Racing is live from the Roodee this week, as ITV broadcast action every from Wednesday through to Friday from Chester. GG tipster Joe Napier gives his selection from four races screened live on day one.
1.30 Chester – Caa Stellar Lily Agnes EBF Conditions Stakes
Although Miss Piggle won impressively on her debut for Hugo Palmer, the form pick is ALI SHUFFLE, who is the only runner in the field to have won twice going into this contest.
Karl Burke’s filly is a daughter of multiple Group race winner A’Ali, a talented juvenile in 2019. She has shown precocious speed reminiscent of her sire already, winning easily at Redcar on her debut, before following up under a penalty at Beverley. Runner-up Argentine Tango won on her next start and opposes, but the selection races her on 9lb better terms.
Ali Shuffle is also drawn in stall 1 and has broken well in her two races so far. As a result, this should be perfect for her, with Chester massively favouring inside draws given its twisting nature, evidenced further by two of the last four winners coming from the inside berth.
2.05 Chester – Ladbrokes Best Odds Guaranteed On Racing Handicap
No winner has come from wider than stall 8 in the last decade in this handicap, but the two placed horses in 2023 were drawn in 11 and 12, so it is possible for the right horse to outrun their chances from a wide berth. Therefore, as one of only two course and distance winners in the field, FUJI MOUNTAIN could run a big race.
Declan Carroll’s charge is two from two on the Roodee, with those being his only career successes to date. He was well drawn for both of those victories, but did not have it all his own way when having to navigate traffic for the second of those in September. He idled when in front, but looked to revel in racing on this unusual track.
3lb higher today, the ground will not be as soft as it was for his two wins, but he has run well on good ground in the past. Stall 10 will take some overcoming, but if he can get out swiftly enough, he is not without a chance of causing an upset, especially with a recent run under his belt to get him fit.
2.35 Chester – Weatherbys ePassport Cheshire Oaks (Listed)
Aidan O’Brien has won five of the last nine renewals of the Cheshire Oaks, automatically making Minnie Hauk the initial go-to for this year’s running. An immensely expensive yearling, she is well-related and should step forward on her already promising two-year-old form, albeit she will have to do so considerably.
O’Brien was pipped last year by Ralph Beckett, and may well be again as THAT’S AMORE looked very exciting when winning on debut at Newbury. That was on heavy ground, but he six-length success was facile and came with significant market backing.
As a full sister to Persica, now a Group 3 winner in his own right, the selection should have no issues coping with quicker ground and should get the trip at this venue. Though Minnie Hauk will prove a tough nut to crack, it looks worth backing that Beckett will win it for the home side once again.
3.05 Chester – Boodles Chester Vase (Group 3)
Once again Beckett provides stern opposition for this Classic trial up against Ballydoyle’s behemoth. Square D’Alboni and Pinhole are respected, but there was lots to like about the comeback of LAMBOURN and O’Brien is expected to land this prize for the first time in three seasons.
He has trained the runner-up for the last two years, with his charges bumping into some highly promising winners in the conditions they faced. It looks unlikely that there’ll be a rival of that repute this season and Lambourn looked an improved model at three compared to his two-year-old form when chasing home stablemate Delacroix in Leopardstown’s Ballysax Stakes.
He was staying on likeably that day over 1m2f so should prefer this step up in distance. He gets the vote of Ryan Moore over stablemate Thrice here and that could be the difference given Moore has ridden seven of O’Brien’s ten winners of the race.
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