Hi all,
It’s Chester Cup Day and top -weight Falcon Eight bids to land back-to-back running’s of the feature race (3.15). As ever the race is set to be a fiercely competitive contest with a maximum field of 17 set to meet the starter. The supporting races include the Group 2 Huxley Stakes (2.40) and the Chester Plate (4.55). All in all, a good end to Chester’s May meeting.
There’s also a decent card for the first of two day’s racing at Ascot and across the Irish Sea there’s a seven-race card at Cork with the feature race being the valuable Mallow Handicap (Premier Handicap) (7:00) which has attracted a big field for a race with a €80,000 in guaranteed prize money.
Once again ITV are covering the first five races from Chester and they include a bonus race from Market Rasen as part of six race programme.
Chester May Festival – Day 3
1:30 – ICM Stellar Sports Earl Grosvenor Handicap (Class 2) – 7 ½ f
Boardman was in tremendous form last spring reeling of a hat trick of wins at Haydock, C&D and York. The 6-year-old showed he handled quick turf when winning at Haydock 13-days ago, taking advantage of a drop down to his last winning mark. He’s only been raised 2lb and shouldn’t be far away.
Three-time course winner Revich must be respected out of stall one especially with Harry Davies taking off a handy 7lb.
Fools Rush In won first time up last season and later in the season also won at Haydock and over C&D. A prominent racer he’s got good draw in stall in stall 4 and should be ready to roll on his first start for 195-days.
2:05 – Deepbridge Handicap (Class 2) – 1m 2 ½ f
Soft ground will suit Brentford Hope with all three of his career wins having come on soft or heavy ground. Connections of the top-weight will be hoping that the forecast rain arrives to ease the going further.
Mujtaba looked like he might develop into a smart 4-year-old after three wins last season, including around here. Sent off the 3/1 favourite for the Lincoln Handicap but could only finish 12th of 22 that day. Given he’s only had four career starts its to early to write off the 4-year-old. First start beyond a mile but should stay.
Previous C&D winner Baryshnikov looked as good as ever when making a winning seasonal reappearance at Pontefract last month. On a career high mark after his latest win but if he gets a good pace to chase won’t be far away.
Lord Protector was below form on his final three starts in 2021. However, he won first time up in 2020 and won his first two starts last season. This is his distance and the ground should be fine for the 4-year-old on his return to action.
3:15 – Tote+ Chester Cup Handicap (Class 2) – 2m 2 ½ f
Last years winner Falcon Eight had The Grand Visir 2 length behind in second when winning last year’s renewal. The runner-up gets 7lb this time around but the winner was well on top that day and there shouldn’t be much between the pair at the revised weights. Falcon Eight races out of stall 6 and The Grand Visir out of 14. If I wasn’t for his draw, I would really like the claims of the The Grand Visir who looks over priced compared to Falcon Eight.
Haliphon shaped with promise on his second start for the yard when a 7 ½ length 6th of 14 to stablemate Enemy at Musselburgh two starts back. He wasn’t well placed is a slowly run race at Ripon last time. Looks like there are wins to be won with him, if not today but he could get into the places.
Aidan O’Brien brings over the lightly raced Cleveland. A winning juvenile at the Curragh. The 4-year-old missed the whole of last season due to injury’ However, he shaped with plenty of promise after a 17-month layoff when 4 length 5th of 7 to Layfayette in a Listed race at Naas ( 1m 2f) last time: Takes a big step up in distance from last time, Should be capable of better this season but stamina has to be taken on trust.
Solent Getaway head the ante post betting and you can see why. He goes well around here including winning over 2m last September. Returned from a winter break with a strong finishing, neck 3rd of 9 at Epsom (1m 4f) 17-days ago. Unexposed as a stayer, the 4-year-old can race off the same mark as at Epsom. Given his hold up style he will need a bit of luck in running bit if he gets it looks a likely winner.
Arcadian Sunrise a useful hurdler gained his second win on the flat when coming from off the pace to win a valuable 2m handicap at York’s Ebor Festival back in August. Not in the same form when only 9th of 18 in the November Handicap at Naas last time. The heavy ground was plausible excuse for his Naas performance and if he’s back to his best and handles the track will go close. Jockey Jamie Spencer has ridden the winner of the Chester Cup in 2013 & 2016.
4:20 – White Oak Apprentice Handicap (Class 4) – 1m 4 ½ f
Heart Of Soul took this corresponding race in 2019 and all three career wins have come over C&D. He’s got a good draw in stall 1 and another big performance is expected from the 7-year-old back at his favourite venue.
Kalaroun is an interesting Irish raider. A winner at Dundalk in October two of his best RPR’s have come on turf this spring. Good run when a 2 ½ length 5th of 15 at Limerick 13-days ago. That came over a mile but he stays 1m 2f won’t be far away if his stamina holds out over today’s longer trip.
4:55 – Tote+ Chester Plate Handicap (Class 2) – 2m 2 ½ f
Twelve have been declared for the Chester Cup consolation and final race of this year’s May Festival. Last year’s winning connections Venetia Williams & Franny Norton are represented by Bellatrixsa. Just the six starts on the level but the mare is a useful hurdler (OR 131) and can race off 77 for her return to the flat. Looks well in if transferring her good hurdle form to the flat. Has an ideal draw in stall 1 given she looks likely to make the running.
Indianapolis is on a losing run that goes back to October 2019. He’s on a good mark but was well beaten in this race 12 months ago. He’s one of five Ian Williams trained runners and the two I prefer are Hydroplane the mount of Jim Crowley and Mancini. The first named was a 6-length 3rd of 13 in last year’s race. He won a handicap hurdle at Sandown in January and must be respected from stall 2. Mancini’s best effort on turf last season came when a ¾ length 2nd of 7 to Chester Cup favourite Solent Getaway here (2m) last August. A reproduction of that performance would see him go close but given his prominent style of racing stall 11 isn’t ideal.
Call My Bluff like some cut in the ground and developed into a useful staying handicapper winning at Pontefract and here last season. Guaranteed to stay the distance but this is the 5-year-old’s first start since August. If he’s ready to roll first time there’s no reason why he won’t go close.
Cork
7:00 – Mallow Handicap (Premier Handicap) – 7f
If you think the Chester Cup is a tricky puzzle Cork comes up with an equally competitive big field handicap.
Mutasarref’s claims are there for all to see. The lightly raced 4-year-old got off the mark at the first attempt for new trainer Ger Lyons when winning on his handicap debut at Leopardstown last month. He’s been hiked up 11lb for that success but is open more improvement and will take the beating.
Johnny Murtagh saddles three in Baradar, Riot and Carrytheone. All three have claims but It’s the latter that appeals most. The lightly raced 5-year-old finished an encouraging 4 ¼ length 5th of 26 in the Irish Lincolnshire on his seasonal reappearance. He ran well for a long way and was disputing the lead inside the final furlong before fading in the 110yds. The 5-year-old might just have needed the run that day and can be competitive dropped back to a strongly run 7f.
Yermanthere won a maiden here last season and ½-length 2nd of 17 in C&D handicap 20-days ago. He’s been nudged up 2lb for his latest effort but his C&D form makes him a contender. The way he finished of his race last time suggests he might need slightly further and/or softer ground but if the forecast strong pace materialises it will help his cause.
Betting Advice:
Chester
1:30 – 1pt win – Fools Rush In – 7/1 @ Bet365
3:15 – 1pt win – Arcadian Sunrise – 8/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes and 0.5pts each way – The Grand Visir – 22/1 @ Coral (paying 5 places 1/5 odds)
4:20 – 1pt win – Kalaroun – 10/1 @ Bet365
4:55 – 1pt win – Call My Bluff – 8/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
Cork
7:00 – 1pt win – Carrytheone – 12/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes and 1pt win – Yermanthere – 14/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
Cheers
John