Chester The Pick Of 8 UK/Irish Meetings, On Friday
It’s Day 3 of the Chester May Festival, with 7 races on the card. The Earl Grosvenor Handicap is the opening encounter and this looks like an opportunity for Gabrial’s Kaka. Richard Fahey’s horse has won here before and benefits from a kind draw. He kept on very impressively, when winning at Chelmsford and must be a contender. Perfect Pasture looks a decent each-way bet, with Nathan Evans in the saddle.
Linguistic To Land The Dee?
Aidan O’Brien has a couple of runners in today’s Listed Dee Stakes (2.40). Housesofparliament may be the 2nd-string but has the best draw and could well be the first O’Brien horse to get home. Linguistic is taken to finish ahead of both, however. John Gosden’s charge won the 200,000 Tattersalls Millions 3-Y-O Trophy at Newmarket and has been marked out by Gosden as one to follow. Sir Michael Stoute’s Platitude looked like he needed the Winter break, more than most, when 5th of 6 at Chelmsford in September.
By Royal Appointment, Dartmouth Can Deliver
There will be a huge cheer if Ryan Moore, decked in the Queen’s colours, lands the G3 Diamond Ormonde Stakes at 3.10 with Dartmouth. The Dubawi colt looks to have every chance, as well, following victory in the G3 John Porter Stakes. Cymro looks the biggest threat, following a relatively comfortable win at Thirsk last month. The German Runner, Oriental Fox, only lost the Cesarewitch by a short-head although it remains to be seen if Mark Johnston’s horse is fully race-ready.
More Great Races, At Chester
As for the remainder of the Chester card, El Astronaute is taken to get the better of Tom Dascombe’s Kachy in the 3.45. The 4.20 is a wide-open handicap, in which Khelman looks well treated following a long break. Tom Dascombe’s Golden Glimmer should benefit from her outing at Haydock and can win for Tom Dascombe in the 4.50. A ride aboard Graceland gives talented young jockey, Louis Steward, another chance to impress in the final race (5.20).
The Rest Of The UK Action
With an entry is the King’s Stand Stakes, it’s hardly surprising that Encore D’or will be going into the 3.00 at Lingfield as a strongly-supported favourite. Robert Cowell’s inmate should have too much in his locker for both Sandfrankskipsgo and Duke Of Firenze. Bertie Blu Boy finished 2nd, in his last 3 races (all at Lingfield), but he moves back up in grade.
Benenden has pulled-up in 3 of his last 6 races, however the Moscow Society gelding can still go close in the 4.30 at Market Rasen with cheek-pieces now applied. Cloudy Bob and Double Silver both command respect, although Cody Wyoming’s 20-length victory at Newton Abbot came in a weak race.
Hannon’s Triple Threat To Appleby
We have 3 evening meetings to look forward to, at Nottingham, Ripon and Ascot. Richard Hannon has 3 runners in the 7.40, which is a rich 7f handicap. Atlantic Sun and Madrinho support Tabarrak, who looks the most-likely challenger to Charlie Appleby’s Comicas.
2 Irish Meetings,, This Evening
In what is a very busy Friday, 2 meetings are being held in Ireland. B Cosmos has a good chance of losing his maiden tag in the 7.05, while Gillian Callaghan’s Redclue won last time out at Navan and can justify favourite status in the 7.35 at Downpatrick.
Black-Type Races, In France & South Africa
There’s Listed action at Chantilly (France), with Christophe Soumillon given steering duties on Sayana in the Prix Maurice Zilber.
There are a trio of G2 races at Greyville (South Africa) where the Canon Guineas looks very open. Black Arthur, Rabada and Baritone head the market. Fairview’s big race is the Listed Glenlair Trophy, where Richard Fourie has the ride on Oh So Modus.
