Hi all,
Not the best of starts to Chester’s May meeting for your truly but not too much damage done and Thursday’s card looks much more interesting betting wise.
Chester May Meeting – Day 2
It’s day two of Chester’s May Festival. Inside today’s main piece you can read my thoughts on six of the seven races on the card. With Thursday’s selections and betting advice to be found at the end of the preview.
ITV4 are once again covering five races live from Chester this afternoon. The heavy showers arrived as forecast yesterday. And with it the going changed from good to soft to soft by the time of the first on Wednesday.
1:30 – CAA Stellar Handicap (Class 2) – 5f
The action gets underway with the race of the day and that’s despite it attracting just 8 runners.
Look Out Louis gained to C&D successes last season including this race from 14lb lower. He also won from 4lb lower at Haydock last September. A ground versatile sprinter who goes well around a bend he returns to action for the first time since February.
Top weight King’s Lynn has placed on both starts over C&D. Best not judged on his return to action at Doncaster. The 6-year-old won the Group 2 Temple Stakes at Haydock last May and is notable class dropper. Stablemate Nymphadora finished runner-up in a C&D handicap at this meeting 12 months ago and then posted a career best on RPR’s when a ½ length 2nd of 27 in a valuable handicap at Royal Ascot. She was well below form on her return at Bath last month and needs to bounce back to win this.
2:05 – Deepbridge Capital Handicap (Class 2) – 7 ½ f
Vetiver made all to win a Beverley novice 22-days ago. Drops a furlong in distance here but doesn’t lack pace and she’s going the right way. Open to further progress now going handicapping for the first time and has a handy draw in stall 2.
Theoryofeverything looked a nice prospect when making a winning racecourse debut in a Doncaster novice (soft) in April. And he was a useful 8 ½ length 3rd of 11 to Isaac Shelby in Greenham Stakes at Newbury. Must be of interest off a mark of 94 on handicap debut.
Urban Sprawl is more exposed than his rivals, but he’s developed into a useful handicapper. Only beaten by a race fit rival on his return to action at Musselburgh 11-days ago. Off the same mark here and is contender albeit he’s up a couple of notches in class.
Lord Uhtred created a good impression when winning at Kempton novice on his final juvenile start last season. He’s probably best not judged on his 5 ¼ length 5th of 8 to Scholarship on seasonal return/ handicap debut at Newbury 20 days ago and is capable of more progress.
2:40 – Boodles Dee Stakes (Listed Race) (Colts & Geldings) – 1m 2 ½ f
An intriguing renewal of the Dee Stakes with most of the seven runners capable of more improvement.
Alder a winner at Killarney as a juvenile made a winning seasonal return to action at Cork 20-days ago. The colt produced a nice turn of foot to win last time and looked well suited to step up to 1m 2f. The son of Australia who has a Derby entry fully deserves his place in the line-up.
Local Dynasty was steadily progressive as a juvenile ending last season with wins at Sandown and a Listed race at Pontefract. Must give 3lb to all his rivals on his return to action but is open to further improvement on his step up to middle distances this season. Yard probably has better middle distance prospects, but he won’t be far away if handling the track.
Aidan O’Brien who has won six of the last ten renewals of the race runs San Antonio. The son of Dubawi got off the mark at the third attempt when a Dundalk maiden on his seasonal reappearance 41 days ago. Looks the sort to keep improving and high on the short list given his trainers record in the race.
Passenger made a winning debut in the Wood Ditton Stakes (1m). Green in the parade ring but more professional in the race. The son of Ulysses didn’t have to be given a hard ride to beat his seven rivals and he’s got scope for plenty of improvement.
3:15 – tote.co.uk Bet £5 Get £20 Ormonde Stakes (Group 3) – 1m 5 ½ f
Hamish won this 12 months ago on his seasonal reappearance and bid to do the same here. He must give 3lb to all bar one of his seven rivals. The one horse who meets him on level weights is Max Vega who beat Hamish a head in the Group 3 at Newbury last October. Whilst you have to respect Max Vega I think Hamish can reverse placings over C&D that suits.
Changingoftheguard won the Chester Vase here 12 months ago before finishing 5th of 19 in the Derby on his next start. However, the colt was back to winning ways 13 days later in the Group 2 King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot. We haven’t seen him since Royal Ascot but if he’s ready to roll on his return won’t be far away.
Israr looked like a potential Group performer when winning a Doncaster last October. Well beaten in the November Handicap but that run is probably best forgiven given it came just two weeks after his win there. He looks capable of better as a 4-year-old.
Old Harrovian returned from a 12 month absence to win a Lingfield novice in April and followed up 7 days later under a penalty at Wolverhampton. He’s clearly going the right way but has plenty to find on ORs with main protagonists. Still, it’s interesting the connections run the lightly raced 4-year-old in a Group race rather than go for a handicap.
3:45 – TMT Group Handicap (Class 3) – 1m 2 ½ f
The final race on ITV this afternoon and probably the most competitive with just 6lb separating ten of the 14 runners on Racing Post rating’s (RPR’s).
City Streak was a consistent performer, including finishing a useful 2nd of 11 over C&D, last summer. Returned to action with a good ¾-length 3rd of 6 at Chelmsford 21 days ago and should be in the mix if handling today’s testing ground.
Thunder Max has produced some solid efforts since his racecourse debut success last season including when 4th of 13 at Haydock (1m 2f) 12 days ago after a near 12-month absence. Blinkers on for the first time although soft ground is an unknown.
Tudor ended last year with two wins on the all-weather at Lingfield and was a good 1 ½ length 3rd of 8 at that venue 23 days ago. Handles soft ground and not out of it back on turf.
Stately Home a winner at Kempton in March and has remained in form on two subsequent starts including when a 6 ½ lengths 5th of 15 at Newbury 19 days ago.
Amor Vincit Omnia’s best two RPR’s have come on soft & heavy ground so no ground concerns for the 4-year-old. He wasn’t disgraced when 9 ½ lengths 6th of 15 at Newbury (Stately Home 5th) last time. That was the gelding first start beyond a mile and if he can build on the encouraging effort shouldn’t be far away.
Jean Baptiste won over C&D last June and followed up at Hamilton. Granted he’s yet to fire on two starts this season but the cheekpieces he normally wears are back for the first time this season and he’s won on soft ground in the past. Tom Marquand is having his first ride for the yard and although stall 13 isn’t ideal he’s handicapped to go close if on a going day.
Dream Harder has been doing well on the all-weather since joining Ian Williams and was back to his best when a ¾ length 3rd of 14 at Lingfield last month. A stamin a test will suit the 4-year-old but soft ground ask another question of him back on turf.
4:55 – Halliwell Jones Handicap (Class 4) – 1m 4 ½ f
Nobody Told Me improved to get off the mark at the on his fourth attempt on turf at Doncaster (soft) 12 days ago. The step up to 1m 4 suited the 3-year-old and a 6lb rise in the weights isn’t too harsh given he won with a bit in hand that day.
Cantora won two heavy ground nurseries at Leicester & Redcar last back end and was back to winning ways at Beverley 14-days ago. The filly looked well ahead of her mark last time but an 11lb rise in the weights does make life tougher. Yard had a winner here yesterday and she look sure to be popular on her first start beyond 1m 2f with Ryan Moore taking over in the saddle.
A big odds Burglar’s Dream is worthy of a second look on his seasonal return/handicap debut. He ended last season with an improved effort when 3 length 2nd of 7 at Redcar (heavy) in October. Has been gelded over the winter and on pedigree should be suited by the step up to 1m 4f. Interestingly trainer Tim Easterby has booked David Egan, 2-8 +7.75, 3 places when combining with the yard for the ride.
Betting Advice:
Chester
1:30 – King’s Lynn – 1pt win – 7/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
3:15 – Israr – 1pt win – 8/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
3:45 – Jean Baptiste – 1pt win – 9/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
4:55 – Burglar’s Dream – 1pt win – 16/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
Cheers
John