Chester Day 2 Preview & Selections

Yesterday at Chester left us in a slight loss to level stakes, with a few crossbars being hit and meaning that we’re left with a small deficit to recover today. It’s nothing dramatic, though, and was, in some cases, more due to luck than any other factor.

In the first, we had two bets, and while Cheerio Sweetie was well beaten, Charlies Star took a big drift out to 8/1 and so would have almost certainly been an each-way bet. This made it fairly disappointing, therefore, to see Charlies Star come 3^rd.

Next up was the Cheshire Oaks, in which both the first and second were big-priced outsiders. Our 22/1 each-way bet, Secret Pursuit, came 2^nd by ½l to a shock winner, which we will take without complaining.

Then it was on to the big race of the day, the Chester Cup, in which we had two each-way bets. 8/1 bet Communicator picked up 3^rd, admittedly not giving any trouble to the first two home, but giving us a return all the same. Clowance Estate, on the other hand, probably confirmed any worries from the Caesarwitch regarding his ability to stay – I would be surprised if connections don’t drop him back down in trip now.

Finally, in the last of our previewed races, Go Nani Go could only manage 5^th while Red Baron got 6^th, giving us nothing in return for their efforts.

Moving on to today, though, and on to the racing…

1.45 – IG Handicap – Class 2 – 1m 2f

Interestingly, the first race of the day includes a notebook runner in the form of Marcret from the yard of David O’Meara. He entered the notebook after his last run over a similar trip at Ripon on good ground last time out – he travelled well most of the way before getting snagged up and blocked a few times, denied a clear run and staying on to take third. He looked for a lot of the race like the most likely winner but lacked the luck in-running that is key for any horse to win a race.

I had been hoping that there might be some value about Marcret in the market, and although he is favourite today, I think that 6/1 seems fair based on his last run and his fantastic record of two wins from three runs at Chester and he looks the best bet in an unpredictable race to start the day.

Worth mentions are Tres Coronas and Croquembouche, both well treated by the handicapper and proven stayers. The former also loves Chester but likes to be able to get his toe into the ground and so narrowly misses out on a bet. The latter will like the going and has never run at Chester before and so looks slightly overpriced at 18/1. After a big-priced place yesterday, it’s hard not to take that price about a horse with as much of a chance as any other in the field.

Marcret E/W 6/1

Croquembouche E/W 18/1

2.15 – Huxley Stakes – Group 3 – 1m 2 ½f

This year’s Huxley Stakes has two very strong market leaders in the form of Telescope and Noble Mission. The latter is another horse I’ve been watching for a while – Lady Cecil’s 5yo is often described as a “dodgepot” or “bookies horse”, but I think that he needs the right conditions in order to get his head in front.

As far as I can see, conditions are perfect for Noble Mission today (perhaps aside from the fact that he has never won at a left-handed track before) and he looks the pick of the lot. There is 11/4 available around him at the moment which seems like decent value to me.

Noble Misson 11/4

2.45 – Chester Vase – Group 3 – 1m 4f

It’s a fairly small field for the Chester Vase, with nine due to go to post in this Derby trial. The Ballydoyle pick is clearly Carlo Bugatti, with Joseph O’Brien on-board and hoping to get him back to form, now in blinkers after only managing fourth on his seasonal debut at Navan in a Group 3. With Aidan’s horses not yet having hit the superb form we’re accustomed to, he’s worth leaving.

The most interesting is probably Seagull Star, who was 3^rd in a big sales race at Newmarket on his reappearance last month on just his second start, and he looks a real contender today with that piece of form to his name. I have seen him being written off by a few people already, but I would think twice before disregarding William Haggas’ promising colt.

Seagull Star 5/1 (E/W if 6/1 or more)

3.15 – Boodles Diamond Handicap – Class 2 – 7½f

The most interesting of these looks to be Captain Bob 5/1, who runs off a nice mark after winning well on his seasonal debut in a Warwick maiden last time out. He produced a career best performance that day after signing off on a bad note in 2013, but looks like he could be one to watch this year, and the one to back today.

Captain Bob 5/1 (E/W if 6/1 or bigger)

As always, good luck and don’t bet more than you can afford to lose.