Chester May Festival Friday

ALL EYES ON THE CHESTER CUP ON FRIDAY! More racing live on ITV from both Ascot and Chester as the May Festival continues.

Make sure you scroll right down to the bottom to see any multiples we are placing. These can be added direct to your bet365 bet slip.

ITV Racing Friday Schedule

1.30 Chester CAA Stellar Earl Grosvenor Handicap (Class 2) 71/2f
1.50 Ascot Peroni Nastro Azzuro Handicap (Class 2) 7f
2.05 Chester Precision Facades Handicap (Class 2) 1m21/2f
2.40 Chester IRE-Incentive, It Pays To Buy Irish Huxley Stakes (Group 2) 1m21/2f
3.15 Chester tote Chester Cup (Heritage Handicap) (Class 2) 2m21/2f
3.45 Chester Boodles Harley Maiden Stakes (Class 2) 1m41/2f

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Chester 1.30

In a wide open renewal I am siding with WOBWOBWOB who looks to have the perfect conditions to run a massive race here. He ran well on his comeback run over 7 furlongs behind The Cookstown Cafu before a good run over a mile. I think he is better than his rating of 86 and this trip from the plumb draw in stall 1 should give him a great chance.

Boardman has won over course and distance before and whilst I think he is still a few pounds high in the handicap he should go well. Croupier with Ryan Moore onboard could prove a big danger back down to 7 furlongs.

Chester 1.30

Wobwobwob 6/1 each way

Ascot 1.50

I have been really impressed with RACINGBREAKS RYDER the last twice and the four-timer looks on the cards now. He kept finding more to come out on top at Haydock last month and that form has been strongly franked already with the third Royal Rhyme winning easily next time out. The runner-up Acotango looks a nice enough horse for Roger Charlton so I think that is a strong piece of form going forward. He is up 6lb but with further improvement to come and the drop back to 7f unlikely to hinder him he must have leading claims once more.

The penny seemed to drop for Scholarship at Newbury and he prevailed in a tight finish. He is 7lb higher here though and that does look harsh but he likely has more to come. In These Shoes won at Beverley but is up 5lb and this is a better race.

Ascot 1.50

Racingbreaks Ryder 11/4 NOTEBOOK

Chester 2.05

Whilst there are some good horses in here I do think it lacks a bit of depth with some needing the run and others drawn wider than ideal. With that in mind PRIDE OF AMERICA who is slightly higher in the weights than I would usually go for in this race has the form and draw to run a big race at an each way price. He was last seen in March running a cracker in a good race over in France. He won a handicap here last year with ease and with a recent wind-op he could go very close.

Savvy Victory is the favourite at the time of writing with his best form good enough to see him be a big danger to all of these. If Fantastic Fox is better for the run he would be a player now off a mark of 95. Of the rest Baryshnikov and Groundbreaker should run well on their best form.

Chester 2.05

Pride Of America 15/2 each way

Chester 2.40

Aidan O’Brien has won 2 of the last 5 renewals and won it a couple of years back with the talented Armory. He fires just one bullet this year in the shape of POINT LONSDALE and this colt by Australia is expected to be really tough to beat. He won 4 from 5 as a 2yo before having just one start as a 3yo when down the field in the Guineas. Back from nearly a year off he was a convincing winner at the Curragh and if improving on that again the rest will be playing catch up here.

Mujtaba has won 2 of his last 3 and was notably impressive at Newbury on final start as a 4yo. If he improves again on return he will emerge as the main danger to this favourite. Andrew Balding has been in good form and Foxes Tales is the other one to note having won nicely at Kempton but this will be a very different test to that.

Chester 2.40

Point Lonsdale 11/8 NAP

Chester 3.15

With the maximum field going to post for this year’s Chester Cup CALLING IN THE WIND looks a big player each way. He had the perfect prep-run with a spin around Wolverhampton in March and that should have him spot on for this. He always goes well over these staying trips and has dropped a few pounds in the handicap. I would be surprised if he was in the mix at the finish here.

Falcon Eight off top weight has to be a danger with a win and fifth in the race over the last two years he will always be a player. My only issue with him is he hasn’t had a recent run so it will always make it tougher. Zoffee is a stayer I have always liked but would have preferred a prep-run to include him in my bets. Call My Bluff with a nice run under his belt and solid form at Chester could be the biggest danger.

Chester 3.15

Calling In The Wind 11/1 each way LONGSHOT

Chester 3.45

Those with form haven’t exactly pulled down any trees so it might be worth chancing debutant KING OF THE PLAINS for Charlie Johnston. This Roaring Lion colt cost €85,000 as a yearling and is bred to be smart. As always the market will prove the best guide but I do like his profile and I am expecting a big run first time out.

Of those with form Lope De Vega colt Banderas shaped well on return at Southwell and then stepped forward to get within a head of victory at Newbury. With natural improvement he will be seriously competitive once more. Camelot colt Medieval Gold on debut is another intriguing horse on paper.

Chester 3.45

King Of The Plains 4/1

Chester 4.20

Things didn’t go to plan for Billy Loughnane on Jer Batt earlier in the week but he has a chance at redemption here with BY YOUR SIDE for Gordon Elliott. This 4yo has been kept busy over hurdles recently winning at Naas 3 starts back before two decent placed efforts at Cheltenham and Punchestown. He should have more to come on the Flat and is likely primed to run a big race.

The danger is probably Two Brothers who won easily at Beverley last month and is clearly going the right way albeit this is a fair bit tougher and he is 7lb higher. Of the rest The Nu Form Way won at Beverley last time and is proven over C&D so with Harry Davies getting the leg up he is another for the shortlist in an open race.

Chester 4.20

By Your Side 10/3

Chester 4.55

The hat-trick seeking NOVEL LEGEND gets a confident vote to come out on top again at Chester on Friday. He is bred to keep improving with age and experience and things really looked to click last time as he came through strongly from off the pace to win readily. He has a 3lb penalty but is due to go up 7lb so there shouldn’t be any excuses here.

It’s Good To Laugh pulled up over hurdles at Newcastle but was back to form when fifth on the Flat at Ripon and if building on that again may well be the one to ask the most questions of the selection. Bellatrixsa was heavily backed in this race last year and duly did the business but she has been struggling over hurdles recently and doesn’t really arrive in the same form this time around. Justus won by a wide margin at Doncaster last month and might pose a greater threat.

Chester 4.55

Novel Legend 2/1 NOTEBOOK