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Thursday 7 May 2015

Chester Day 2



Not a great day yesterday with my half term report reading "Could do better, tends to have his head in the clouds" !

We witnessed yet again the draw playing a crucial part yesterday and even more importantly a fast break from the stalls as one is no good without the other.

In the three 5f contests Silver Wings, B Fifty Two and Normal Equilibrium were all unable to capitalise on their good draw by failing to break quick enough and consequently they finished 2nd, 0 and 2nd.

Frankie Dettori seemed to lose the plot on B Fifty Two, he missed the break and then tried to overtake Come On Dave in the first furlong which is probably a feat not achievable for most sprinters and turning into the straight he was a spent force, his trainer having reported he was slow to come in his coat.

In the Chester Cup things got no better with Ryan Moore seemingly having accepted his stall 16 draw fate on Suegioo at 11.30am on Monday ! He made no effort to get competitive even though the whole field was going at a crawl and were in two by two file for a circuit and a half - at no other course would you see this. Some Jockeys have got it into their heads that at Chester if your drawn high you cant win therefore there's no point in riding the usual race.
However just 5 stalls down from Ryan Moore was Graham Lee on the winner Trip To Paris - no such worries here Graham Lee gives 100% in all races and hasn't been blessed with the Ballydoyle silver spoon !

Onto today, can we look beyond Collaboration in the 2.10 ? He will like the going and he acted well at Epsom so he shouldn't find this course beyond him. He's drawn in stall 3 and is the improver in the field but it's a case of whether he is improving as fast as the handicapper is putting him up in the weights - now 20lb higher than start of season. If he gets a good position he should take a deal of beating and the 9/4 could look generous if he's careering away up the straight again to a wide margin win as at Epsom. Course lover Tres Coronas should provide some tough competition and the exacta beckons and Master Of Finance should run better than he did last time.

Aiden O'Brien has another chance to better his record of wins here with Hans Holbein in the 3.10. Diamondsandrubies was in a different class to his opposition yesterday and it would be no surprise if the same was the case with Hans Holbein even though he hasn't set the world alight so far and the 9/4 on offer for him could also look generous at the finishing post.

Sir Michael Stoute's Cannock Chase faces only 4 runners in the 2.40 and after his recent pipe opener at Sandown 13 days ago he should be spot on for this and 6/4, although skinny, is probably right.

The 2yo race at 4.20 will all be down to which jockey/horse combination are best able to take advantage of the draw. Raj To Riches (5) has the best speed figure to date and with two runs already should know his job and David Evans will no doubt want to get a win having nearly won the Lily Agnes yesterday. Rogues Gallery next best on speed and with three runs to his name is probably out of it in stall 8 and faded in the final furlong last time out.

There are 15 runners in the 6f sprint at 4.55 and those drawn higher than 5 or 6 will be at a disadvantage. Johnny B Goode is drawn 4 and he has one of the best soft ground speed ratings on offer so he may be good value at 7/1. Cartmell Cleave is up 9lb for his good win at Bath but the stall 8 position may make it a step too far.

Good Luck to you and to Ed ....not Mr Ed !!