Neil Morrice shares all of his best bets and tips for Wednesday’s racing coming your way from day 1 of the Chester May Meeting as well as the best of the rest from Newton Abbot, Kelso and Kempton Park.
CHESTER
Race 3 Weatherbys Digital Solutions Cheshire Oaks (Listed)
No5 LUCKIN BREW
Trainer: Ralph Beckett – Jockey: Frankie Dettori
Taking stock of his good record in this Oaks trial, Aidan O’Brien’s Savethelastdance needs to be scrutinised as she was a ready winner of a Leopardstown maiden on only her second career start, and could have a lot more to offer. But the Galileo filly will need to be smart if she is to outpoint LUCKIN BREW. The selection tackles new territory in terms of trip, but being out of a mare by Duke Of Marmalade has a good chance of staying, while the best of her juvenile form makes her the one to beat.
Race 4 Boodles Chester Vase (Group 3)
No2 ARREST (Nap)
Trainer: John Gosden – Jockey: Frankie Dettori
Frankel has been responsible for four winners out of our five Classics and his son ARREST looks another for Dettori on his final visit to the Chester May meeting. He went down in a close photo to Dubai Mile in the Gran Criterium de Saint-Cloud on his final 2022 outing, showing that day that give in the ground holds no perils for him. He should make no mistake, and stake a claim for a shot at the Derby.
Race 5 No14 TASEVER (Each Way)
Trainer: Tim Easterby – Jockey: Cam Hardie
From the pick of the draw, TASEVER can outrun his odds in this sprint handicap. Representing a stable that can always be relied upon to produce good three-year-old sprinters, the selection was well-backed when finishing second on his reappearance at Beverley on what was just his fifth career outing. He’s come up against some useful individuals, and should not be underestimated.
Race 6 No11 VAGUELY ROYAL
Trainer: John Gosden – Jockey: Ryan Moore
Moore and Gosden are a formidable combination with the beautifully-bred Galileo colt VAGUELY ROYAL. He needed the experience when picking up a minor cheque on debut at Yarmouth last September, and has done well both physically and mentally through the winter.
NEWTON ABBOT
Race 1 No1 ANGEL’S BREATH (Nap)
Trainer: Sam Thomas – Jockey: Sam Twiston-Davies
ANGEL’S BREATH travelled like a winner for much of the journey when second to Not Available at Chepstow on just a fourth outing over fences. His chasing career was cut short by injury after his Ascot triumph at Christmas four years ago, but after being pulled up on his belated return to the track at Kempton the grey was much more assured last time. If he can get into a rhythm with his jumping round this tight track he should prove hard to catch.
Race 4 No3 EROS
Trainer: KayleyWoollacott – Jockey: Ben Godfrey
EROS can deservedly end a long wait for a first-chase success with the help of first-time cheek pieces. He regularly threatens to deliver but has a minor chink in his armour that hampers him in a tight finish. Although disappointing when given plenty to do at Exeter last time, the nine-year-old can now put the record straight.
Race 7 No6 BORN TO PLEASE (Each Way)
Trainer: Mark Usher – Jockey: Harriet Tucker
Consistency in the watchword of BORN TO PLEASE, whose only win over jumps happened three and a half years ago. The nine-year-old has nevertheless paid her way with a whole bunch of earning efforts and will,act around this tight circuit after finishing second in four of her last six outings.
KELSO
Race 6 No4 BOLLINGERADKRUG (Nap)
Trainer: Lucinda Russell – Jockey: Patrick Wadge
Russell is the trainer to follow on a largely trappy card at the border course. Her BOOLLINGERANDKRUG has raced here in each of his last six starts, four over hurdles and two in chases. He was rewarded with a clear cut win in a handicap chase in March and ran into Duty Calls on a going day when odds-on to follow-up last time. The selection should have a lot more to offer.
Race 8 No3 INDIAN LOUIS
Trainer: Lucinda Russell – Jockey: Patrick Wadge
INDIAN LOUIS takes two point-to-point successes in Ireland to the table for the concluding bumper and appeals as the go-to horse for an outfit that’s been in hot form through the final weeks of the jumps season.
KEMPTON PARK
Race 5 No2 HICKORY (Nap)
Trainer: James Fanshawe – Jockey: Daniel Muscutt
HICKORY underwhelmed at Southwell when taking time to warm to the task. That ending of his unbeaten record is there to be bettered as he returns to the scene of two of his three previous successes. The Free Eagle gelding is freshened-up for this and he’ll be hard to beat.
Race 7 No8 ICONIC MOVER (Each Way)
Trainer: Pat Phelan – Jockey: Aidan Keeley
It could be a mistake to ignore ICONIC MOVER competing off-bottom weight in the finale. The Sixties Icon gelding has been running with credit on the Flat and over jumps, and after troubling the judge on a first run for seven months is now ready.
