Tradesman. Back a couple of furlongs now, he’s also 5lb better off, AND of course, with no disrespect to other jocks, now gets the benefit of Oisin Murphy on top.

The handicapper has dropped Socially Shady a pound, down to a mark of 61, and he scored off 62 last November at Lingfield. He’s gone well here at Chelmsford before and I’m loving the jockey booking – a real statement of intent.

Whisper it, but we’re in a bit of decent nick – two advised at Nottingham yesterday, and both obliged (SPs of 5/2, and 6/1). Fingers crossed that we can continue to be competitive at Chelmsford on Thursday evening.

We’re looking for a quick-fire O Murphy double – and I’m going to have a couple of bob on that very outcome, as well as the two singles.