Andrew Mount heads to the all-weather on Thursday 18 December for his three best bets, as he looks to land some winners at Southwell and Chelmsford.
Thursday’s racing will see some competitive action, but Andrew opts to stick to the all-weather and we take a look through his selections meeting by meeting.
Southwell Racing Tips (Thursday 18 December 2025)
Nine races take place at Southwell on Thursday, as the action gets under way at 1.22pm and goes right through until 5.22pm. Andrew Mount’s best bet runs in the 4.52pm contest, as he picks a 1pt win selection.
4.52 Southwell – Winchurch (1pt win – 4/1 bet365)
Winchurch went into my tracker on December 4th despite not running. Mick Appleby’s three-year-old had been due to contest a 5f handicap at Chelmsford but was withdrawn on account of a ‘girth gall’. I’m sure it’s just coincidence that he was drawn very wide, as was the other non-runner Fidelius. I backed the son of Churchill over today’s course and distance last time where he found all the trouble going before finishing 12th of the 13 runners– the Racing Post described him as “towards rear, going okay but repeatedly short of room from 2f out, not recover (jockey said gelding was denied a clear run on multiple occasions from 2f out)”. He also met trouble when sixth of ten at Lingfield on his penultimate starts and it’s probably no coincidence that his three wins have come in small fields (nine, six and four ran). Today’s smaller field (nine run) will suit and his outside draw in stall 1 could be an asset as he’ll find daylight out wide in a race that should be run at a sound pace.
Chelmsford Racing Tips (Thursday 18 December 2025)
It’s a 5pm start for Chelmsford’s eight-race card, where they will host some decent action on the level. Andrew’s brace of selections run in the 7.00pm and 7.30pm races, respectively.
7.00 Chelmsford – Buraback (1pt e/w – 14/1 bet365)
Buraback has form figures in 6f handicaps here or at Wolverhampton of 681115411532138 (6-15) for a profit of £11.83 to a £1 level stake at SP, including form figures of 11141132 (5-8) when returned to the track ten days or sooner since his latest start. Derek Shaw’s six-year-old, whose latest win came over tonight’s course and distance under this jockey, is 2lb lower here and can be forgiven last Monday’s 20-1 eighth of nine at Wolverhampton as it came on his first start for six months. We might be getting there a race or two too soon (his last seven wins have come between January and April) but Mick’s Spirit should ensure a decent gallop and he’s worth chancing.
7.30 Chelmsford – Cherry Cobbler (1pt win – 6/1 generally)
Those ridden patiently could never get into contention in the 5f handicap won by Havana Rum here on December 4th, with the first three home described by the Racing Post as “in touch with leaders, headway and pressed leader inside final furlong”, “led” and “in touch with leaders”. Stuart Williams’ 7-4 favourite Cherry Cobbler (“midfield, some headway inside final furlong”) emerged best of the closers in fifth and is worth another chance in a race likely to be run at a strong gallop. He looks well drawn in stall 4, unlike stablemate Panelli (stall 11), the other eyecatcher in Havana Rum’s course and distance race though I still intend to have a saver if he isn’t pulled out with a BDC (bad draw certificate).
Andrew Mount’s Best Bets Today
4.52 Southwell – Winchurch (1pt win – 4/1 bet365)
7.00 Chelmsford – Buraback (1pt e/w – 14/1 bet365)
7.30 Chelmsford – Cherry Cobbler (1pt win – 6/1 generally)
Andrew Mount’s Horse Racing Tips – Thursday, 18 December
Today’s Meetings & Start Times
- Southwell – first race 13:22
- Chelmsford – first race 17:00
FAQs: Today’s Racing Tips
What are today’s racing tips?
Andrew Mount provides his best bets at Southwell & Chelmsford.
Which racecourses run on Thursday 18 December 2025?
Exeter, Ffos Las, Southwell & Chelmsford
Who is Andrew Mount?
Andrew Mount is a leading horse racing adviser, expert pundit and journalist, contributing regularly to the Racing Post, Racing & Football Outlook, Racing Post Weekender and William Hill radio as well as providing a daily tipping column for the GG.co.uk website for more than 20 years.
When were today’s Southwell and Chelmsford tips published?
Today’s tips were published at 4.06pm on Wednesday 17 December, 2025.
Commercial notice: This article on GG.co.uk contains affiliate links. The offers we promote come from operators that we trust and our experts have first-hand experience dealing with. If you open an account through one of these affiliate links then GG will earn revenue. However, we ensure that the money earned goes back into improving and enhancing our coverage of horse racing and other sports, as we look to provide an excellent service to our growing audience.