Chester May meeting: third day

Today is the third and final day of the Chester May meeting, and although there are small fields in the two group races they are still very interesting affairs. 5 line up in the Group 3 Dee stakes for 3yo´s over 10 furlong at 15.20 CET, and the in-form team of Mahmood al Zarooni and Frankie Dettori are represented by Godolphin´ s Lajooj, a maiden winner at Newbury last time and stepping up in class here. The stable should know how they stand with Maqaraat (Barry and Richard Hills), runner-up to another promising Godolphin 3yo Ocean War at Newmarket last time. The Paddyman (William Haggas/ Ryan Moore) is top-rated here after a good juvenile campaign, but further improvement is not so likely in his case, while Glen´s Diamond (Richard Fahey/ Paul Hanagan- another team in red-hot form) has won his last 3 races but faces much tougher opposition now. The form book says different, but with the Godolphin 3yo´s in such good form, we go for Laajooj.

The Ormonde Stakes, also Group 3, for older horses over 1 mile 5 furlongs at 15.55 revolves round St. Nicholas Abbey (Aidan O´Brien/ Ryan Moore), whose team has already won 3 group races at this meeting. If we knew that he was back to his best, then we could confidenty predict a fourth success, as he was the best 2yo in Europe and an easy winner of the Racing Post Trophy, However his career has gone downhill from there and he was a well-beaten sixth in the 2,000 Guineas last year, starting a hot favourite, and did not run in the Derby, for which he was also favourite. He started this season with another disappointing run, so there are questions to be answered now. He is lso stepping up sharply in trip now -although that may be what he needs. Harris Tweed (Haggas/ Liam Jones) was a much-improved performer last year. winning 4 races, including here, and is an obvious danger, but we prefer Allied Powers (Michael Bell/ Jamie Spencer), who ran well (wihtout triubling the judge) in several top racs last sason, including in Germany; any rain, which is forecast, would be in his favour.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Pintura - Lucky Numbers - Lowther
2. Race: The Paddyman - Glen`S Diamond - Maqaraat
3. Race: Harris Tweed - St Nicholas Abbey - Allied Powers
4. Race: Ahtoug - Face The Problem - Jamesway
5. Race: Elmaam - Layla Jamil - Heatherbird
6. Race: Norville - Sioux Rising - Everymanforhimself
7. Race: Carter - Oriental Cavalier - Sir Boss