Up and coming stayer Grand Providence is the final runner to make the maximum field of 17 for Friday’s Chester Cup, the big handicap at the north west track’s premier flat meeting of the season. Andrew Balding’s four-year-old was third on his reappearance at Newbury, but already looks to have the stamina to deal with the demands of this race.
A former winner of the contest may return to try and win a second title. 2021 hero Falcon Eight may attempt to win the race as a nine-year-old, thus becoming the oldest winner in the race’s history.
He has had previous experience over hurdles, and it is no surprise to see other National Hunt runners in the mix. One of those, The Shunter, was last season’s Cesarewtich victor at the age of ten, and would comfortably break the oldest winner barrier now aged 11 here. Tony Martin’s Zanndabad is another such luminariy from the jumps, as is the British-trained Too Friendly.
Balding is not entirely reliant on Grand Providence, as he may also run Aztec Empire, second favourite to his aforementioned stablemate at current best odds. He was placed on three occasions in class 2 staying handicaps last term.
Of the others in the Irish contingent, Joseph O’Brien’s 150/1 Irish Cesarewitch winner of last season, Magellan Strait will likely be of interest to many off a big weight. The son of Australia will not be attempting to defy such lofty odds here.
| Number | Horse |
| 1 | Falcon Eight |
| 2 | Magellan Strait |
| 3 | The Shunter |
| 4 | Citizen General |
| 5 | Spirit Mixer |
| 6 | Emiyn |
| 7 | Zanndabad |
| 8 | Solent Gateway |
| 9 | Aztec Empire |
| 10 | Zealandia |
| 11 | Aqwaam |
| 12 | Zoffee |
| 13 | Duke Of Oxford |
| 14 | Too Friendly |
| 15 | Forza Orta |
| 16 | The Grand Visir |
| 17 | Grand Providence |
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