Dude can profit handsomely

Handsome Dude can make his second start at Southwell a winning one in the Betway Handicap.

The David Barron-trained gelding has won five times in his career and his run here in December offered plenty of hope that he is capable of adding to that tally.

Racing handily, albeit three wide, he swung into the straight with every chance and even when passed he kept at it and was only a couple of lengths or so down at the line.

If he can grab the lead and dictate terms, he promises to be hard to beat.

Swot is fancied in the sunbets.co.uk Handicap. The Roger Teal-trained six-year-old performed with credit over a mile here at the beginning of the month and the drop back to seven furlongs is unlikely to have a detrimental effect.

He travelled quite nicely that day in first-time blinkers just behind the firing line, before hanging left to the rail inside the two-furlong pole and ultimately just being outgunned.

Surrey Blaze looks the best bet on the card at Chelmsford, in the Bet totequadpot At betfred.com Handicap. The Joe Tuite-trained three-year-old put up a fine performance to win at Wolverhampton this month following an absence of 136 days, in which time he had been gelded. He settled on the heels of the leaders and refused to buckle when getting a bump just as he was switching to make his run. He is lightly-raced enough to think there should be more to come, even with another 6lb to shoulder.

Meanwhile, tomorrow’s Musselburgh meeting must pass a 3pm inspection this afternoon. An inch of snow fell at the track on Tuesday night but yesterday was more positive. Clerk of the course Harriet Graham tweeted: “Inch of snow on the course, cold and bright, further updates later. Forecast mainly dry and bright, windy overnight into Thursday.”