Thursday 10th May -

Not the best start to the Chester meeting, not a single winner yesterday, It's a shame, perhaps I should do every race again! However yesterday my alerts threw up 3 winners, 1 at 22/1! So I'm going to list my alerts at the bottom and add statistics for them on the side, they are just ones that have caught my eye or had a form boost over time, 4 unplaced runs between wins removes them from the list, any that have had a formboost since previous run and already in alerts receives a star, so that's how we'll go on.
I think many punters will have been left very annoyed by the late decision to use a flag start on yesterdays feature event. Most people, like myself, will surely have used the draw as a big starting point and that was essentially thrown out of the window. I guess these things happen, and safety of all involved is the paramount concern, so if Chester Racecourses feel they made the right decision for everyone involved then so be it.
Just heard Goodwood is off, so that means only Chester this afternoon, and just Yarmouth and Wincanton tonight, who incidently both inspect later this morning! This weather is crazy at the moment.

CHESTER

135 M&S MONEY HANDICAP

A significant class drop for Andrew Balding's OPERA GAL, she acts on soft and hopefully will go well back in handicap company. Drawn low which is ideal here.

205 BETFAIR HUXLEY STAKES - Group 3

Group race maiden HUNTERS LIGHT gets weight from Questioning here and I think that will give him the edge, Saeed Bin Suroor is knocking in a semi-decent strike rate at the moment, 16% in last 2 weeks, (only 6% from start of season) so it appears that currently is a moment to catch him right. The selection should handle trip and ground fine, he is drawn wider than ideal but the field isn't huge, the only issue is his Group race hoodoo, 0-3, he has won 4/5 starts in lower company.

235 MBNA CHESTER VASE - Group 3

John Oxx sends over CALL TO BATTLE, he has done all his best work late on suggesting that he wants a trip, was a never nearer second last time out to the very impressive Light Heavy, and comfortably dealt with todays rival David Livingston, Dubai listed scorer Mickdaam also looked like he would relish a step up in trip when chasing down Rougemont in the Tattersalls Millions Trophy at Newmarket last month. The bottom two aren't without hope either, both are seriously unexposed, Minimise Risk won pretty gamely last time out, although form of that race yet to work out, Model Pupil landed a decent maiden at Newmarket and that race has seen a couple of winners, especially the ultra impressive Suraj who destroyed his next opposition.

305 BOODLES DIAMOND ETERNITY HANDICAP

GABRIAL is the favourite here and looks to have a chance, 2 very good spins as a 2 year old were followed by quite simply being outclassed at Royal Ascot, shaped very much as if he needed the run last time out, and hopefully he'll provide the good Doctor with his customary winner today.

340 EQUESTRIANARTUK.COM E.B.F MAIDEN STAKES

Of the few with a run, the only one that makes any appeal is Lucky Beggar, he had absolutely no chance on debut against the hugely impressive Baileys Jubilee. I'm having an outside bet of STRASBOURG PLACE, she is a well bred filly and could go well, yard don't generally fire them out first time, but there is always the exception to prove the rule, right?

415 INVESTEC STRUCTURED PROJECTS HANDICAP

I like the unexposed Dascombe gelding MARFORD MISSILE, James Doyle gets the ride and he is a young man who is going places very quickly, all 4 runs to date have worked out pretty well with winners firing in across the board, a decent second at this meeting last year to the very good Lily's Angel. He also landed his maiden win on ground softer than good so should be a big player here.

445 CHESHIRE OAKS HANDICAP

I'm taking a shot at the Hills' second string here, EARLY APPLAUSE, there is something to like about his form and he will handle the ground fine, he will be fit for this have had a couple of NH spins over the winter, he finished last season with a decent spin over the trip at Windsor, under todays pilot. Winners and Places have come both from in front and behind of him on that occasion.

WINCANTON

705 32 RED CASINO HANDICAP CHASE

It's no surprise or coincidence that when the mud starts flying Venetia Williams strike rate soars, every year the same thing happens, so much so that her first choice jockey, Aidan Coleman, currently leads the NH jockeys championship! They team up with MARESCOU here who on your tabloid racecards will make little to no appeal, he won a decent event in France, both runs since transferring to this country were on much better ground whereas he had been racing on far softer muck in France, if the going suits, as I think it will, then this one could land us some £££.

YARMOUTH

520 blah blah blah MAIDEN FILLIES STAKES

Not a lot has worked out from GREAT HEAVEN'S maiden, but with that experience under her belt and of course her breeding, she is a full sister to Nathaniel, she is the one to beat here, the Stoute newcomer Monshak looks the biggest threat.

Good Luck and Happy Punting.

MULTIPLE


CALL TO BATTLE NAP
MARFORD MISSILE 


E/W DOUBLE

ALERTS

QUESTIONING 205 CHE
MINIMISE RISK 235 CHE
GABRIAL 305 CHE
REDAIR 415 CHE
KING HIGH 540 CLO
DOUBLE DOUBLE 540 CLO
KILLIMORE COTTAGE 635 WIN
SCALES 645 KEL
HAYZOOM 710 CLO
SAMMY SPIDERMAN 745 KEL
BRING SWEETS 815 KEL
BRADDOCK ISLAND 815 KEL