non-runners at Chester

today sees the third and final day of Chester´s May Meeting, but there are lots of non-runners as a result of yesterday´s unexpected rain and the ground is much softer than originally expected. Punters are urged to check before placing their bets, as there are also quite a few non-runners at the other meetings as well.

We are now left with only 4 runners in the Dee Stakes over 10 furlongs at 15.40 CET, another Derby trial, which has been won for the past 3 years by Aidan O´Brien. He now saddles Smugglers Cove (Ryan Moore), who was third in last year´s Dewhurst, clearly the best form on offer here. He has only run over 7 furlongs so far, but on pedigree should get this trip. It is interesting that Moore rides him rather than Sir Michael Stoute´s Disegno, who will now be partnered by Ted Durcan, but that one looks the main danger, although Prince Gagarin (Ed Dunlop/ Adam Kirby) would be the one to benefit if the others do have stamina limitations.

The Ormonde Stakes over 1 mile 5 furlongs at 16.10 is for older horses and the field includes one of the best stayers in Europe in Tac de Boitron (Marco Botti/ Martin Harley). This trip could be on the short side but he won here last year over 1 1 /2 miles and the soft ground is just what he needs to show his best form. He should win, but has to concede 7 lbs to the others, and Windshear (Richard Hannon/ Moore) certainly looks a danger at these weights - he was 4th in the St. Leger last year.

Even with depleted fields, the handicaps look very tricky, but we do fancy Arnold Lane (Mick Channon/ Sam Hitchcott) in the opening 7 1/2 furlongs race at 15.10. He is on a long losing run, in fact his last success was in Munich´s Silberne Peitsche 2 years ago, but he is now very well handicapped, he likes the ground and is a CD winner.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Alejandro - Marcret - Arnold Lane
2. Race: Smuggler`s Cove - Disegno - Prince Gagarin
3. Race: Tac de Boistron - Windshear - Big Orange
4. Race: Wanting - Snap Shots - Anonymous John
5. Race: Intisaab - Can`t Change It - Showboating
6. Race: Vibe Queen - Haalan - Neutron Bomb
7. Race: Wildes - The Character - English Summer