Chester’s May meeting concludes with its big handicap, the Chester Cup, within the middle of its eight-race card. Our in-house editor Joe Napier has four selections on the day for you to follow.
1.30 Chester – CAA Stellar Earl Grosvenor Handicap
Wednesday served to prove anything is possible, with the opener of the Chester May meeting emerging from stall 13 no less. Whether it is reckless or foolish to believe lightning may strike twice, the claims of PERCY’S LAD to repeat that particular trick are too tempting in Friday’s first race, and I believe he’d challenge for favouritism if given a more generous berth.
We will have to count on either luck in running or quick thinking in the saddle as well as the six-year-old’s ability. However, his form at this track is excellent despite two wide draws, from which he placed twice last season. With a better draw in stall 3, he won here in August 2022 off just 1lb lower, but he looked in fine fettle when runner-up at Newmarket in a stronger race than this last month and may be poised to pounce off this mark if able to keep himself in contention from the start.
2.35 Chester – tote.co.uk Free bet Friday Handicap
This venue has been a blessing for BOX TO BOX in the past regardless of the draw he has received. His two victories last season were achieved from stall 9 of nine and 10 of ten, with his ability to break well and manage a lead coming in very handy. Those tactics may well be employed to good use again off a career high mark here, as he also won both races at Chester in 2022.
His defeat in this last year came on soft ground from the second widest draw, and he ended up meeting trouble in running late on. His only other loss here came when outstayed over an extra furlong, also on soft ground, but his love affair with the place is evident, and he even has a good draw to boost his chances this time. He may meet some progressive rivals, but should be fighting fit from four races in Bahrain over the winter in which he was largely very competitive.
3.05 Chester – IRE-Incentive, It Pays To Buy Irish Huxley Stakes (Group 2)
There’s some significant promise that Ulysses’ progeny maintain or even improve their form with age, as evidenced recently by White Birch’s stellar start to this season. He also sired PASSENGER, who went into notebooks aplenty when bolting up on debut in Newmarket’s Wood Ditton Maiden last season, and was then third in the Dante en route to the Derby.
While Epsom proved a bridge too far for Sir Michael Stoute’s charge, he bounced back to secure a Group 3 win at Windsor last August, beating West Wind Blows into second. That horse was subsequently placed in three successive Australian Group 1s, while the fourth won easily in Listed company next time out. That form looks solid, he is clearly capable of running to a high level fresh, and therefore looks best equipped of this field to step up to the plate.
4.15 – Duke Of Westminster Supporting The Chester Plate Handicap
I wrote about the Chester Cup itself in my preview here, but the Plate is also of interest. Ian Williams’ LAW OF THE SEA could be one to chance here, as he will likely be a decent each-way price given the way his form tailed off in 2023. However, looking through his career, it is very possible he is a horse who only comes into his own in the second quarter of the year.
Between April and June, his form reads 165424, with those latter three runs coming in the 2023 Chester Cup (16 runners), followed by two big handicaps at Haydock (second of seven) and Royal Ascot (fourth of 19). From July to March, his form is much less positive overall, reading 41530000400, with the early 453 either side of his victory being in small fields and by heavy margins of defeat.
As evidenced by that string of duck eggs last term, it is a gamble to side with him on form. Indeed he was last of 31 in the Cesarewitch when last seen, but he now runs in this reserve race off 2lb lower than when beaten under two lengths in the Chester Cup last season, showing he is able to go well after a break too.
Matthew Sutcliffe’s Weekend Punts – Ascot & Haydock Tips
Saturday’s racing features competitive handicaps galore on both the flat and over jumps. Matty Sutcliffe looks to make it two fantastic punting weekends in a row, with four early value selections. Published: 4.25pm, Wednesday, 8th May (Odds correct at time of publishing) 1:30 Ascot – Peroni Nastro Azzurro 0.0% Handicap (Class 3) (4yo+ 0-90) –…
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