Racing gets underway from Chester on Wednesday. Matty Sutcliffe looks to land some riches on the Roodee with his best bets for the opening day of their May meeting.
1:30 Chester – Caa Stellar Lily Agnes EBF Conditions Stakes (GBB Race) (Class 2) (2yo) – Ardisia 10/1 1pt EW 3 places
Ali Shuffle, Argentine Tango, Social Exclusion all made all to win last time out to suggest this race will be run at a good early clip, and while Ali Shuffle could be tough to peg back from stall one if getting the jump over the other pair drawn wider, should they take each other on from the start then it’s likely to favour one of those off the pace.
ARDISIA makes the most appeal at the prices, as the son of Ardad has already proven his ability to come from off the pace and in between horses, which is a likely scenario here from stall six. Hugo Palmer’s charge took a four runner Musselburgh Novice on debut earlier last month when doing very little right throughout. He broke slowly under Jason Hart and had to suffer for room, but once the gaps opened he showed a smart attitude to break through and win going away, giving 5lbs to the runner up who bettered her RPR when second again next time out.
He failed to justify 6/5F favouritism when behind Awraad at Pontefract, but he shaped much better than the bare result suggested. He again reared broke slowly from stall one with the eventual winner gaining an immediate five lengths, and he had to make a big mid race move to gain a prominent position wide on the course. It was unsurprising to see him clock the quickest top speed (40.126mph) in the race, and I’d expect him to both uphold the form with Tamather in fourth, and reverse it with the winner Awraad who both re-oppose here.
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2:05 Chester – Ladbrokes Best Odds Guaranteed On Racing Handicap (Class 3) (3yo 0-88) – Fuji Mountain 16/1 0.5pt EW 4 places
Declan Carroll has been profitable to follow in Chester handicaps over the last five seasons with his record reading 49-8-19 (£21.08+), and his mount FUJI MOUNTAIN looks overpriced in here given he’s one of just two C&D winners in the field with both of his two year old victories coming here, both under Zak Wheatley.
I thought his comeback run at Thirsk was a touch better than the bare result, as it appeared to favour those toward the near side rail as opposed to where Fuji Mountain was up the middle. He’s been dropped a pound for that effort and should he strip fitter this time around, then provided he breaks sharply from stall ten he can show up well.
3:40 Chester – Love Federal Capital Handicap (Class 3) (3yo 0-90) – Cressida Wildes 33/1 0.5pt EW places
CRESSIDA WILDES was turned out a day later to win at Chelmsford in January having been beaten 3/4L at Kempton in a race where four of the top six home have won since, so this five day turnaround from her Newmarket third from a 63 day break shouldn’t dissuade us of her chances.
Her form figures over six furlongs on turf read 4324, including a two length second here in a Fillies Conditions Stakes behind the 923 rated It Aint Two, who later franked that form with a win in listed company now rated 96.
She hasn’t regressed as much as the handicapper would suggest given she’s rated 12lbs lower than that effort, and I thought her third at Newmarket last time in a 0-88 out was a fair one given she set the race up for the closers and faded only late on, suggesting a drop back to a sharper six furlongs would suit.
It’s interesting that they come here when they have her entered in a much easier 0-80 fillies handicap at Nottingham on Saturday, and on the balance of her two year form, she’s entitled to show up strongly here off a featherweight.
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