The headline race in Sydney at Saturday’s Royal Randwick meeting is the Chelmsford Stakes 2015 for the milers and staying types heading into the spring’s bigger Group 1 features like the Epsom Handicap in October.

Warwick Stakes winning quinella Royal Descent (outside) and Pornichet (inside) face off again in Saturday’s 2015 Chelmsford Stakes. Photo: Steve Hart.

The field for this year’s $250,000 Group 2 Tattersalls Club Chelmsford Stakes (1600m) is at capacity with 16 starters plus the John O’Shea-trained It’s Somewhat as an emergency, his back-up being a run in the Group 2 Tramway Stakes (1400m) later on the card.

Heading the current Chelmsford Stakes betting markets at Ladbrokes.com.au paying $3.30 for the win is James McDonald’s mount Hartnell ($3.30), the Group 1 The BMW winning Godolphin galloper drawn in barrier 10, into nine if It’s Somewhat fails to gain a run.

At his last start during The Championships back in April the Authorized gelding ran fourth in the Group 1 Sydney Cup (3200m) but will be harder to beat first-up over a distance he boasts a far better record over with two wins and two seconds from four previous 1600m assignments.

Following Hartnell in the Chelmsford Stakes odds, which are available at Best Tote or SP + 20% 40 minutes before jump on Saturday as are all the other Sydney races, are the likes of Chris Waller’s Doncaster Mile winner Kermadec ($4), market mover Royal Descent ($4.20) and the Gai Waterhouse-trained Doomben Cup champ Pornichet ($5).

With so many stars in the line-up will Hartnell hold them off and salute for the punters or is there an upset Chelmsford Stakes result on the agenda this spring?

1^st

#16 Royal Descent ($4.20)

Waller’s now six-year-old Redoute’s Choice mare broke a winning drought going back to her 2013 ATC Oaks win last start when she scored a tidy one and a half length win first-up in the Group 2 Warwick Stakes (1400m). She goes up to a mile here in similar company looking to repeat the feat, and while she’s yet to win at 1600m, the form is outstanding with six seconds and a third. She’s equally as good over the 1600m at Randwick with five seconds and a third over the track and distance she’s drawn nicely in barrier eight with Hugh Bowman aboard to run over this weekend. Now she’s relearned how to get to the line first, tipping her to beat home the boys again for a double.

2^nd

#2 Pornichet ($5)

Tipping the same quinella as in the Warwick Stakes with Waterhouse’s class French import Pornichet to run second to Waller’s mare again. First-up he put in a top effort not having run since his Group 1 Doomben Cup (2000m) success in Brisbane in the winter. He’s got a solid 50% strike-rate second-up, Blake Shinn stays on, barrier 11 (into 10), is fine over this distance and the step up in distance (4-2-0-1) is only going to see him finishing closer.

3^rd

#4 Beaten Up ($17)

Adding some value to the finish here, Waller’s import hasn’t won a race since the 2013 Doomben Cup but has been racing well in top company over the past couple of seasons including last autumn when third to Hartnell in The BMW at Rosehill. His fourth in the Warwick Stakes first-up was eye-catching and he was finishing off very strongly, suggesting the mile is going to suit even better. He was beaten under two lengths that day as a 41/1 shot and from another good ate (three) he can close the gap.

Whether you’re backing or sacking our Chelmsford Stakes 2015 betting tips this weekend in Sydney, make sure you’ve got access to the hottest odds online through Ladbrokes.com.au – home of Best Tote or SP + 20 in Sydney and Melbourne this Saturday!