The May Chester meeting is one of the highlights of the season, and is one of the focal points of the north, and coming so early in the season, there are pointers to the Gold Cup, Derby and Oaks with the Chester Cup, Dee Stakes and Cheshire Oaks.
Certain connections have thrived there in recent years, with the three day meeting used as a target for Ballydoyle and Aidan O’ Brien, having three winners from three runners, all in group company. Locally based Manor House Stables have plenty of runners and plenty of winners for the boss, Michael Owen. Not to mention owner Marvan Koukash, who will seek to have runners in every race.
The first race looks an open conditions stakes, and Manor House Stables sponsor the race and have five runners, but there could be a dark horse in the form of THARAWAL LADY. The John Quinn trained filly made a good impression in a Beverley maiden, and the form has worked out very well already.
Aidan O’ Brien won the Cheshire Oaks last year, and has a habit of mopping up races over here, seen at the weekend when winning both Guineas, and he has BETTERBETTERBETTER to continue the streak. Out of a mare winning over a mile and a half, this stoutly bred daughter of Galileo looks to be on an upward curve.
The Chester Cup is a tricky, muddling sort of race, but last year, Champion Hurdle second, Galway Plate winner, Northumberland Plate winner, Fighting Fifth Hurdle winner OVERTURN should just kick on from the front and lead the way. Making it a true test of stamina over flat bred horses that should lead start to front and make it back to back victories.
BLUE JACK ran a good race last time out when second behind a well backed Mirza at Newbury’s Craven meeting, on soft ground. He has all his best ground on good, and the drying out ground should bring out more improvement. He is a course and distance winner, and connections have a strong record at the meeting.
SHANTARM has been an unlucky runner up on his two career sorts, and this smart son of Galileo can go one better in the 3.40. Owned and bred by Lady Bamford, he has shown great progress in two starts, and was unlucky to lose by a nose at Newmarket last month, unfortunate he is a non runner, as he would have taken all the beating. The Ballydoyle horse FATHER OF SCIENCE looks to be the main rival, another impressively bred animal. Aidan O' Brien rarely brings maidens over, and the well bred son of Galileo can build upon his already solid fifth at Leopardstown a month ago.
DINKUM DIAMOND was tipped up last time out, but never travelled and was seemingly not right for the day, when finishing last of six in a conditions race last time out at Nottingham. Looking through his form, he has ran very well second time out in the season when returning from a break, winning a Conditions race in 2010 and third to Group One placed Elzaam in a Listed race last year, The better ground is also likely to suit, and it could be telling that it is trainer Henry Candy’s first runner in over a year.
THIRD HALF is an interesting runner for Manor House Stables in the last race, a mile and a half handicap, won by home connections last year in King Edward VII winner Brown Panther. Third Half is similarly bred, sired by Haafhd, and gelded over the winter after breaking his maiden tag. Second at Southwell, then winning over seven furlongs at Wolves, the step up in trip should suit his pedigree, and he could go off a bigger price than what improvement could yield.
1.35 Tharawal Lady
2.05 Betterbetterbetter
2.35 Overturn
3.05 Blue Jack
3.40 Father of Science
4.15 Dinkum Diamond
4.50 Third Half
The Yorkshireman – Jack Milner
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