7.30 Chelmsford: Tune in for the £40k Timeform Sprint Series Final

First-season trainer Ross Burdon is aiming to land a big win in the Timeform £40,000 Timeform Sprint Series Final at Chelmsford on Thursday with syndicate horse, and Timeform’s top-rated runner, Mesaafi.

The Final, which has attracted a maximum field, will be contested by horses who finished in the first six of at least one of the 12 qualifiers that took place at Chelmsford since the start of October. It provides the 14 handicappers with the opportunity to run for better prize money than is typically the case and has been keenly targeted by many trainers.

Burdon, who is in his first year with a licence, trains Timeform top-rated Mesaafi who represents a syndicate set up by the trainer to attract owners to the yard.

Burdon said: “For horses of his calibre who probably aren't quite good enough to be winning one of those big Saturday sprint handicaps, it gives us something different to aim at. And for a syndicate horse like him, it gives his owners something to look forward to.

“Ever since we ran in the qualifier this has been the aim. He has good form on the track - he won a Sunday Series race there - and while the qualifying run wasn't his best, Jack [Mitchell], on ours, and Silvestre [De Sousa], on Emperor Spirit, got into a scrap up front which didn't suit either horse. It set it up for Evening Saigon and Charlie Mason.

“He's in good form. When he has a break of more than a month his next run back is below his best, so I was keen to get a run into him two weeks before the final, and that's what we did at Kempton. It was as I expected, a bit below his best, but he was only beaten a couple of lengths and I was happy enough with him. I don't think Kempton plays to his strengths as much as Lingfield or Chelmsford as a sharp six is what he's best at.

“He's back down to the mark he won off at Chelmsford in June so that's another encouraging point. I'm very happy with him. From the qualifying race we're better off with the third and the runner-up, so at the weights he should have a good chance.”

Fahey's Havana Rum won a five-furlong qualifier two weeks ago - on the final day of qualification - but his chances in the Final were dealt a blow when he landed stall 14 of 14.

Fahey said: "He's in good form but that draw [in stall 14] definitely hasn't helped.

"He won over five furlongs the other day which surprised us a bit – it's another string to his bow. We were keen to finish in the first six that day to qualify for this race as it's a great incentive for these all-weather horses to run in £40,000 handicaps."

Stuart Williams has been a leading supporter of the series and has had eight runners in qualifiers, with Cherry Cobbler, Panelli and Existent making the cut for the Final.

He said: "This series gives an incentive for these horses. Usually, it's either run in this 0-75 or that 0-75 and they're worth the same money, so to have a series like this is great fun and a good advert for the track as well. They've got a full field and a very competitive race.

"My owners are very prize-sensitive. We always try to target the decent prize money if we can and this series has very much been in their minds." 

Those sentiments were echoed by Tony Carroll who runs Charlie Mason and recent qualifier winner Justcallmepete. He said: "The prize money is a big attraction. Both horses have nice form on the track and we just needed a little bit of luck with the draws, which we've got.

"This sort of race has to be a good thing. We've got to try and look after the owners as best we can, it's marvellous really.”

David Johnson, Timeform's lead Flat analyst, said: “One of the aims of the Timeform Sprint Series was to produce several rounds of interesting races to lead into a competitive final so we’re very happy to see a maximum field of 14 go to post for a £40,000 prize fund.

“There is a good mix of in-form sorts, those coming here off tempting marks on their best form having not been fully firing of late and a sprinkling of improvers too, with a quartet of three-year-olds making the cut.

“Mesaafi heads the weight-adjusted Timeform ratings having dropped back to the same mark as when winning over course and distance back in June and connections ought to be happy enough with his draw in stall 1. Justcallmepete comes here on a roll and is chasing a hat-trick after wins at Kempton and in one of the qualifiers over course and distance last month but Cherry Cobbler might just be the most interesting of all of them.

"He’s contested two of the qualifiers, returning from a break when qualifying for the final back in October, and was doing some good late work over five furlongs here last time. A return to six furlongs will be in his favour and he looks to be coming to the boil at the right time.”