Day 2 of the Chester May Festival features the first of the meetings two Derby trials; The Chester Vase which last year produced the very poor Derby winner in Ruler Of The World. As a whole the trial has produced 6 Derby winners since its inception Papyrus 1923, Hyperion 1933, Windsor Lad 1934, Henbit 1980, Shergar 1981 & Ruler Of The World 2013. Countless good horses down the years have announced their arrival in the Vase including Unfuwain 1988 (Princess Of Wales's Stakes Group 2), Old Vic 1989 (French Derby & Irish Derby Group 1), Belmez 1990 (King George Group 1), Toulon 1991 (St Leger Group 1), Broadway Flyer 1994 (Sword Dancer Invitational Grade 1), Luso (4 x Group 1 winner plus back to back victories in Hong Kong Vase Group 2) Millenary 2000 (St Leger Group 1 & multiple Cup victories) & Soldier Of Fortune 2004 (Irish Derby & Coronation Cup Group 1).
The ground has changed overnight & during racing yesterday too good to soft, it looked advantageous to be on or near to the lead throughout yesterday on tiring ground.
Aidan O'Brien has trained 4 winners in the last 10 years, this year he saddles Carlo Bugatti & Orchestra; Carlo Bugatti won a maiden at Galway that has not worked out & was well beaten on his seasonal return in The Ballysax. Orchestra had a big reputation on debut but was blown away by Free Eagle who was subsequently easily beaten by stablemate Australia, he wasn't extended to win a maiden next time & will appreciate the step up in trip he gets, I marginally prefer Orchestra of the two O'Brien animals.
Automated was well beaten behind Western Hymn on bad ground at Sandown & I doubt he will be breaking his maiden here even with the assistance of Kieren Fallon.
Scotland was easily brushed aside by Western Hymn on his seasonal return at Newbury & is entitled to strip fitter here, he is a sizable horse who should have improvement to come up in trip but he does not scream pattern performer to me, Belfilo a stablemate of Scotland looks to be in to ensure a decent pace.
Romsdal won in the style of a useful horse on his 2nd start sprinting clear of Big Orange (winner since), his maiden form in which he finished 3rd is just ok so but he is respected none the less upped in grade.
Seagull Star ran well in a Tattersalls Millions Trophy racing off the pace before staying on for 3rd, he will strip fitter here & is respected upped to a more suitable trip.
Stars Over The Sea ran in the Epsom Trial a few weeks back, he looked to be in trouble in the straight before Kieran got hold of him & to be fair to the horse he stayed on all the way to the line in the end he was only beaten a length when finishing 3rd. He is a knockout to look at & has really developed from 2 - 3, the run will have done him a power of good, he looks a big player in this.
Festival Theatre appears to have been deserted by Ryan Moore which probably tells you all that you need to know about his chances, he was disappointing on his seasonal debut in a average handicap at Kempton behind Anglo Irish who ran yesterday. Big ask up in class.
Nice renewal in which I do like Stars Over The Sea 12/1 BetVictor / Bet365 / Coral with Seagull Star pitching in behind with Orchestra. (Unplaced)
The other Group race on Day 2 is the Huxley Stakes over 1m2f, 4 & 5yo's have dominated in recent years, last year's winner Danadana tries to do what Maraahel did (3 times winner 05 - 07) & double up, he ran no sort of race in The Earl Of Sefton though & is still carrying a penalty which makes life tougher as does the overnight rain.
Highland Knight excelled himself in the mile final on Good Friday, he stays this trip fine as he showed when 2nd last year, chances.
Noble Mission ground his rivals into submission at Sandown on the wet ground over this trip, I feel he would need to be in front again to beat these but the rain that has fallen is now in his favour.
Edu Querido has his first start in Britain having been beaten 3 times in the Dubai Carnival the last twice in top company, he has good Brazilian form & I would not be too surprised if yet another runner to have come from the Dubai sun can go well. Trainer has won this race with a similar type before.
This is more Ektihaam's level after being hopelessly outclassed when last seen in last season's King George, after such a long absence he is entitled to be ring rusty here although he handles cut well.
Gabrial's Kaka steps up in grade after showing excellent early season handicap form, on lines through Ocean Tempest he could be given a chance in a normal Group 3 but this is relatively warm one.
Telescope the horse with the tallest of all reputations is back out after getting stuck in the mud behind Noble Mission last times, he looked fit enough in the paddock so overall I was disappointed with his effort. I wouldn't be at all surprised if he was pulled out if there is any more rain.
This race would be price dependent for me to get involved.
Opening proceedings of the second day is a 1m2f handicap, old Wigmore Hall tops the weights with his first handicap start since he won the John Smith's Cup back in 2010, he is only 4lbs higher now so the handicapper has given this old globetrotter a right chance, his last 2 wins were back to back wins in the Grade 1 Northern Dancer at Woodbine basically a Group 3 over here, he has turned up to every big gig since 2010 & if he still retains all his ability he must have a big chance in this, the draw has really not helped though but depending on the price he could well be value.
Sennockian Star bounced back to form to win the City & Suburban at Epsom a couple of weeks ago, he has risen in the weights as a result but he is in form & could easily win again.
Squire Osbaldeston should have won more races than he has so far, a talented individual he has shown a particular liking for the AWT, honestly I think the handicapper has him at present, similar comments apply to old Strictly Silver & Gabrial The Great.
Anaconda is another who saves his best for the AWT & I doubt he would stay this far anyway. That's Plenty won with much more in hand than 6lbs at Musselburgh the other day & looks to have been taken lightly by the handicapper, he was 2nd in The Irish Lincoln before that, Back up in trip from a good draw he should prove hard to peg back on ground he handles.
Marcret won the Huxley Stakes back in 2012, he has since won again at Chester & after a decent first run of the season looks primed for a big effort in this especially with the ground now massively in his favour.
Tres Coronas remains well above his last winning mark but likes Chester & has continued in good form recently, place chances from a decent draw.
Makefeh has not won since his second 2yo start but ran with distinction in some decent races last term, he remains competitively handicapped & judging by his tables recent runners should lack nothing for fitness, another player form a good draw. Croquembouche looks to have work to do upped in grade as does Party Royal who has been out of form for ages now.
Have to be with That's Plenty 8/1 Bet365 who looked ahead of the handicapper at Musselburgh last time out. (2nd)
The 7f 3yo handicap looks hard to call, Muteela has been impressive from the front in both her starts to date but has been given a poor draw, if her good starting can negate that then she would be a real fancy for this but she faces potential competition from Captain Bob who looked an improved horse on the lead last time under an inspired Frankie Dettori. Brian Noble & Erroneous could have been let in lightly & Hot Coffee comes from Tom Dascombes local stable so will be up for this.
Non betting race for me.
Ballymore Castle was well backed before the off of his Newbury debut & it nearly came off as he showed good speed to lead before tiring late on, he will strip fitter on Thursday & has a cracking draw. He should have enough to see of his rivals, he could end up being a fair price as Beacon who was punted off the boards on debut before getting worked up in the stalls & losing his race so he could easily be overbet (although according to the betting show he is available at 11's which considering how short he was on debut looks a surprising price), he has a bad draw on Thursday & is a highly strung animal. The 3 Tom Dascombe runners should all be respected with stable jockey Richard Kingscote preferring Macarthur Park.
Will be all over Ballymore Castle 10/11 (WON 4/5F) for this.
The last 2 races on the card look very tough & would not be the type of races that I like betting in.
@fttfracing
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