When Great Leighs opened in 2008 it became the first new racecourse in Britain for 80 years. After staging forty meetings, the administrators were called in the following year but the course is set to be re-born as Chelmsford City on Sunday.
The course is now owned by Betfred who have invested in a new grandstand and plan to run it is a leisure venue. There are 58 meetings scheduled for this year, kicking off with Sunday’s seven-race card which begins at 12.50. The opening day is restricted to around 750 guests but future meetings will be open to the public with an increased capacity of 10,000.
Newmarket trainer John Gosden who is a great supporter of all-weather racing and likes to keep his stable ticking over through the winter months. He saddles Zamoura in the 1.20 and Tempus Temporis in the feature event, the Betsi Golden Mile at 2.50.
Zamoura is a three-year-old filly by Azamour out of a mare by Observatory. She created a good impression on her racecourse debut at Lingfield last month when just beaten on the nod by Dreamlike. She took a little while to realise what was required of her but came through strongly under Nicky Mackay to lead inside the final furlong. She has an extra two furlongs to travel here and should have more scope than Richard Fahey’s Pin Up.
Punters are unlikely to get rich on Zamoura but there may be some value with Godolphin-owned Tempus Temporis. He looked decidedly moderate in his first three starts but was transformed by first-time blinkers at Kempton last month. He swept past some more experienced handicappers to win by six lengths and is worth his chance at this level. His biggest threat may come from another Godolphin horse in Super Kid, runner-up at Lingfield over seven furlongs last time out.
The blue of Godolphin could land the opener with Tryster who last ran at Newmarket in much better company. The son of Shamardal was no match for First Flight in receipt of 4lbs but had previously been impressive when winning by five lengths at Brighton in the summer.
Robert Cowell’s Exceedingly could be worth each-way support in a competitive looking sprint at 1.50 while Rizal Park could still be on a winning mark in the 3.20. Andrew Balding’s four-year-old by Amadeus Wolf beat a decent sort in Nigel’s Destiny at Kempton last month and could go close under a 5lb penalty.
Tryster 12.50 @2-1 Ladbrokes
Zamoura 1.20
Exceedingly 1.50 @10-1 Bet365
Tempus Temporis 2.50 @7-2 Coral
Rizal Park 3.20 @4-1 BetVictor
