Pat Cosgrave has a 44-66 (28%) strike rate overall for William Haggas this season, rising to 6-14 (43%) in the last 14 days, so his sole ride of the day for the yard on Thursday, Biologist in the 5.45 at Chelmsford, must be of interest. The daughter of Flying Childers Stakes winner Sir Prancealot started favourite on her racecourse debut at Lingfield in June, but lost 10 lengths at the start and was always tailed off. She showed a little more promise on her second start at Nottingham in July but, having suffered an interrupted passage, was eased in the closing stages, eventually finishing fifth of eight, beaten three lengths. She failed to improve on that effort when stepped up to 6 furlongs over course and distance 11 days ago and, on the face of it, has something to prove in first-time blinkers.
However, it’s far too soon to be writing her off just yet and, while William Haggas is 0-3 with juveniles at Chelmsford so far this season, Pat Cosgrave has an 11-36 (31%) strike rate on 2-year-olds for the yard in the same period, for a level stakes profit of 16.56 points. Biologist may be one of Haggas’ lesser lights, but the statistics are highly persuasive and, as the most experienced runner in the field, she warrants an interest.
Selection: Chelmsford 5.45 Biologist to win