Chester May Meeting starts today

Today sees the start of the historic May Meeting at Chester, one of the world´s oldest racecourses, with the valuable Chester Cup, a handicap over 2 1/4 miles at 16.10 CET as the main feature. Chester is a very tight track and a draw above 12 is a huge disadvantage, while another factor to bear in mind is that leading local owner Dr. Mawan Koukash always targets this meeting and has won his race for the last 2 years. This does not make it much easier for punters, as he has 5 runners today, including the first 2 from last year Suegioo (Marco Botti/ Ryan Moore) and Angel Gabrial (Richard Fahey/ Jamie Spencer); however the former is badly drawn and the latter has a huge weight this time. Gabrial´s King (Fahey/ Franny Norton) looks to have the best chance of his runners now, but was well beaten last year and is also held by Trip to Paris (Ed Dunlop/ Graham Lee) on latest form. Dunlop also runs Mubaraza (Dane O´Neill), 4th last year and well handicapped on that form, although his later efforts were not so good. Buthelezi (Brian Ellison/ Ben Curtis) looks dangerous, as do the Irish runners Quick Jack (Tony Martin/ Richard Hughes) and Zafayan (Dermot Weld/ Pat Smullen), both of whom have also decent form over hurdles. This is a really tricky race, in which luck in running will play a major part, but we hope that Mubaraza is back in form and make him the selection.

The only black type race of the day is the listed Cheshire Oaks at 15.40. Aidan O´Brien has won this 3 times in the past 7 years and now sends Diamondsandrubies (Ryan Moore), who is probably not one of his best fillies but could still be good enough. Victoria Pollard (Andrew Balding/ David Probert) won a maiden race at Newbury in nice style and although this is a much better race, could be the main danger. O´Brien and Moore should certainly have a winner today as Sir Isaac Newton can hardly be opposed in the maiden at 17.20. He is probably the best horse running today and is well fancied for the Derby (in which the stable has of course several other possibles); he is very well bred, was a good runner-up on his only start so far, and it will be quite a surprise if he cannot lose his maiden tag now.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Rah Rah - Silver Wings - Astley Hall
2. Race: Diamondsandrubies - Victoria Pollard - Sweet Dream
3. Race: Quick Jack - Gabrial`s King - Zafayan
4. Race: B Fifty Two - Blithe Spirit - Come On Dave
5. Race: Keble - Baylay - Mr Quicksilver
6. Race: Normal Equilibrium - Dutch Masterpiece - Masamah
7. Race: Secateur - Hernandoshideaway - Recently Acquired