Chester May Festival Day 3 Preview And Tips

Race 1

The opening race on the final day of the Chester May Festival is a very competitive looking 7.5f handicap. The one I like from a good draw in stall 3 is former course and distance winner Above The Rest. This 7yo son of Excellent Art was beaten out of sight last time in a Listed heat at Leicester but he had excuses as the ground was far too testing for him.

He will be a lot more at home on the nice ground at Chester and he has yet to run a bad race at the track. From four visits he has a win, two places and a fourth and he has never been beaten further than 2.25L at Chester. He remains 4lb above his last winning mark but I think he is capable of producing a big run at a course he loves and at odds of 10/1 he should go well for each way backers.

STEVOS’ SELECTION: ABOVE THE REST E/W @ 10/1 NAP

Race 2

The second race of the day is the 10.5f Group 2 Huxley Stakes and Eminent is a warm order to win on his seasonal reappearance. This talented son of Frankel was mixing it at the highest level last season and he was beaten less than 2L in the Derby when he was hampered near the finish. He won the Craven in decisive style on his return to action last year and his other win came in a Group 2 at Deauville.  

Eminent is the class horse in this race.

Martyn Meade’s son of Frankel is probably at his very best over today’s trip of 10f and if he is even 90% fit he should be capable of winning this. Of the remainder, I think War Decree could be the big danger now dropped in class. He was well beaten in Meydan back in March behind Benbatl but he beat Thunder Snow on his last start at Group 2 level at Goodwood (7f) and he proved he stays this far when winning a Group 3 at Dundalk. O’Brien’s horses are running well and a small reverse forecast with the favourite is advised.


STEVOS’ SELECTION: EMINENT/WAR DECREE REVERSE FORECAST

Race 3

A field of 12 horses will go to post for this 10.5f handicap and the one I like at a nice each way price is Super Kid for Tim Easterby and David Allan. We were mightily unlucky with Dance King for the same connections on Day 2 so hopefully this fella gets the rub of the green this afternoon after his very promising comeback run after a long absence at Ripon last time out.

This 6yo son of Exceed And Excel was formerly trained by Saeed bin Suroor for Godolphin and his sole win for the boys in blue was a 10f all weather handicap at Lingfield off a mark of 90. He ran a superb race after almost 3 years off the track on his first start for Easterby last time over 12f (a trip that stretches him) and the handicapper dropped him 2lb for that run. Off 94 I think he is capable of making his presence felt and with the drop back in trip likely to suit (form figures of 22321 over 10f) he is worth backing each way at 14/1.

STEVOS’ SELECTION: SUPER KID E/W @ 14/1 NB

Race 4

With a maximum field of 17 horses due to go to post the Chester Cup looks as tricky a puzzle to solve as ever this season. Even over a trip of 2 miles and 2.5 furlongs the draw is hugely important and it usually pays to back something that is drawn nearer the inner than the outside. The one I like at a nice price from a decent starting berth in stall 5 is last year’s third Fun Mac.
 

The draw has been kinder to Fun Mac this year.

This son of Shirocco was making his seasonal reappearance in this contest last season and he ran a huge race from a poor draw in stall 13. This year the draw gods have been kinder and he returns for a repeat bid off a pound lower than last season when he was only beaten a length. Oisin Murphy has a fine record when riding for Hughie Morrison (11 wins and 16 top 4 finishes from just 60 rides) and at odds of 14/1 Fun Mac looks overpriced and should be backed each way for small stakes.

STEVOS’ SELECTION: FUN MAC E/W @ 14/1

Race 5

With Sir Maximilian unlikely to take his chance this conditions race will only have 7 runners so for that reason I won’t be having a bet.

Race 6

The one I like in this 12.5f apprentice handicap is Corton Lad for Scottish raider Keith Dalgleish and Rowan Scott. This 8 time turf winner has had a couple of runs to blow away the cobwebs this season and he should be nearing peak fitness now. He was well beaten first time back on the all weather at Newcastle but he shaped as though he was coming back into form when not beaten all that far over 13f at Hamilton last time (gd/sft).

Corton Lad could go well at a price.

His last win came in May of last year at Hamilton off a mark of 87 and he was winning his second race in the space of two days having previously scored at Musselburgh off 81. He is now rated 82 so he is handicapped to go close and the more the ground dries out the better it will be for his chances. His form figures from 3 runs at Chester read 445 and at odds of 16/1 hopefully he can hit the frame on Friday.

STEVOS’ SELECTION: CORTON LAD E/W @ 16/1

Race 7

The final race of the Chester May Festival is the Chester Plate, the consolation race for horses that didn’t make the cut for the Chester Cup. A field of 16 horses will take their chances in this 18.5f contest and just like in the big one, the draw is crucial. Guard Of Honour has been handed an okay draw in stall 8 and given his decent record when fresh he is an interesting contender for George Baker and Trevor Whelan.

Baker has his string in good form at the moment and while he hasn’t had a winner in the past two weeks he has had 4 seconds from his last 8 runners. Guard Of Honour returns to action off a mark of 89 and he showed he can be competitive off that rating when 4th at Newbury (18f gd/fm), beaten just over 3L, on his seasonal return in 2017. He will get the trip and if Baker has him ready to rock after his 282 day absence I think he has the ability to run a big race at odds of 25/1.

STEVOS’ SELECTION: GUARD OF HONOUR E/W @ 25/1