The best race at Chelmsford on Friday is the closing 0-85 handicap over 1m2f at 3.42, in which TIME TESTED should prove hard to beat. Michael Bell’s gelding was 3-6 last year (2-4 since the tongue-tie went on), while he made it 2-2 over course and distance when winning here in October. His record shows that the 64-day break since then isn’t a problem and a 4lb higher mark should be well within his reach.

CHARLIE MASON can take the opening 0-75 apprentice handicap over 5f at 12.42. Tony Carroll’s gelding has been contesting better races than this in recent months, including winning a 0-85 at Doncaster in September and being beaten less than 2l into fifth of 14 in a competitive event over this course and distance 15 days ago. He would probably have gone even closer with a clear run and anything like that form would give him a great chance at this level. It’s also worth noting that his rider Myla Coppins has made a promising start to her career (2-5).

Over at Wolverhampton it may be worth giving AL RUFAA another chance in the 0-75 handicap over the extended 1m at 7.00. The Kublers’ gelding has only managed to win one of his last 41 starts, but has undeniably become well handicapped, being 1lb lower than when runner-up in three consecutive starts on the AW during the autumn. He did far too much early over a longer trip at Kempton last month, but the drop back in trip and being ridden with more restraint can make the difference.

It may be worth siding with BANG ON THE BELL in the 0-70 handicap over 5f at 7.30. A five-time winner here, John Jenkins’ gelding usually contests better races than this on the AW these days and it’s possible to excuse some of his recent efforts. He is just 1lb higher than when winning at Windsor last April and may not face too much pace pressure if reverting to the positive tactics that have served him well in the past. David Bellingham