JESSE LOOKS GOOD TO SCORE AGAIN AT CHELMSFORD

By Nick Grant, PA

Jesse Luc is fancied to record a swift course and distance double with victory in the Watch Live Racing At bet365 Classified Stakes at Chelmsford on Thursday.

The Mike Murphy-trained gelding has been in consistent form since returning from a lengthy lay-off to finish fifth here in December.

Having gone close in a couple of classified events after that, he hit the jackpot at the Essex track at the weekend, winning over six furlongs and in a good bit of style to boot.

After a slightly slow start, so well did he travel behind horses for Callum Shepherd that the only moment of worry was whether a gap would open. But it did, and it was pretty much race over from there.

He must carry a 5lb penalty for that, but if he is in the same sort of mood as last time, then that might not be enough to stop him.

Support for One Horse Town would be interesting in division two of the Racing Welfare Restricted Maiden Stakes.

He ran twice for Joseph O’Brien as a two-year-old at the end of last year, finishing third both times at Dundalk.

The Threat gelding has changed hands since then and is now with Harry Derham, who has booked Billy Loughnane for this stable debut.

King Turgeon heads into the Hinton Workspace Somerset National Handicap Chase at Wincanton on the crest of a wave following three straight wins this term, including lucrative victories in Aintree’s Grand Sefton and at Cheltenham.

The assessor has obviously had his say with David Pipe’s charge, but at the age of seven, he may still have the scope to cope with a revised mark of 139, having begun the campaign on 118.

Kop Land, trained by Sam Thomas, stands out in the Join Racing TV Now “Newcomers” National Hunt Flat Race, being a half-brother to four previous winners, notably Good Risk At All and Earlofthecotswolds.

Beau Quali caught a bit of a tartar when second to fellow French import Kientzheim at Kempton on Boxing Day and is taken to go one better in division one of the Watch Unbridled On attheraces.com Maiden Hurdle at Newcastle.

He had previously run well at Chepstow and Stratford before a little break and looks a surefire future winner for the Skeltons.

Alan King’s And She Was is an eyecatching debutant in the racingtv.com/freetrial Fillies’ “Junior” National Hunt Flat Race at Ludlow.

Her dam Samandara hails from a strong Aga Khan line and has already produced six winners, including 2018 Grand Sefton scorer Warriors Tale.

Top tips for today’s UK meetings

TAB is betting on 4 UK meetings today. Here are the tips.

NEWCASTLE: Race 1: 13.55 Beau Quali, Race 2: 14.25 Queens Wish, Race 3: 15.00 Juventus De
Brion, Race 4: 15.35 Rattling Road, Race 5: 16.10 Authorized Mission, Race 6: 16.45 Mister
Smarty, Race 7: 17.20 Empty Nest, Race 8: 17.54 Geordie Mackem.

LUDLOW: Race 1: 14.40 Martalmix'jac, Race 2: 15.15 Libre De Choeur, Race 3: 15.50 Heva Rose,
Race 4: 16.25 Rajjamataz, Race 5: 17.00 Ascending Lark, Race 6: 17.35 Jet Plane, Race 7: 18.05
And She Was.

WINCANTON: Race 1: 14.50 Muskoka, Race 2: 15.25 Eternal Angel, Race 3: 16.00 Strong Belle,
Race 4: 16.35 Monjules, Race 5: 17.10 Off The Jury, Race 6: 17.45 King Turgeon, Race 7: 18.15
Kop Land.

CHELMSFORD: Race 1: 19.00 Easily Convinced, Race 2: 19.30 One Horse Town, Race 3: 20.00
Star Pupil, Race 4: 20.30 JESSE LUC (NAP), Race 5: 21.00 Target Man, Race 6: 21.30 Bill Plumb,
Race 7: 22.00 Etretat, Race 8: 22.30 Union Island.

ALL TO COME: Beau Quali (Newcastle, Race 1) and Jesse Luc (Chelmsford, Race 4).

For fields, race betting and more information go to www.tab4Racing.com