Thursday’s best bets, by Greg Wood
It was a wet first afternoon at Chester’s May meeting, and after further showers at the start of the second day the going was officially given as soft early on Thursday.
There are 10 non-runners on the card too so far, mostly as a result of the change in the ground since declarations were made on Tuesday, but a full field of six remains in the Chester Vase, which promises to be one of the more competitive renewals of recent years.
Five of the six runners are feasible winners, and Aidan O’Brien’s Hans Holbein is only a narrow favourite at 9-4 following the defeat of his 1-6 chance Sir Isaac Newton in the maiden here yesterday. O’Brien has won this race five times in the last eight years, and Hans Holbein’s profile is very similar to most of thoseÐ including the subsequent Derby winner Ruler Of The World - in that he is a beautifully bred, lightly raced colt stepping up to 12 furlongs for the first time.
The same could be said of several of his opponents, however, including Storm The Stars, who is by Sea The Stars out of a half-sister to Giant’s Causeway. At the prices, though, it may be worth siding with Tannaaf (3.10), who did not have much luck in running at Newmarket last time out before staying on well in the closing stages. The step up in trip should suit him too.
Elsewhere on the card, the improving Cartmell Cleave (4.55) is the nap selection and worth backing in the sprint handicap to follow up his recent win at Bath, while Cannock Chase (2.40) is the pick in the Huxley Stakes, a race which Sir Michael Stoute won four times in five years between 2005 and 2009. Tres Coronas (2.10), who took the opener by two lengths off a mark of 94 on similar ground last year, is another to catch the eye as he attempts to follow up from 5lb higher in the weights.
Tipping competition, day three
Our winners so far:
Tuesday
Tears Of The Sun 8-1
Brody Bleu 5-2
Best Trip 14-1
Wednesday
Diamondsandrubies 5-4
Trip To Paris 10-1
Lexi’s Hero 10-1
And our leader is ...
dean055 +20
… who added Lexi’s Hero to Best Trip for what is already an excellent week’s work. Steve Ellis (+16.25) had both Diamondsandrubies and Trip To Paris yesterday. 15244 (+10.75) has had three winners so far.
Today, we’d like your tips, please, for these races: 3.10 Chester, 4.55 Chester, 5.25 Chester.
This week, we’re offering you a second chance to win a copy of The Druids Lodge Confederacy, by Paul Mathieu, which recounts the amazing century-old story of five gentlemen gamblers who tried to make the game pay through the use of a remote stable on Salisbury Plain where the staff were locked in to ensure secrecy. If you don’t win, you can buy a copy here.
As ever, our champion will be the tipster who returns the best profit to notional level stakes of £1 at starting price on our nominated races, of which there will be three each day up until Friday. Non-runners count as losers. If you have not joined in so far this week, you are welcome to do so today, but you will start on -6.
In the event of a tie at the end of the week, the winner will be the tipster who, from among those tied on the highest score, posted their tips earliest on the final day.
For terms and conditions click here.
Good luck!
Click here for all the day’s racecards, form, stats and results.
And post your tips or racing-related comments below.
