Horse racing tips: Sunday, June 1 – Chantilly, Chelmsford and Nottingham

Telegraph

30-05-2025

If you like handicap races, you'll want to be tuning into ITV4 on Sunday when 10 such contests are being broadcast, and they've also included a maiden event for good measure.
The 11-race ITV broadcast runs from 3.30pm to 7.05pm and our resident expert tipster Ron Wood has a selection for each of them.
It's also French Derby day and he has a pick from the big race at Chantilly, which will be shown on Sky Sports Racing.
Ron Wood's selections:
NAP:
Palmar Bay (5.15, Chelmsford) @ SP with William Hill ⭐⭐⭐
Next best:
Bowerchalke (6.15, Chelmsford) @ SP with William Hill ⭐⭐⭐
Others:
Bowmark (3.05, Chantilly) @ 17/2 with William Hill ⭐⭐
Ararat (3.45, Chelmsford) @ SP with William Hill ⭐⭐
Grace Angel (4.00, Nottingham) @ SP with William Hill ⭐⭐
Venetian Lace (4.15, Chelmsford) @ SP with William Hill ⭐
The Crafty Mole (4.30, Nottingham) @ SP with William Hill ⭐
Almudena (4.45, Chelmsford) @ SP with William Hill ⭐⭐
Supermodel (5.00, Nottingham) @ SP with William Hill ⭐⭐⭐
Drumstick (5.30, Nottingham) @ SP with William Hill ⭐⭐
Hedge Fund (5.45, Chelmsford) @ SP with William Hill ⭐⭐⭐
Shamrock Bay (6.45, Chelmsford) @ SP with William Hill ⭐⭐
Odds provided by William Hill and correct at the time of writing. Stars denote strength of selection (maximum five).
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3.05, Chantilly – Prix du Jockey Club (Group 1, 1m 2½f)
This year's French Derby does not look like a strong race. The standard is set by Aidan O'Brien's Camille Pissarro, but it could be worth buying into the potential of the John and Thady Gosden-trained BOWMARK.
He has two novice wins and a second place in Listed company from three starts over a mile in Britain. This requires improvement, but he has a top pedigree as a son of Kingman and his breeding points to this step up in trip suiting him.
It is worth noting that his recent York success came in a race that the same stable won last year with subsequent Group 1 Lockinge victor Lead Artist.
3.45, Chelmsford – Class 4 handicap (6f)
This is a wide-open race but maybe it can go to the grade-dropping ARARAT. He has been well beaten in two starts this year, but he won a Class 2 handicap at Chelmsford last summer, albeit over 7f, and from stall one he is drawn to save ground.
4.00, Nottingham – Class 4 fillies' handicap (5f)
Drying ground, a breathing operation since her latest start and a drop in grade from Class 3 may assist GRACE ANGEL to land the sixth handicap success of her career.
4.15, Chelmsford – maiden stakes (6f)
There's not much form to go on in this juvenile contest but VENETIAN LACE has a decent pedigree.
She is bred for longer trips – her dam Nash Nasha won a Listed race over 1m 1f – but the feeling is this isn't a particularly strong contest and she could be good enough.
Selection: Venetian Lace @ SP with William Hill
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4.30, Nottingham – Class 5 handicap (1m 6f)
THE CRAFTY MOLE was just denied at Haydock when the selection on these pages on his previous start and he may prove worth sticking with.
This David O'Meara-trained stayer won five handicaps last season and still looks to have further success in him.
4.45, Chelmsford – Class 4 handicap (1m 6f)
This is a decent staying handicap but ALMUDENA may be the answer. Her connections could have retired her to the paddocks after her two wins last year, so they must think she still has more to give and her current handicap mark doesn't look beyond her.
5.00, Nottingham – Class 3 fillies' handicap (1m)
There's probably a good deal more to come from SUPERMODEL, who had two starts last year, both of them coming over 7f on testing ground.
She won a Haydock novice first time up, and then found a Newbury Listed race asking too much of her.
William Haggas's charge is now dropping in class and stepping up in trip, and the ground will be better this time, now, so she should prove ahead of her ordinary handicap mark.
Treasure is a respected rival but conceding a lot of weight to the year-younger selection.
5.15, Chelmsford – Class 3 handicap (7f)
PALMAR BAY has placed in 7f handicaps on the all-weather elsewhere on his past two starts and probably still has some improvement in him now another five months on from the latest.
A handy draw in stall three and being reunited with Rossa Ryan are two positives for his chances.
5.30, Nottingham – Class 5 handicap (1m)
The fitting of a hood for the first time may do the trick for the headstrong DRUMSTICK, who raced too freely at Newbury on his previous start.
He's still a maiden but has shown enough to look like he is up to winning. His placed effort at Kempton two outings ago was encouraging.
Selection: Drumstick @ SP with William Hill
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5.45, Chelmsford – Class 4 handicap (5f)
HEDGE FUND overdid it up front before fading at Pontefract on his seasonal reappearance/debut for the Michael Appleby yard.
However, he's now fitted with a hood, which could help, and this less demanding track – he has won on the all-weather elsewhere – is also in his favour. He is well handicapped on his best.
6.15, Chelmsford – Class 4 fillies' handicap (1m 2f)
It could be worth keeping the faith with BOWERCHALKE, who just missed out when selected on these pages at Nottingham on her latest start.
That was her first try over as far as 1m 2f and the feeling is that she has more improvement in her. She won on her only previous start on the all-weather and her useful dam Ebbesbourne was successful at Chelmsford.
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Today's racing
(Flat unless stated)
Nottingham 1.55-5.30
Listowel 2.02-5.10
Kilbeggan (NH) 2.12-5.22
Fakenham (NH) 2.30-5.05
Chelmsford 3.45-6.45
Ron Wood 2025 horse racing P/L (as of 29th May)
Star ratings explained
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - confident selection
⭐⭐⭐⭐ - strong fancy
⭐⭐⭐ - fair claims
⭐⭐ - tentative choice
⭐ - minimum confidence
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