Racing chat -Friday 6th May

[richard-westwood]

Chester cup 

Falcon eight  9.2 5/1 

It's good to laugh 8.6  25/1 

These 2 appear to be a little clear of the rest so I'll play and try and make a bit of profit ....

10pt ew falcon eight 

5pt ew  it's good to laugh 

[The Brigadier]

Chester 1.30

Eleven runners go to post here for this 7f 127yards class 2 handicap. Boardman has course form, winning here last season and was a good winner at Haydock last time out on ground that would of been plenty fast enough for him. He’s not been done any favours by the draw here mind in box 8. Bottom weight Repertoire goes unpenalised for his apprentice handicap victory last week under Saffie Osborne although doesn’t really appeal as the type to back up a win. Two horses who have previous course form and are well drawn are Revich (stall 1) who should strip fitter for his Lincoln Handicap run and has the assistance of top apprentice Harry Davies claiming 7lb and Fools Rush In (stall 4) who hails from the in form stable of Hugo Palmer who landed a nice touch on day one of the meeting with Ever Given. He’s two from four at the track and can be competitive. I can’t split the pair so will back both each way.

 

REVICH 1 point each way @ 5/1 William Hill 1/5th 1234

FOOLS RUSH IN 1 point each way @ 13/2 William Hill 1/5 1234

 

Market Rasen 1.50

ITV have squeezed in a jump race from Market Rasen, a 7 runner class 3 handicap chase which has an open enough look about it. It maybe worth chancing top weight Via Dolorosa who was so impressive when winning at Fakenham in March by 20L under today’s pilot Philip Armson and his three outings since have come in the Scottish National, Topham Chase and Bet365 Gold Cup. This represents a drop in grade and only 5lb higher than his Fakenham rout can be competitive here.

 

VIA DOLOROSA 1 point win @ 8/1 William Hill

 

Chester 2.05

A 10F handicap for four year olds and upwards which has a very open look about it with only the two rags Restorer and Bakersboy easily ruled out. Course form is brought to the table by Baryshnikov who is two from three here and has claims. Lincoln flop Mujtaba won at the track last year and won’t mind any ease in the ground. He too is a contender here along with top weight Brentford Hope who likes to get his toe in and has a touch of class about him when conditions are right. Ralph Beckett’s Lord Protector also has a 218 day absence to overcome but has won first time out the last two seasons and has claims. I’ll take another chance in my Lincoln fancy Mujtaba who has course form and should appreciate the step up in trip today.

 

MUJTABA 2 points win @ 5/2 William Hill

 

Chester 2.40

Only four assemble for this year’s renewal of the Group 2 Huxley Stakes with only the outsider Certain Lad who has a 532 day absence to overcome ruled out. John and Thady Gosden’s Megallan who bumped into Master Of The Seas in the Group 3 Earl Of Sefton on his re-appearance and Sir Michael Stoute’s Solid Stone last seen in February when down the field in the Saudi Neom Turf Cup on the Saudi Cup card are the two at the top of the market and both obviously have chances but I’m going to take a chance on Majestic Dawn who is a natural front runner who looks sure to go off in front and will appreciate any ease in the ground. At the prices Paul and Oliver Cole’s six year old ridden by Rob Hornby will do for me with an attacking ride from the front.

 

MAJESTIC DAWN 1 points win @ 11/2 Bet365

 

 

Chester 3.15

The feature race of the meeting is the 2m 2 1/2F Chester Cup Handicap. A near maximum field of 16 go to post with the current favourite being the locally trained Solent Getaway a winner here last Autumn who showed up well on his re-appearance 17 days ago. He has claims but is skinny enough in the market. His stable companion Rajinsky has drawn stall 1 and with apprentice Harry Davies taking a further 7lb off his back has to be taken seriously. Aidan O’Brien’s runner Cleveland is easily over looked as he’s stepping up markedly in trip and stamina has to be a major concern. Top weight and last year’s winner Falcon Eight is now 5lb higher but was given a peach of a ride by Frankie Dettori then and he’s back on board today. He is on my shortlist despite the fact his trainer Dermot Weld is 39 runners and 32 days since his last winner. Coltrane is well berthed in stall 2 for the Andrew Balding stable and is yet another with claims. Last years runner up The Grand Visir has each way claims if he can overcome his wide draw which can also be said about the Jennie Candlish trained It’s Good To Laugh. Another Irish challenger is the John Queally trained Arcadian Sunrise from stall 5. He was an easy winner at York when last seen on these shores at York’s Ebor meeting last August and if straight enough is another with a chance under Jamie Spencer. A tough handicap as one would expect but my pin has fallen on top weight Falcon Eight although there is some concern on the form of his trainers stable with a small saver in Arcadian Sunset.

 

FALCON EIGHT 1 point each way @ 5/1 William Hill 1/5th 12345

ARCADIAN SUNSET 1/2 point each way @ 9/1 William Hill 1/5th 12345

 

 

Chester 3.45

Seven have declared for this 5F class 3 conditions stakes contest although two of those, King Of Stars and Night On Earth are both declared for the 5F handicap on Thursday so must be considered doubtful. The one to beat despite his 6lb penalty is the Andrew Balding trained King’s Lynn owned by Her Majesty The Queen. A speedy type who’s run well on his seasonal debuts on both the last seasons and was last seen at Doncaster in November when winning a listed contest. Acklam Express is actually the best in at these weights but his trainer Nigel Tinkler is 0 from 26 in the last fortnight so hardly a a yard in form. The other runner to consider the the only three year old in the contest Flaming Rib who blatantly didn’t stay when 6th in the 7F Greenham at Newbury and should be suited by this drop in trip for Hugo Palmer. The selection however is King’s Lynn.

 

KING’S LYNN 2 points win @ 5/2 Bet365