UK Racing Tips – Wednesday 10 May 2023

CHESTER

Race 1 – ZIGGY’S DREAM 7/2

ZIGGY’S DREAM can make it two from two in the Caa Stellar Lily Agnes Conditions Stakes after triumphing as favourite on her first start at Doncaster.

However, she’ll face strong competition from BALON D’OR, who was a game winner on his racecourse debut over this trip at Musselburgh last month. JOHN STEED is also worth considering. The son of Inns Of Court made a promising start to his racing career when filling the runner-up spot at Bath earlier this month and he can go one place better with improvement forthcoming.

Race 2 – DANGER ALERT 8/1

DANGER ALERT‘s All-Weather Finals Day run was too bad to be true and he can be given another chance in the Tote £100K Guaranteed Placepot Every Day Handicap.

Winner of two of his eight starts since joining George Boughey, he has also finished second four times and he was certainly not unfancied in the finale of the three-year-old division on the all weather. However, he trailed home last of nine after starting slowly, with his team unable to offer any excuses. That looked a strong race, with runner-up Shouldvebeenaring taking Listed glory at Newmarket last week while third-placed The X O was only beaten a length and a half in the Group Three Commonwealth Cup Trial at Ascot. Back in handicap company, he can bounce back.

Race 3 – SAVETHELASTDANCE 

SAVETHELASTDANCE can book her Epsom ticket with victory in the Weatherbys Digital Solutions Cheshire Oaks on the opening day of Chester’s May Festival. Beaten nearly 10 lengths on her debut in a Thurles maiden towards the end of last year, few would have thought then this daughter of Galileo would be heading the Betfred Oaks market come the spring.

Sent off a 20/1 shot on her seasonal bow at Leopardstown last month, Savethelastdance made a mockery of that price as she comfortably accounted for the Ballydoyle first string Boogie Woogie by two and a quarter lengths.

Admittedly she benefitted from an excellent Wayne Lordan ride, racing prominently and stealing a march, but none of her rivals ever looked like reeling her back in. The form has worked out well too, with Boogie Woogie winning her maiden by upwards of five lengths while the third, Azazat, was a Leopardstown winner on Sunday. Moving up to just shy of 12 furlongs rings no alarm bells and Savethelastdance can take this Listed step in her stride on the way to a Classic date next month.

Race 4 – ARREST 8/13

ARREST is another whose form bears close scrutiny and he should again be too good for ADELAIDE RIVER in the Boodles Chester Vase.

The pair finished second and third behind Dubai Mile in the Group One Criterium de Saint-Cloud last year, with Arrest beaten just a head while Adelaide River was a further six lengths adrift, leaving him plenty to find on the face of it.

The ground was incredibly testing that day, so perhaps too literal an interpretation would be dangerous, but nevertheless Arrest had shown plenty of ability before, chasing home Nostrum at the first attempt before beating Desert Order and Sea Of Roses in his next two starts.

Desert Order has won twice since while Sea Of Roses beat Oaks contender Infinite Cosmos next time and placed in Group Three company on her return this year, giving the John and Thady Gosden-trained runner another nice boost.

Race 5 – COMMANDER STRAKER 8/1

COMMANDER STRAKER is taken to handle the idiosyncrasies of the task ahead and appeals most from stall five. The son of Kodi Bear impressed when making all in a decent novice stakes at Bath on his penultimate start and could well have a lot more to offer now he steps into handicap company after a respectable third-placed finish in the Woodcote at Epsom. Royal Dress and Lakota Blue head the list of dangers.