Key Races~ CHESTER CUP 8th May

[Tedthewolf]

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Chester Cup Day Chester Cup Fact file

• Race distance: 2m 2 1/2f
• Prize money: £100,000 total prize fund
• Conditions: 4-y-o and up
• First run: 1824 (present title in 1893)

The Chester Cup was first run at Chester Racecourse in 1824 and amongst its winners it can boast such names as Brown Jack, Sea Pigeon and Top Cees. It is an early season test over the stamina sapping distance of two miles, two furlongs and 147 years and often features those who will be plying their trade in the Cup races later in the season. In recent years, the 2003 renewal was taken in fine style by James Given’s grand old campaigner Hugs Dancer. The previous year, he had won the equally demanding Ebor Handicap at York before finishing a gallant fifth in the Cesarewitch at Newmarket. He arrived at Chester after a winter break of over six months, but defied the absence to score impressively. The following year saw Anak Pekan gallop away from his sixteen rivals to record a very impressive five-length victory in the famous silks of HRH Sultan Ahmad Shah. Twelve months later he made it back-to-back successes, becoming the first horse to achieve the feat since Sea Pigeon in 1977 and 1978. Anak Pekan - 2004 winner There was somewhat of a shock in 2006 when the 28/1 outsider Admiral took victory, but normal service was pretty much resumed the following year when Greenwich Meantime took the spoils under jockey Paul Hanagan. Although sent off at 14/1 he wasn’t without his supporters and denied the well backed favourite Fair Along by one-and-a-half lengths. The winner was no stranger to this race having previously finished third behind Admiral, albeit from a 10lb lower handicap mark. The improvement he made in 12 months saw him notch a victory at Ayr before running a fine race in defeat when third in the Northumberland Plate at Newcastle. It was that performance that indicated he could well improve on his placing in 2006 and he duly obliged under a fine ride, taking up the running in the final furlong. Interestingly, he not only overcame a horror draw in stall 16 but the winning time of 3:58.89 was a course record for the race. Admiral - 2006 winner Three years ago Bulwark caused another shock as Ian Williams’ charge got the better of Som Tala by half-a-length at odds of 33/1 under a fine ride from Jim Crowley for his first win in almost two years. But the last few years have gone the way of more well-fancied runners with Daraahem and Mamlook both obliging at odds of 7/1. Daraahem held off Ajaan by a neck in 2009 for Barry and Richard Hills, while the David Pipe-trained Mamlook, the 7/1 market leader ridden by Richard Hughes, came out on top by a head from Tastahill in a thrilling finish which saw the first five covered by less than two lengths. Daraahm - 2009 winner Historical Background The Chester Cup started its life as the Tradesman’s Cup back in 1824 when it was first run. Originally, the Stand Cup was the feature race of Chester’s May meeting, when this was the only fixture held each year on the Roodee. However, the Tradesman’s Cup quickly became the feature race of the meeting in the mid 1800’s before its name was changed to the Chester Cup in 1893. Race History As the longest race run at Chester with the biggest field each year, the Chester Cup is the highlight of the year. Although many horses have famously won the race twice, no horse has ever won three times. The horses that have won the race twice; Rainbow High, Top Cees, Anak Pekan and the Champion Hurdler Sea Pigeon have particularly fired the imaginations of racegoers. The extreme distance of the race means that many top hurdlers change code, following in Sea Pigeon’s footsteps. Past Winners

• 1999 Rainbow High 4 9-00 Michael Hills Barry Hills 4:00.64
• 2000 Bangalore 4 7-10 Gary Bardwell Amanda Perrett 4:03.00
• 2001 Rainbow High 6 9-13 Richard Hughes Barry Hills 4:01.23
• 2002 Fantasy Hill 6 8-09 Pat Eddery John Dunlop 4:00.20
• 2003 Hugs Dancer 6 8-11 Dean McKeown James Given 4:04.89
• 2004 Anak Pekan 4 8-02 Philip Robinson Michael Jarvis 4:10.90
• 2005 Anak Pekan 5 9-06 Philip Robinson Michael Jarvis 4:14.60
• 2006 Admiral 5 8-04 John Egan Tim Pitt 4:03.34
• 2007 Greenwich Meantime 7 9-02 Paul Hanagan Richard Fahey 3:58.99
• 2008 Bulwark 6 9-04 Jim Crowley Ian Williams 4:06.57
• 2009 Daraahem 4 9-00 Richard Hills Barry Hills 4:04.01
• 2010 Mamlook 6 8-12 Richard Hughes David Pipe 4:37.40
• 2011 Overturn 7 8-13 Eddie Ahern Donald McCain 3.59.39
• 2012 Ile de Re 6 8-11 Jim Crowley Donald McCain 4.10.20

Chivalrous - Winner of the Chester Cup, 1922-23 Countrywide Flame (5), Justification (6), Montaser (10), Simenon (10), Ile de Re (11), Tominator (11), Olympiad (12), Buckland (16), Investissement(16), Perennial (16), Thimaar (16), Address Unknown (20), Good Morning Star (25), Ingleby Spirit (25), Suraj (25), Very Good Day (25), Kiama Bay(33), Theology (33), Softsong (40) 2013 Chester Cup 1st May 2013Established way back in 1824, the Chester Cup is a truly historic horse race won by some briliant horses, including the famous Sea Pigeon (pictured). But who in 2013 will add their name to the long list of winners? Check out our preview of theStanJames.com Chester Cup and you might just find out… We’ve brought our usual trends based approach to the 2013 Chester Cup, building up a profile of exactly what it takes to win this Heritage Handicap. Here are the key Chester Cup trends: Key Trends Age

• All of the last 27 Chester Cup winners were aged 4 to 6
• 12 of the last 14 winners were aged 4 to 6
• 6 of the last 12 winners were aged 6

We can comfortably eliminate any horses aged seven or older from our Chester Cup shortlist based on these trends. We might also give a nod towards the six year olds if there’s a tough choice to be made. Official Rating / Handicap Mark

• 10 of the last 12 Chester Cup winners were officially rated between 90 and 103
• 10 of the last 12 winners carried 8st 9lbs or more

These two Chester Cup trends are fairly self explanatory. Ability

• 11 of the last 12 Chester Cup winners had won over 2m or further
• 9 of the last 12 winners had landed a Class 2 race or better

To win the 2013 Chester Cup, our selection is going to need proven stamina as all of the last 12 winners had won over 14f or further, with the vast majority clocking up 2m successes prior to the race. Furthermore, the trends suggest that we should prefer those beasts that have already tasted victory in better company. Fitness

• 9 of the last 12 winners of the Chester Cup were making their first appearance of the season

It might seem counter-intuitive, but there is a strong tendency towards horses having their first run of the flat season. All of the last 8 winners tick this box. Tactics

• 10 of the last 12 Chester Cup heroes raced prominently

Only two hold-up horses have managed to win the Chester Cup in recent times. The layout of Chester Racecourse tends to favour prominent types.

[Primevil]

Re: Key Races~ CHESTER CUP 8th May How they wish the race was run today. My Advice. Its Good/Firm watered ground, Of all the courses in the country, it dont take much rain to go to soft here, due to the soil. From about 9pm tonight various outbreaks of rain, right through to Thursday. It will be soft/heavy by Thursday, that is for sure, but come 2.45pm on Wednesday,,,,all i'll say is it definately wont be Good/Firm. The ground will be key here, so hold your money until you know.