Bets Of The Day: Balding's Intransigent to land decent Chelmsford prize

Alan Dudman
21 December 2015

Chelmsford stage a valuable Conditions contest on Monday.

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With two more instalments before Christmas, Alan Dudman is looking for a pair of winter winners on Monday...

"The hood angle is interesting too, as Intransigent has always been a horse who wants them to go a decent pace in front and pick them off. Chelmsford is a quick track, and Arnold Lane has made the running before."

Back Instransigent @ 4.03/1 in the 15:50 at Chelmsford

15:40 Lingfield - From Little Acorns to small profit

Little Acorn looks a fairly obvious bet on the Lingfield card on Monday, as testing conditions will not make for pretty viewing in the mud. Thankfully this National Hunt flat race (as is the norm at the venue) will be on the all-weather track.

Harry Fry's daughter of Presenting shaped with plenty of encouragement on her debut at Taunton last season; running into fourth behind a filly who subsequently competed in a Listed bumper. She made up a lot of ground and stayed on nicely in said race, with her inexperienced rider that day not particularly alive to the tempo changing, seemingly intent on keeping a wider path throughout.

Noel Fehily takes over for Monday.

Her dam is Whiteoak; who was a very classy Grade 2 performer for Donald McCain, and with the fillies' allowance, everything is in place for a good run. As the price tells us.

15:50 Chelmsford - Turn to Balding for the feature

Seven runners line up to compete for a very enticing £28,000 first prize, and the race has an international feel to it courtesy of ex-South African Cold As Ice, and French raider Borsakov.

But the experienced Instransigent makes most appeal at 3/1, as this is his time of year.

Andrew Balding's six-year-old has the best form on offer simply; having landed a Listed contest on the all-weather last winter he also ran with great credit at Lingfield during the Easter finals extravaganza of 2014.

He's worn a hood for his latest pair of runs - behind Lancelot Du Lac and and Chookie Royale - two real forces who if they were in this race, would be shorter than 3/1. The hood angle is interesting too, as Intransigent has always been a horse who wants them to go a decent pace in front and pick them off (especially over six furlongs). Chelmsford is a quick track, and Arnold Lane has made the running before.

He's a quality winter performer and consistent, and has been holding his form for a while without winning. Seven furlongs today could also suit him, just to help wind up his late run. I'm hoping money comes for William Haggas' Cold As Ice, that could push out the price to around 4.30100/30.

Monday's Recommended Bets (both half point)

Back Little Acorn @ 2/1 in the 15:40 at Lingfield
Back Instransigent @ 4.03/1 in the 15:50 at Chelmsford

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