The Chester Cup looks as tough as ever this year and I'm going to have a couple darts at the board in the hope I can find the target. My main fancy is progressive stayer, COLTRANE, who could be primed to run a huge race. He looks unexposed over these sort of trips and his trainer is not averse to success on the Roodee. He could be ahead of the handicapper.
Last year's second, THE GRAND VISIR looks too big at 20/1. He carried a big weight last year although he did have a better draw but I'm not too concerned with the draw as we know he will definitely stay and has probably been primed for this race. He's group class on his day and he could be one that sneaks under the radar.
It looks as if William Buick has gone to ride KHATHAK at Ascot today and I can potentially see why. A brother to the classy RIbchester he should really ought to be better than a mark of 84 but his shrewd trainer has kept him in relatively shallow water so far so the handicapper has no choice but to award a low opening mark. I'm guessing connections have a race like the Brittania in mind after this so I'm expecting him to improve for the switch to turf.
Chester 3.15 – Coltrane / The Grand Visir
Ascot 5.40 – Khathak
Saturday
The Victoria Cup is the highlight at Ascot tomorrow and I normally pride myself on such races but I have to admit this year's race is tough. I don't think you will go far wrong with CHIEFOFCHIEFS who loves this track and his rider Hayley Turner rides it so well so the pair look like a match made in heaven. He may prefer it slightly softer but he has form on good and the 12/1 on offer with several firms looks good value.
I was taken by ALREHB last time out at Haydock as he saw the front a mile too soon but still stuck on gamely to just get chinned on the line. This bigger field should suit him better and I expect him to improve for his first run on turf and potentially go one place better here.
Over at Lingfield I'm not sure how the highest rated horse in the 3.50 is 6/1 despiting receiving lumps of weight off her older rivals. SYMPHONY PERFECT is the horse in question, trained by Richard Hannon who has such a good record with similar types opened up at 6/1 yesterday and that looks a little bit too good to be true. Jamie Spencer should suit the horse as he rides the turf track at Lingfield well and I expect her to be a lot better than her Chelmsford form last time out suggests.
Ascot 4.05 – Chiefofchiefs / Alrehb
Lingfield 3.50 – Symphony Perfect
