Chester Cup meeting: third and final day

The Chester meeting ends today with another good card including two traditional Group Three races. The Dee Stakes over 10 furlongs at 15.15 CET is another Derby trial, but like yesterday´s race is unlikely to have much bearing on the Derby itself, especially as the expected favourite, Sir Michael Stoute´s Desert Myth, has been pulled out because of the soft ground and runs instead at Lingfield tomorrow.

In his absense, the race should mainly concern the nicely-named Dancing David (Brian Meehan/ Martin Dwyer), Prompter (Michael Bell/ Hayley Turner) and Azmeel (John Gosden/ William Buick). The Ormonde Stakes for older horses over 1 mile 5 furlongs at 15.45 has 6 runners, but in theory only two of them have a serious winning chance: Harbinger (Stoute/ Ryan Moore) and Age of Aquarius (Aidan O´Brien/ Johnny Murtagh). Age of Aquarius was last seen running-up to the top-class Cavalryman in the Grand Prix de Paris in July, and a repetition of that form would certainly be good enough, especially in receipt of 3 lbs. However the O´Brien runners have performed poorly this week, so we have a clear preference for Stoute´s runner, an easy winner of the John Porter at Newbury last time.

Stoute and Moore can also go on to take the 7 furlongs race for 3yo maiden fillies with Safina, a close 4th in a Newmarket Group Three last time, while the handicaps look as tricky as always. For those who must have a bet, we recommend a small each-way investment on Dunn´o (Clive Cox/ John Fahy) at 14.45 and Fathsta (David Simcock/ Martin Dwyer) at 17.30.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Academy Blues - Dunn`O - Guilded Warrior
2. Race: Dancing David - Azmeel - Party Doctor
3. Race: Harbinger - Age Of Aquarius - Once More Dubai
4. Race: Falasteen - Duchess Dora - Confessional
5. Race: Safina - Nimue - Qudwah
6. Race: Last Sovereign - Lucky Numbers - Mr Macattack
7. Race: Interdiamonds - Hindu Kush - Embsay Crag