The best free stand in the country
If you like brilliantly set out venues, happy buzz without raucous behaviour and the idiosyncratic nature of this chariot racing venue then being at Chester is for you. I have been coming here more often than not for the past twelve years and love the place. Ever since watching the great Shergar blast around here leaving my 8/1 slip after the Guardian Class Trial looking tasty I have thought of Chester as a good proving ground for the coming Epsom classics. Whilst it is not as undulating it is constantly on the turn which means at both tracks a well balanced horse is absolutely key for success.
View of the main stand at Chester
First race was a decent Lily Agnus conditions race for two year olds over just in excess of five furlongs. It went to the favourite Lily's Angel who was produced with a well time run inside the final furlong by champion Paul Hanigan to win by a very cosy length and a half. Has now run up a three timer, is bred to stay at least 6f at this age (will stay at least a mile in time and is related to Group 3 winner) and being a late March foal she is not winning entirely due to maturity. May step up now to group class and if against fillies she could do it. However as a note of caution is the fact that the second home was early foal Marford Missile (who is very likely to need further) showed an apparent seven length improvement for a pound gain on his third to Lilys Angel at Newcastle(second in the Newcastle event was Stonefield Flyer who has since won by an easy six lengths). Third was the pacy filly Redair who showed improved form in relation to the disappointing Hes So Cool but was comprehensively beaten. She may prefer a straight sharp 5 furlongs at the moment. Fourth was Choice Of Remark still a maiden and although promising is probably the antithesis of the sprinter to midlle distance mare conundrum. In greyhound breeding we used to think putting such a coupling was less likely to produce a fast dog that stays than a slow one that lacks stamina. I think this colt is more the latter than the former. Fifth was the aforementioned and easily oldest of the buunch Hes So Cool who had easily beaten third home today Redair in his previous run. Needs to dictate and there was a lot of pace up front which could have been part of is downfall. Better than this. Van Go Go can here after a couple of modest wins (including a good win against a bunch of largely green debutantes when I can her at Redcar recently) and ran a similar race to Hes So Cool prefering to make most.
The Cheshire Oaks is a lister race for 3yo fillies over 1m3 was won in highly impressive style by the supurbly bred Wonder of Wonders. The race was a real test for this scopey filly who still looks a bit green not because it was a particularly high class events but because the stop - start pace and the sudden sprint engineered by Hills from 2 out appeared to be geared up to unsettle the O'Brien's filly. However once she got her ehad down she showed an impressice turn of foot to destroy the race in strides. Some may pick holes in this and say the track didn't suit her. But to my eye the filly handled the bends well enough and it was the pace of the race which led to her being scrubbed along. I think that a well run Oaks with a pillar to post pace will show her to best advantage and I saw nothing to disuade me from backing her in the Epsom Oaks and certainly the current hot favourite Blue Bunting represents poor value and hence a negative as I think she is very flattered by the 1,000 guineas win. Should O'Brien think that he has one better than her for the 1m4 classics then theymust be good. As I the ride Michael Hills gave Blaisse Chorus was exceptional The filly looks a typical Epsom filly being nicely made and is clarly well balanced. She remains a maiden and that should be corrected. However after this effort taking into account that she was well clear of the rest together with the class of the winner may encourage a pop at say the Lingfield Oaks trial. If she does go for that one and my view on the winner is correct then you have to say Blaisse Chorus could well win there.
Eddie Ahern really earnt his fee on Overturn in the Chester Cup ( a 2m2 handicap). He was punching like drunk on speed in a Liverpool kebab shop for at least the last mile. Somehow he got this decent hurdler to outstay some of the top flat staying handicappers for yet another major win for local lad Donald McCain. He nicked this and fiar play to all of them. Second home 9again) was the gallant top weight Tastahil who has won group three so may well have a cup season. He is now caught between stools as he will carry top weight in handicaps but is barely group class. I would say a frustrating season lies ahead for this seven year old. The third home was bottom weight Mystery Star in amongst a whole mob of hold up horses making late ground. He is always going to struggle here as in general the tight turns make coming very late a tricky job. On balance this was a good effort and shows he is on a fair mark. I would prefer him in handicaps on fairer tracks like York, appears to stay 2m but may be best at just short of that. May be an Ebor horse. The mob included improving four year old irish entry Mount Athos (looks a two miler and probably could have been raced closer to the pace), Admiral Barry (failed hurdler and may be better suited by some cut), old stager Blue Bajan (one paced but does stay trip) anduseful four year old Icon Dream (some good listed form over 1m4 and was not raced as if sure to get 2m2, said to have temperament issues but seemed ok today, can win off this 99 mark)
Some bloke in a tie gets in the way of a photo of Overturn
David BAiley would be proud of this homage to bald heads and the aris end of Overturn
The stellar Handicap over five furlongs was won by strong finishing Doctor Parkes who ran on from the furlong pole to win by a convincing length. I had seen him win well at Redcar and had marked him down as a positive so this 10/1 winner for The Blog was very welcome news. He is effective over 6 furlongs and five. Not sure if he can get the treble but a 10/1 winner is probably time to stop backing. Can stand about another three pounds on this effort. Second was Captain Dunne, likes to make most, best over 5 furlongs, has run well at Chester but is one to watch for on the Southwell fibresand. Masamah was horrendously drawn but again showed how well suited he is to the tricky Chester track. Unlucky runner was Confessional in so far as the bad draw almost forced being dropped out and made some good ground without being thrashed about (best run to date was when making all to win at Haydock)
The 3 year old maiden over 1m2 was won in very convincing style by Colombian. The favourite was hampered quite a bit when begining to make his effort 2 out and the fact that he went on to win well today indicated that he just might be useful. This is the second time he has got into bother and you begin to think that just perhaps he finds trouble. Could step up on this so listed might be where he goes next. The runner up Tanfeeth was outpaced by the winner but the pair were well celar and there must be a race in him over 1m2. Of the remainder the fourth home Planetoid caught the eye as although thrashed ran with much promise should be better over 1m4 and after running very green first time this second run showed plenty of progress. The third was the Henry cecil trained Cahnged The Subject appeared not to stay the 1m2 (pedigree suggests 1m as optimal).
The final race was a grade 3 handicap for 3yo over 1m4. It developed into a thrilling three way battle with the winner Brown Panther being bought with a brilliantly timed run by the talented Richard Kingscote to win by a neck right on the line. Watch this one over hurdles as I am sure with his conformation and pedigree could be useful in that sphere. Not sure if Michael Owen the owner breeder is going to follow up his Derby entry but it will be interesting to see where he is placed next and what mark he has. Would not be surprised if he is put into listed company next although I feel he is unlikley to be that good. Second home Fadhaa looked all over the winner from three out but was caught on the line. Is bred to be best suited by 1m4. The third was a staying type from Mark Johnson Colour Vision whose front running effort was thwated by two well weighted unexposed sorts. Colour Vision is by Rainbow Quest whose prodigee are normally suited by cut but he is clearly best on top of the ground over 1m2.
How did they do next three runs to a £10 stakevEW 10/1 or greater
Wonders Of Worders down £40
2 3 3 0
Close to being the top 3yo filly of her generation but not quite with a second in the derby the highlight
Mystery Star down £30
0 0 0
Often close up in major staying handicaps but is now besy left well alone
Confessional down £20
0 2(10/1)
The race I had him down as a good thing for the epsom dash he was second at 10/1. I then dropped him. Subsequently he ran great races in such as Ponrtland at Doncaster and Stewards at Goodwood. One of the best sprint handicappers of the season
Planetoid up £15
5 (25/1) 1 evens 1 6/4
Up 10pounds for running up a doouble after a good fifth at 25/1 subsequent run to this analysis