Hi all,
I’m glad I went 2pts on Showalong at Chester. The improving handicap sprinter goes well with some in the ease in the ground and he should win a nice sprint handicap this season.
Day two of Chester’s May Festival and we have another potential Derby Trial the Listed Dee Stakes (2:15). The feature race of another seven-race card is the Group 3 Ormonde Stakes (3:15). Which see’s the seasonal returns of Japan and possible Ascot Gold Cup contender Trueshan.
Chester May Festival – Day 2
1:45 – Satchell Moran Solicitors Business Interruption Claims Handicap (Class 2) – 5f
A competitive opening race with ten declared to go to post for this sprint handicap.
The bookies ‘early bird’ favourite is last time out Musselburgh winner Jabbarockie. The form of his Musselburgh success is solid and although he been raised 3lb for that win its worth noting he ran well on his second start last season also after winning first time out. A front runner he’s a got a good draw in stall one, He’s won on good to soft/soft going in the past and looks set to go well.
The Tim Easterby pair of Count D’ Orsay & Copper Knight finished well behind the favourite at Musselburgh. However, both ran like the race was needed. Count D’Orsay is well suited to easy ground and his form figures on good to soft/soft going are 112112. Stall six could be better but if there is soft in the going description, I think he will be competitive.
Copper Knight is another who likes to be up with the pace. He finished runner-up in this race in 2019 and can race off 15lb lower. Best run last season came when beaten a short head at Newmarket off 17lb higher. Not the most consistent of horses but his form figures over C&D are 112 and he’s 4-8 in May. Temptingly handicapped and stall 3 is a big positive.
Lihou won a 3-year-old handicap over 6f at this meeting in 2019 and his form figures at Chester are 121. He’s won twice on good to soft on turf although probably wouldn’t want much softer. All his career wins have come when racing around a bend (0-16 2 placed, on a straight 5f/6f). William Buick is a good jockey booking and stall 4 is fine.
Verdict: The most competitive race of the day and I really like three. I have reluctantly left out Count D’Orsay who will like the ground but may just be better for the run and could be one for York.
1pt win – Copper Knight – 5/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
1pt win – Lihou – 17/2 @ Bet365
2:15 – Biggest Dividends At tote.co.uk Dee Stakes (Listed Race) (Colts & Geldings) – 1m 2 ½ f
Aidan O’Brien has saddled six of the last nine winners of this race, including the last three. He runs Ontario. The colt finished a2¾ lengths 3rd of 7 to Tactical in the Free Handicap at Newmarket on his seasonal return. Seven furlongs would have been on the short side for him, given on pedigree he’s a more a middle-distance horse. Solid form as a 2-year-old including finishing third to Mac Swiney in a Group 2.
Race favourite Yibir seems likely to set the pace from stall 3. He showed he had trained on from two to three when a when ¾ length third of 10 to Alenquer in Sandown’s Classic Trial last time. Probably capable of better and get’s the first time cheekpieces today.
El Drama won on his sole juvenile start at Doncaster last October (soft) and hasn’t been disgraced on either start on the all-weather this spring. Needs the step up to 1m 2f to bring out more improvement.
Foxes Tales is unexposed, having just had the two starts. The colt built on the promise racecourse debut when winning a Newbury mile maiden last time. Another open to more improvement if handling today’s softer ground and the track. Trainer Andrew Balding saddled the winner of yesterday’s Vase.
2:45 – Deepbridge Estate Planning Service Handicap (Class 2) – 7 ½ f
Aquaman made a winning seasonal return when landing a Catterick 7f novice race 15-days ago. Likely to be ridden prominently and has a good draw in stall 3. He’s been raised 3lb for his handicap debut but should be competitive.
Buxted Too a winner of a Chelmsford maiden on is return from a gelding operation two starts back. He continued in good form when a respectable 2nd of 9 to Naamoos on handicap debut at Sandown last time. William Buick takes the ride and inform trainer Ian Williams likes to have a winner at the meeting. . Good draw in stall one and he should run well.
Aleas is open to plenty improvement. The gelding won a Newbury mile maiden (heavy) on his second juvenile start and improved further when winning on his handicap debut at Kempton in November. Up 4lb for last time but should be competitive of his new mark. Bred to appreciate 1m 2 ½ f though and stall nine is a bit off putting.
1pt win – Buxted Too – 11/2 @ Bet365
3:15 – tote+ Pays You More At tote.co.uk Ormonde Stakes (Group 3) – 1m 5 ½ f
Group 1 winner Japan, trained by Aidan O’Brien, is the class horse of the race but he doesn’t have a good record first time up and could be vulnerable.
Trueshan goes well on testing ground as he showed when winning the Group 2 Long Distance Cup (2m) on Champions Day. He must give Japan 5lb here but could be capable of doing with Japan likely to be better for the run.
3:45 – Destination 2 Handicap (Class 3) – 1m 2 ½ f
Spirit Dancer won a Ripon maiden (soft) last August and improved again when finishing a ½ length 2nd of 12 at Ayr on his handicap debut. Only 7/1 for his seasonal reappearance at Newbury last time, only 13th of 16, but likely needed the run and probably found the ground a little too quick for his liking. Good draw in stall 2 for a prominent racer.
Baryshnikov won over C&D and Ayr last September. Slowly away on his seasonal return at Doncaster the 5-year-old ran better than his 14 ½ length 9th of 16 suggests last time. Should be sharper today, goes well at the track and has a handy draw in stall 3.
Snow Ocean is another previous C&D winner. James Doyle is an interesting jockey booking but he will do well to get a prominent position from stall 11.
Sarvan is another who has a wide draw in stall 10. The 4-year-old has run well on all his three starts this year. He tends to be ridden from off the pace and will likely need them to go hard up front if he’s to have a chance. Has the ability to win a handicap like this but needs everything to fall right to do so.
Verdict: Another tricky handicap. Sarvan will pop up in one of these races when the cards fall right. Baryshnikov has winning C&D form and a handy low draw. Slight preference though for the equally well drawn Spirit Dancer who will prefer today’s ground.
1pt win – Spirit Dancer – 5/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
Cheers
John