Friday’s ITV Racing Tips: Six of the Best on Chester Cup Day

The Chester May Festival concludes with Chester Cup Day, which features the most valuable race on the Chester calendar, the Chester Cup, worth £125,000 in guaranteed prize money.

A decent supporting card, including the Group 2 Huxley Stakes, make for another intriguing six-race programme from ITV Racing.

 

Chester

 

1:45 tote+ Placepots Pay More Earl Grosvenor Handicap

Revich has form figures of 15311 on the Roodeye and, although 5lb higher in the weights than when winning over course and distance last August, has run well in defeat, off today’s mark, on both starts this season. Dropping back down in distance on his favourite course – and perfectly drawn to attack, in stall one – he looks a decent bet to add to his winning tally.

Selection: Revich (11/4 with Bet365)

 

2:15 Melodi Media Huxley Stakes

Officially, Armory has 6lb and upwards in hand of his rivals and, while he hasn’t been seen in public since October, his Group 1 form at the end of last season is hard to ignore. He belied odds of 66/1 when not beaten far by Magical and Ghaiyyath in the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown, finishing just ahead of subsequent Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner Sotsass, and followed that effort with a creditable second to former stablemate Sir Dragonet in the Cox Plate at Moonee Valley. Why he’s not favourite for this is anyone’s guess.

Selection: Armory (6/5 with Paddy Power)

 

2:45 tote+ Chester Cup Handicap

Interestingly, Richard Kingscote has chosen The Grand Visir in preference to better-fancied stable companion Cardano, on whom he has won twice in recent months, and the hint may be worth taking. Ian Williams’ 7-year-old hasn’t won for a while, but ran well in the Queen Alexandra Stakes at Royal Ascot on his reappearance last season and subsequently finished a close fourth in a well-contested handicap at Goodwood off a handicap mark 1lb higher than today’s. He could go well at a decent price.

Selection: The Grand Visir (14/1 with Betfred)

 

3:15 Boodles Conditions Stakes

El Astronaute is favoured by race conditions, but threw in the odd ‘stinker’ last season and may not be one to trust implicitly these days. Andrew Balding’s lightly-raced 4-year-old King’s Lynn finished down the field, when favourite, in the Ayr Silver Cup last season, but has otherwise proved admirably consistent. The form of his reappearance third to Came From The Dark at Newbury three weeks ago has been well advertised by the winner and, while he officially has 8lb to find with El Astronaute, he may be a safer proposition.

Selection: King’s Lynn (2/1 with Bet365)

 

3:45 Retraining Of Racehorses Handicap

Course and distance winner Lawn Ranger is 4lb better off for a short head with Restorer on their running here last September and, with the benefit of a recent run, may be capable of reversing that form. Chester clearly suits his front-running style – he’s done most of his winning on sharp tracks – and he may be able to show his rivals a clean pair of heels.

Selection: Lawn Ranger (10/1 with Bet365)

 

Market Rasen

 

2:00 Racing TV Handicap Chase

Neville’s Cross did himself no favours when winning a handicap hurdle at Hereford in October by 20 lengths, resulting in a 12lb rise in the weights. However, trainer Tom Lacey said in November that Neville’s Cross ‘will improve for a fence’ and, following a pipe-opener over hurdles here last month, it’s interesting that he sends the 6-year-old straight down the handicap route over the larger obstacles. The Stowaway gelding is by no means impossibly handicapped, if his sixth in a Pertemps Hurdle Series Qualifier at Cheltenham in October is anything to go by, and may be capable of making a winning chasing debut.

Selection: Neville’s Cross (5/1 with Bet365)

 

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