There is the prospect of thunderstorms in the north west
ahead of today's first card of the season at Chester. The feature race on the eight-race
card is the listed Queensferry Stakes over 6f. Judicial (6.30) finished
runner up in this corresponding race three years ago but that is his only
defeat in three starts on the Roodeye and he is taken to give weight away all
round from a good draw in stall two.
Trainer Julie Camacho had a winner at Haydock on Saturday
and her veteran eight-year-old looked as good as ever when landing the
Chipchase Stakes at Newcastle on his penultimate start. The eight-year-old was
slightly below that form at Newbury last time, but his high cruising speed is
an asset around these tight turns, and he is taken to improve his excellent
course record although do note that he is unproven on soft ground.
In the extended 7f handicap True Blue Moon (5.30)
looked ready for a step up in trip when a good fourth over 7f at York last
month from a 1lb higher mark. The selection is well treated on his best form,
the Tim Easterby yard are in good form and his draw in stall five looks ideal.
Dr Marwan Koukash loves to have winners at his home track
and three of the five runners in the finale will run in his silks but
preference is for Andrew Balding's Edinburgh Castle (8.00). The
selection's third to Look Closely at Ascot last time was given a boost when the
winner followed up from an 8lb higher mark at the weekend. Any further
significant rain would be a positive for the selection.
The opening 3m handicap chase at Southwell is likely to e
run at a fair lick given Alexander The Grey is in the field. He would have been
the selection on a right-handed track, but I will wait until he drops a couple
more pounds at Ludlow or Huntingdon before supporting him.
Robyndzone (1.15) looked well ahead of the
handicapper when scoring at Bangor-on-Dee on his reappearance and a 10lbs rise
is fair. Fergal O'Brien's six-year-old has now won his last couple and he faces
largely exposed rivals this afternoon.
I hope it is a good day for the excellent inform O'Brien as
he looks to have found an ideal opportunity for his Cool Destination
(4.15) to shed his maiden tag in the novice hurdle over three miles. The
selection is a point winner in his native Ireland and finished runner up in a
couple of novice hurdles last term. The penalised mare Liffeydale Dreamer and
winning chaser Fort Gabriel are the dangers, but I hope to see Cool Destination
takes this before switching to the larger obstacles.
In the finale I hope to see No Regrets (5.20) jump
with more fluency than was the case at Perth last month when he would have
finished runner up but for being hampered up the run in. His hurdling had
lacked fluency but if Nicky Richards has worked on his jumping then he looks
capable of defying his current mark granted good ground.
At Leicester Sorrel (4.00) looks ready for a step up
to 12f for the first time. Sir Michael Stoute's filly is out of a winner at
this trip and, after just four career starts, she is open to significant
improvement. The selection was only just touched off on good to soft ground
last time and her breeding suggests today's forecast fast ground will suit.
