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Chester 2025

Mr Whatoxo

Mr Whatoxo

Amateur Rider
Joined
Mar 8, 2025
Messages
397
Location
Kent
Some interesting races on the first day of Chester tomorrow. Mostly look like races to watch and learn from for the weeks ahead.

I assume they have the cutaway for the first couple of days, which will reduce the number of hard luck stories a bit. Obviously high drawn horses tend to be disadvantaged here (though on soft/heavy bias is not as pronounced). 2 of the 3 non-runners already announced were drawn 11 of 12 and 13 of 14.

The going is quoted as Good (Watering) 7.5 on going stick, which, if we can rely on it, will probably favour the prominent racers.

My two small bets for tomorrow are:

3.40 Megaphone 50/1 This seems a generous price. Disappointing last in £77k Good Friday race at Newcastle behind Berkshire Whisper (who he beat on that one’s debut, and his own debut for George Boughey). He was only 6+ lengths behind and started slowly that day. Previously, he had been progressive and done well when racing prominently. Cheek pieces on tomorrow and if he breaks well from 5, could go well.

4.45 Liamarty Dreams 14/1. 3 of his best six performances based on RPR’s have been at this track. Came into this meeting last year in good form and ran quite well. Was off 92 then, now off 83. Generally races prominently and if he can reproduce his best form, could go close. I quite fancy he will. Coincidentally, he is also drawn 5 and wears cheek pieces for the first time.
 
I love this meeting especially the Classic trials as some beautifully bred horses appear.
2.35 Minnie Hawk is a Frankel filly out of a half sister to Kingman
Queen of Thieves is a Frankel filly out of a half sister to Cracksman
3.05 Lambourn is by Australia out of Gossamer Wings who was 2nd in the Queen Mary
Pinhole is a Frankel colt out of half sister to Quadrilateral
 
barjon said:
I believe they selectively water now to reduce the draw advantage.
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It would be interesting to know exactly how they do this. Last year, the draw did turn around a bit, but I’d still prefer lowish draw this year, at least until seeing any evidence to the contrary.
 
Nothing of interest for me tomorrow so I'm buggering off up north for the day.

On Thursday in the 1.30 I've taken 10/1, 4 places, Fair Wind. If it refuses to race so be it but that looks compensated for in the price. The draw is a concern but, for me, none of the lower-drawn runners are handicapped to win and I'm assuming there will be a cutaway to enable them to fan out and that might allow FW a clearer run through from the back.

At least that's the theory...

No other bets so far at the meeting.
 
Not a meeting, or the course itself, gets my juices flowing.
However Law of the Sea has caught my eye in the last on Friday.
Reproduction of his efforts at this fixture the last 2 seasons, would see him very well handicapped here ! 18s + 20s available.
 
Robicheaux said:
Not a meeting, or the course itself, gets my juices flowing.
However Law of the Sea has caught my eye in the last on Friday.
Reproduction of his efforts at this fixture the last 2 seasons, would see him very well handicapped here ! 18s + 20s available.
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Looks very well handicapped on the best of his form
20/1 with bet 365 looks huge👍🏻
 
I like this meeting a lot and I enjoyed my visit there.

The setting is great, hard by the city walls and the River Dee. The track is tight for sure, and horses must be able to race at close quarters and quicken when called on.
 
I always keep meaning to go to this meeting but am usually very busy at this time of year. I watched the Cheshire Oaks at my hairdressers on her huge TV which felt like the horses were galloping into her living room! She was completely overawed watching it, having never seen any racing before....good education then for her. She was mightily impressed that I'd backed the winner of both that race and the Vase.
 
Desert Orchid said:
Nothing of interest for me tomorrow so I'm buggering off up north for the day.

On Thursday in the 1.30 I've taken 10/1, 4 places, Fair Wind. If it refuses to race so be it but that looks compensated for in the price. The draw is a concern but, for me, none of the lower-drawn runners are handicapped to win and I'm assuming there will be a cutaway to enable them to fan out and that might allow FW a clearer run through from the back.

At least that's the theory...

No other bets so far at the meeting.
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Well, I did expect it to race in rear but I did at least expect it to be trying. The words 'not off an inch' readily spring to mind. Maybe they just decided that with the wider draw there was no point on this occasion.
 
Yermanthere 1.30 Chester - Had some decent form in Ireland as a 3, 4 & 5 year old. Joined Tim Easterby last season and produced some OK performances, including win off 80 (runs off 81 today). Easterby in unusually good form for early season and this one ran quite well first time out this season, despite a stumble and a fairly gentle apprentice ride. He is in quite deep here and drawn wide, but at 66/1 (was 33/1 when I wrote most of this this last night) I still think he might run well.

Caballo de Mar 3.05 Chester - As previously explained on Chester Cup thread.

Rathgar 3.40 Chester - Rathgar has been very consistent since dropped back from staying distances. 2 good runs this season and if he can get near the front from his high draw, could be hard to beat.

Tokyo Bay 4.10 Chester - Regardless of how he runs to day, I’ll be keeping an eye on him. Started last season with 2 good runs, before stepping up in distance, returns to 1m 4f here. Return run this year (also 12 furlongs) not great, but dropped 7lbs for those 3 runs. If he pops out in front this time, he might be hard to pass.

Zealandia 4.45 Chester - I find Ian Williams hard to work out at the best of times and he runs 4 in this. Zealandia has run well after a break before and has dropped to an enticing mark. Ran in Chester Cup itself last year and less than 10 lengths off the winner there when 12lb higher than now. So he’ll do for me at 12/1.
 
anyone fancies 1.30 GORAK today here is what the trainer says about it

Gorak is an absolute legend and never knows how to run a bad race. He loves Chester as his run style is tailor-made for that track. He ran a screamer the other day at Haydock in a better race than this and looks fantastic. He can go very close.


What they say​

Charlie Fellowes, trainer of Gorak
He’s run really well both times at Chester. He's got very quick gate speed, a high cruising speed and he’ll be able to hold a decent position. Seven and a half furlongs around there will be perfect and the ground is absolutely lovely. He wants decent ground so we put him in the Victoria Cup just in case. Ascot is a bit deeper race on a track that doesn’t quite play to his strengths in the way Chester does.
 
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That 1:30 at Chester is a funny race - the top 3 in the betting were 1-2-3 (in the same order) the last time each of them ran here, and they were only separated by 1l. I think I'll be going with Divine Libra. A very minor weight swing with the other 2 from last year, and similarly with Gorak from LTO at Haydock. The draw isn't ideal, but he's won before here from a wide-ish draw, and has Ryan Moore onboard today.
 
Desert Orchid said:
Well, I did expect it to race in rear but I did at least expect it to be trying. The words 'not off an inch' readily spring to mind. Maybe they just decided that with the wider draw there was no point on this occasion.
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Fair Wind disappointed you at Chester. The handicapper only dropped him1lb. This is what Owen Burrows said about the horse in his Stable Tour on Attheraces:

He looked most progressive last year and won a handicap at Ascot, but then he refused to race at Goodwood having never shown any signs of that. I ran him at Chester’s May meeting, where he was drawn 10 of 12, and at least he jumped out. He finished out the back there, but he hit the rail two and a half down and lost his back leg, and Pat just looked after him after that. He needs good ground or easier, and I will have a look at the Dash on Derby Day at Epsom. He is certainly a good, fun horse for his owners.​
 


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