NEWSBOY’S guide to Friday’s Chester races on ITV4:
1.50
PTARMIGAN RIDGE has sound prospects of taking his tally on the Roodee to two wins from as many starts. Trained by James Fanshawe when scoring over seven furlongs here last September, the five-year-old son of Kyllyachy made a bright start for Richard Hughes when second to Safe Voyage in a big-money handicap at Haydock Park at the end of last month. Ptarmigan Ridge is 3lb higher in the weights, but should have more to offer and is well drawn in stall two.
2.25
ADDEYBB has ground conditions tailored to suit for his bid to get back to winning ways.
Last spring, the son of Pivotal made full use of give underfoot to land the Lincoln Handicap at Doncaster before stepping up to Group 2 level to capture the Sandown Mile at the end of April.
The William Haggas trainee has been beaten in his three outings since, but is the best horse in the race on official figures and can register a first success at a mile and a quarter.
3.00
DUKHAN didn’t perform to market expectations at Pontefract on his return to action last month - but is fancied to make amends.
Punters sent the Hugo Palmer trainee off the 11-10 favourite for a valuable handicap over a mile and a quarter on firm ground - only to see him beat just one home behind Aasheq. But Dukhan had signed off for 2018 with a win on rain-softened terrain at Newbury in October, and it may be that the miserable weather during Chester’s May fixture has turned the playing surface to his advantage.
3.35
AUSTRIAN SCHOOL has everything in place to give his trainer Mark Johnston a first Chester Cup triumph.
The son of Teofilo made his comeback in the valuable Queen’s Cup over a mile and six furlongs at Musselburgh last month - and turned the race into a procession. Joe Fanning’s mount streaked home by six lengths from Ulster, to earn a new British Horseracing Authority rating of 110. With a 6lb penalty for his Musselburgh score, Austrian School is 2lb well in, and the step up to two an da quarter miles should hold no terrors for this strong stayer.
