THE 2019 Boodles May Festival kicks off in style this afternoon with a fascinating card and let’s hope the weather forecast improves for the course’s seasonal feature.
Friday’s Chester Cup is always one of my favourite races, as I’m a big fan of these two mile plus handicaps, with Cesarewitch winner Low Sun and Chester Cup regular Who Dares Wins my selections.
Racing is also on the all-weather at Southwell, turf at Gowran Park, with three meetings over the jumps at Newton Abbott, Kelso and Fontwell.
I’m looking forward to presenting in The Gin N’ Fizz Lounge at Warwick’s Ladies Night on Saturday, which is always one of their busiest race meetings of the season. Gates open at 3.30pm, with the first race of a seven race card at 5.30pm. See you there. Cheers!
2.25 Chester Listed 1m 3f
Vivid Diamond improved plenty on her final start in a Listed event at Newmarket last year, the front pair nicely clear, and that also gives plenty of encouragement she’ll make an even better 3yo. Drawn well enough in stall 4 and with the King Of Chester Franny Norton on board, looks the value. Vivid Diamond is entered in the Oaks and Ribblesdale.
Unibet each way 11/1
3.00 Chester Handicap 5f
Top Breeze can follow up from stall 1 after an impressive victory at Newmarket’s Craven Meeting last month, when drawing away smoothly on lighting quick ground on handicap debut. I was at Newmarket that day and providing Top Breeze is as effective on good going he can hold off the progressive Sandown winner Leodis Dream.
Unibet win 7/2
3.35 Chester Group 3 1m 4f
A fascinating contest in which Technician (nap) can go one better than last time out when finishing runner-up to Bangkok (now 12/1 for the Investec Derby) in Sandown’s Classic Trial.
I backed Technician each way that day and there is no doubt with a clear run he would have been much closer to the winner. Today’s return to one mile four furlongs looks sure to benefit him, as he was an eye-catching winner last month at Leicester over this trip.
Unibet win 4/1
4.35 Chester Handicap 6f
Cosmic Law showed some very good early season form before going off the boil at bit towards the end of it, but has been gelded over the winter, which could easily help the situation. If it does, he’s got a lot going for him – stall 1, has plenty of speed and is conclusively proven with plenty of cut in the ground.
Unibet win 7/2
4.45 Newton Abbot Handicap 3m 2f
Aubusson came right back to form when jumping them silly from the front at Ludlow last time and a 6lb rise for that will be no bother to this classy sort. There’s every chance he will get an easy lead once more and will be hard to peg back if that’s the case. Trainer Jane Williams has had two winners and a second from her last three runners.
