Chester’s Boodles May Festival concludes on Friday with the Chester Cup Handicap at 2.45pm the feature race.
Watch all the action from Chester (1.45-4.50; seven races) via live streaming when logged into MansionBet, along with every race from the UK and Ireland.
Racing Post tipster Graeme Rodway previews the action at Chester exclusively for MansionBet.
1.45 Chester – tote+ Placepots Pay More Earl Grosvenor Handicap
This is a wide-open race. Dulas has the best recent piece of form courtesy of his second at Haydock last month but that came on good to firm ground and these conditions will be more testing. Maybe it will pay to concentrate on track form and Revich won twice over course and distance last season on good to soft ground.
He gets the vote ahead of Gobi Sunset and Gabrial The Devil, who is another that has a decent record around these tight turns.
Selection: Revich @ 3/1
2.15 Chester – Melodi Media Huxley Stakes
This looks a match between last year’s Hampton Court winner Sangarius and the Cox Plate runner-up Armory. It was soft ground when Armory chased home Sir Dragonet at Moonee Valley in Australia, but it was also on the easy side for Sangarius’ Royal Ascot victory.
It’s a tough call but slight preference is for Armory, who brings Group 1 form to the table and might have a class edge, provided he is fully wound up for his first run of the new season.
Selection: Armory @ 5/4
2.45 Chester – tote+ Chester Cup Handicap
Not So Sleepy is an interesting runner back on the Flat after a productive winter over hurdles. He won the Betfair Trophy at Ascot over Christmas and went on to finish only 13 lengths behind Honeysuckle in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham. A front-runner who handles testing ground, Not So Sleepy looks sure to make a bold bid and rates the most likely winner.
Looking at those at bigger prices, last year’s Royal Ascot winner Coeur De Lion could go well, while Rochester House has some solid form and isn’t out of it, despite a wide draw.
Selection: Not So Sleepy @ 6/1
3.15 Chester – Boodles Conditions Stakes
El Astronaute is a quick horse and 5f on soft ground should be ideal for him around Chester. He might be eight years old but he still retains plenty of pace and was placed in Group 1 company at his best. He should justify favouritism.
King’s Lynn looks the main danger.
Selection: El Astronaute @ 6/5
3.45 Chester – Retraining Of Racehorses Handicap
This looks a tough handicap in which several have a chance. Alternative Fact had some good form in competitive mile handicaps on testing ground last season but he stays this longer trip and might even improve for the distance.
This track promises to suit and he is well drawn in stall four with Ryan Moore on board. Alternative Fact gets the vote ahead of Data Protection.
Selection: Alternative Fact @ 4/1
4.20 Chester – tote+ Chester Plate Handicap
This looks a strong consolation for the Chester Cup and some of these might have held a chance in the big one had they got in.
One such runner is Postileo, who was beaten just a neck by Sleeping Lion in the Queen’s Prize at Kempton last time and pulled a long way clear of the rest. His trainer Roger Varian has a superb record in staying races in recent seasons and Postileo looks one of the better bets on the card. He shouldn’t have a problem back on turf.
Selection: Postileo @ SP
4.50 Chester – Racing Welfare Supporting Racing’s Workforce Apprentice Handicap
Two horses caught my eye in this closing event. Heart Of Soul, who is a regular visitor to Chester and has some solid form at the track, and Elham Valley.
Preference is for the race-fit Elham Valley, who has been in good form over hurdles recently and finished a good third behind subsequent Grade 1 winner Jeff Kidder at Cheltenham. His sharpness could tell.
Selection: Elham Valley @ SP
*All odds correct at time of writing