Hi all,
The feature race of the second day of Chester’s May Festival is the Group 3 Ormonde Stakes (3.10), Albaflora, who was placed in three Group 1 races last season, heads the betting and any ease in the ground could make her hard to beat. There are also four competitive handicaps and the Listed Dee Stakes (2:40) on a seven-race card
There was plenty of rain around at Chester yesterday and the going changed to soft after race two. It’s forecast to be mainly dry tomorrow but there could be more rain during racing on Friday.
I have had look six of the seven races on the Chester card and my selections can be found at the end of the main piece.
Chester May Festival – Day 2
1:30 – ICM Stellar Sports Handicap (Class 2) – 5f
Alligator Alley ran with encouragement on his first start, after a 533-day absence, for new trainer David O’Meara. I’m sure he can win races this summer but soft ground would be an unknown.
Tim Easterby won this in 2012 and Count D’orsay finished a 1 ¼ length 2nd of 9 12 months ago. He can race off 5lb lower this time around. The 6-year-old has dropped down to a good mark and shaped like the run was needed when a 4-length 4th of 10 at Pontefract on his seasonal return last month. Big chance at the weights but stall 10 is slightly off-putting.
Easterby also saddles another big contender in Sunday Sovereign. The 5-year-old won over C&D last August off 1lb lower. Drawn low and probably needed the run when 8th of 11 at Musselburgh. He’s suited by a bit of cut in the ground and looks to have a decent draw in stall 5.
2:05 – Deepbridge Handicap (Class 2) – 7 ½ f
Outgate continued his progressive form when putting in a career best effort on RPR’s when a 3 ¼ length 2nd of 15 at Newmarket on his reappearance. He’s up 3lb for that effort but may be capable of better. Yet to race on soft ground though. Koy Koy ended last season when making all to a win in at Newbury on his final juvenile start. First start on ground worse than good but looks on a workable mark for his handicap debut. Bastogne is more exposed than first two mentioned but the ground should be fine for him and trainer David Evans saddled the winner in 2015. He’s vulnerable to any improvers in the field but the first-time visor is an interesting addition.
2:40 – Homeserve Dee Stakes (Listed Race) (Colts & Geldings) – 1m 2 ½ f
Aidan O’Brien has dominated the Dee Stakes in recent years winning six of the last nine renewals. He relies on Star Of India to give him another winner. The son of Galileo was forward enough to win a back end Leopardstown maiden on his racecourse debut. A respectable 6 ¼ length 5th of 6 to Native Trail in Craven Stakes last month he will be suited by the step up to 1m 2 ½ f and given the yard’s record the one to beat.
Cresta, a useful juvenile, finished a 5 ¾ length 5th of 6 to Eydon in a Listed race at Newmarket last month. He pulled away any chance he had that day and needs the first-time hood to have the desired effect.
Mr McCann won three times in a productive juvenile campaign, ending last season with an all the way win at Epsom. Could be hard to peg back around here if getting an uncontested lead. First start for Hugo Palmer and he holds a Derby entry.
No fancies entries Dubai Port. A winner of a Newbury maiden last season before finishing a 4 ½ lengths behind Coroebus in a Group 3 at Newmarket. He showed he had trained on from two to three when a 1 ½ length 2nd of 6 in listed race at Newcastle last month and is respected for last year’s winning yard.
Sonny Liston looked potentially smart when winning on racecourse debut at Sandown last summer. Off for 10 months before finishing a 5 ¾ length 4th of 6 to Eydon in a Listed race at Newmarket last month. Keen that day after a long layoff. That run should have taken the freshness out of the colt who looks capable of better this season.
3:10 – tote.co.uk Proud To Support Chester Racecourse Ormonde Stakes (Group 3) – 1m 5 ½ f
Plenty to like about the claims of Albaflora on her seasonal return. She’s 3lb clear on official ratings and is 2-2 when returning from 121-day break.
Hamish would like a bit of juice in the ground for his return to action. The 6-year-old beat Hukum in the September Stakes at Kempton on last year’s seasonal reappearance but didn’t really build on that performance on two subsequent starts. Not the easiest to keep sound but we know he goes well off a layoff. Capable of big run if bouncing back to his best. Andrew Balding saddled Morando to win the 2019 renewal and he runs
John Leeper looked a smart middle-distance prospect when winning a Listed race at Newmarket 12 months ago and was sent off just 8/1 when down the field in the Derby. Didn’t really build on his early season promise but remains with potential as 4-year-old.
3:40 – Boodles Raindance Handicap (Class 3) – 1m 2 ½ f
Pride Of Priory progressed with each of his four starts last season ending his 2021 campaign with a comfortable success in a Haydock handicap. Now 6lb higher on his return but his improvement may not have ended just yet. Yet to race on going worse than good but he’s by Pivotal so that gives hope that he will be effective on it.
Group One Power ended last season out of form but he ran well here when a ½ length 2nd of 11 last July, off 4lb higher. That run came over 1m 3f but he should be fine over this slightly shorter distance provided they go a decent gallop.
Aasheq wasn’t subjected to hard race on his first start for 18 months when a 5 ½ length 5th of 8 at Ripon 12-days ago. Return to 1m 2f is a positive for the 9-year-old, as is some ease in the ground. Well handicapped on his old form and this previous C&D winner could out run big odds.
4:50 – Roofing Consultants Group Handicap (Class 3) – 1m 4 ½ f
Mr Alan and Wind Your Neck failed to give their running on quick ground at Newmarket last month. Both will appreciate today’s softer ground in particular the latter who is 2-2 on soft. Aidan O’Brien’s
Temple Of Artemis ran a nice race on his seasonal reappearance when a 2-length 3rd of 7 at Leopardstown. Bred to appreciate 1m 4f and is open to further improvement on his handicap debut. Hold Derby & Dante entries.
Trojan Horse a winner on soft ground last season was well suited to the step up to 1m 4f when winning at Ripon three weeks ago. Looks the sort to develop into a useful middle-distance handicapper for a yard that won this race in 2018 & 2021.
Abbado showed he handled the track when winning here on soft ground last September and followed up under his penalty at Chelmsford latter that month. There should be more improvement to come from him as a 3-year-old and for the step up to 1m 4f. Trainer Sir Mark Prescott doesn’t send many runners to Chester but he’s 3-5 + 6.75 with those that have run here in the past 5-years.
Worcester
1:50 – The ITV cameras are covering this handicap chase live this afternoon and I like one here. Rob The Getaway ran poorly on his first three starts at the end of 2021. He’s been given 126-day break since pulling up at Warwick in December. He did win at Stratford on good ground last April, off 3lb higher, and if he was bounce back to form would be nicely treated.
Betting Advice:
Chester
1:30 – 1pt win – Sunday Sovereign – 7/1 @ Bet365 & Ladbrokes
2:05 – 1pt win – Bastogne – 12/1 @ Bet365
3:10 – 1pt win – Hamish – 11/2 @ Coral
3:40 – 0.5pts each way – Aasheq – 20/1 @ Bet365 (paying 4 places 1/5 odds)
Worcester
1:50 – 0.5pts each way – Rob The Getaway – 18/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes (both paying 3 places 1/5 odds)
Cheers
John