13:45 - Only three places up for grabs in this now, not that that changes the approach needed for the placepot. Amethyst Dawn will hopefully have derived some benefit from her reappearance at Ripon because she's the obvious low-drawn speed in this and might take some pegging back if she can get into a rhythm. It's best to find something that's going to be settled behind the pace to pick up the pieces in the not unforeseeable event that they go too quick and My Kingdom, who is having his first start for David Nicholls, fits that billing.
14:20 - Glen's Diamond didn't really handle Musselburgh last time even though he hacked up, so there's a slight doubt about him around Chester, but he's definitely a pattern horse and is well capable of ruffling the feathers of his Southern-trained rivals.
14:55 - Will St Nicholas Abbey ever confirm the impression he created in the 2009 Racing Post Trophy? Maybe, but it's not worth finding out in the placepot, especially when you've got an ideal banker in rock-solid front runner Harris Tweed. He'll take plenty of pegging back under conditions that we know suit him.
15:30 - Bold Bidder isn't necessarily the best handicapped of these, but she's probably the quickest out of the gate and might get the rail even with the speedy Face The Problem inside her. The other one worth including is Ahtoug, who was unfortunate to run into a Group horse at Sandown on his reappearance.
16:05 - Cala Santanyi and Cheherazad have the best form, but they're both drawn in the car park, so instead it's worth plumping for Elmaam (has the best draw and her Coronation Stakes entry catches the eye) and Heatherbird (form is already up there with the best on offer and shaped as if likely to be better for her reappearance).
16:40 - Imperial Djay is clear on Timeform ratings after his romp at Thirsk, so he's probably worth including despite a rubbish draw. Invincible Force is well handicapped now and he's done a lot of his best work around Chester, so he goes in as the second selection from a more favourable berth in five.
Selections: 16 lines
13:45 - 8, 13
14:20 - 1
14:55 - 3
15:30 - 5, 7
16:05 - 7, 8
16:40 - 2, 9
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