Chester racecourse has fond memories for me having been my local track many moons ago! Saturday’s card has attracted some decent animals with the feature race being the Chester Stakes at 3.30.
I fancied Sun Central for the Ebor until he was left on top of the handicap and then the going and draw turned against him. Not surprisingly William Haggas pulled him out (oh, the joys of ante-post betting!). He has been diverted here where the going is currently reported to be just on the soft side of good. That has to be a worry with 9st 13lb to carry.
Montaser seems to have lost his way this season and is another with a marked preference for fast ground whilst Handsome Man has always been a rule unto himself. Star Lahib is a typical Mark Johnston beast that runs week-in, week-out and continues to surprise. I thought she was a fortunate winner of a slowly run Old Newton Cup but she has since bolted up in the Shergar Cup and run well in the Galtres Stakes at York.
John Gosden’s Tempest Fugit is returning after a lengthy absence and almost all of his horses need a race to put them straight. Savanna La Mar put up a career-best effort when fourth at Newbury last time but looked very one-paced whilst Alta Lilea suffers from a similar lack of toe. By process of elimination that leaves the hugely disappointing Guarantee who ran his best race for some time in the Ebor. He was hampered in his run but stayed on perfectly well to finish a closing seventh and he could be value at 9-1.
Es Que Love turns out yet again in the seven-furlong handicap and is almost certain to be up at the head of affairs early on from stall two. I can see him running a big race here but Alejandro could just have his measure in receipt of a stone. His Goodwood run behind Magic City looks pretty useful after that won came out of the clouds to follow up last weekend.
I’ve got a lot of time for Newbury and Newmarket two-year-old races as horses that run well three are almost always up to winning their maiden elsewhere. Charlie Hills runs My Painter here on Saturday after a fine debut at HQ when just run out of it in the closing stages by a useful couple of fillies in Night Song and Casual Smile.
Guarantee 9-1 Ladbrokes
Alejandro 8-1 Boylesports
My Painter Evens Betfair
