After winning both of the key Classic trials among an early hat-trick at Chester, Ryan Moore is going to be a watched man for the remainder of the meeting. He rides four more on the Roodee on Thursday and we have analysed their chances alongside Paddy Power’s new customer offer of £45 in Free Bets when you bet £10.
Outgate (2.05 Chester) 10/3
Moore’s first mount of the day comes in the second race, with OUTGATE for Daniel and Claire Kubler.
He was the star juvenile for the relatively embryonic yard, but it is a stable that is growing. After five winners from 61 runners in their inaugural year in 2020, the pair sent out 18 from 146 last term.
Outgate secured two victories at Wolverhampton and Haydock last term, the latter in a competitive nursery last September. That came from a mark of 77, but two runner-up finishes since then ensure he is 11lb higher here.
He was beaten only by the immensely in-form Appleby/Buick combination on his return under Richard Kingscote. For all a 3lb rise for that second-placed effort is a little steep, the benefit of Moore being onboard cannot be underexaggerated after a cracking first day of the meeting on Wednesday.
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Star Of India (2.40 Chester) 9/4
Two offspring of Galileo cleaned up the opening two Derby trials under front-running Ryan Moore rides on Wednesday. STAR OF INDIA will look to make that three from three in the Dee Stakes.
He was a taking winner of his debut at Leopardstown last October over 7f. He is a full brother to Roman Empire, who used to represent the yard and ultimately put in his best displays over 1m2f.
There could not have been many tougher races for him to return in than the Group 3 Craven Stakes at Newmarket, won by 2000 Guineas runner-up Native Trail. Star Of India was sent on by Moore that day before fading into fifth.
However, that would have been more of a sighter than anything else and the yard will know more where they stand with him. There is every chance of him improving for the extra distance here and there is no unbeaten superstar up against him here.
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John Leeper (3.10 Chester) 11/1
JOHN LEEPER bounced into the Derby picture around this time last year, when he won a Newcastle novice event in impressive style.
While that marked him as a promising type, it was his follow-up which really caught people’s attention, as he won Newmarket’s Listed Fairway Stakes, looking particularly strong at the finish.
His day out at Epsom marked an unfortunate turning point in his form however. He is winless since finishing ninth in the premier Classic and Ed Dunlop has struggled to nail down his best trip.
He steps up beyond 1m4f for the first time here and that could potentially unlock something. He is phenomenally bred, being by Frankel out of Snow Fairy and there is staying power in that lineage. Perhaps the booking of Moore, for only the second time in his career, will help unlock improvement as a four-year-old.
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Temple Of Artemis (4.50 Chester)
This race would not ordinarily be seen as a Derby trial, but it is a handicap exclusively for three-year-olds over the Classic trip. It certainly could provide a stepping stone for Aidan O’Brien’s TEMPLE OF ARTEMIS should they wish to go down the Epsom route.
He has been winless in three starts and a mark of 88 would appear steep on the bare form he has shown to date. However, the improvement so many of the yard eventually show from two to three is often stark and he definitely stepped forward slightly when third at Leopardstown last month.
He did not trouble the judge when fourth and sixth at the Curragh and Navan respectively last season, but his recent effort behind Boundless Ocean, who ran in the 2000 Guineas last weekend, offers up hope for more. While he faded out of contention, he surely needs more of a trip, as he will get here.
As a full brother to the yard’s Gold Cup runner-up Kingfisher, he should not be ruled out from showing a completely new side to his form here.
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