Good.morning all,

Final day of the May Chester meeting with the Chester Cup taking centre stage. 

The TV races are looked at on today's Daily Punt. 

1.45 Chester – 7½f Handicap

0-105 Handicap, top in is just 98, 7lb below the ceiling, and this is effectively a Class 2½ handicap. 

I was quite keen on Revich running a good race at Newbury last time out, but the evidence suggested that a straight mile just stretched his stamina to the limit. Nevertheless, he ran an excellent fourth in the Spring Mile and you could have bet a pound to a penny that this would be his next target given his superb Chester record (15311) and the draw has been kind, giving him stall 1 to work from. He doesn’t have to lead but has made all around here, and today’s pilot Tom Marquand has won on him here before too. 

There’s not a lot of wriggle room off this mark, and whilst I have no doubt the likes of Brentford Hope and Dulas are better handicapped, Revich has his ideal conditions and looks nailed on to run a good race. 

2.15 Chester – 1m2½f Huxley Stakes (Group 2)

A horrid contest for a bet, as you’re taking chances as regards the wellbeing of Sangarius (coming back from a wind op, and another 139-day break) and whether you believe the overall form of Armory’s Cox Plate second and Irish Champion Stakes third before that, which look excellent on paper but have a few question marks against them, for me.   

Given there was nothing between Bangkok and Palavicino at Lingfield and the latter is both a course winner and twice the price of the former, if you gave me a fiver it’d go on Palavicino. But I’m not in a rush to get involved. 

2.45 Chester – 2m2½f Chester Cup 

Rory has been bending my ear’oles regarding the chance of top weight Falcon Eight and I totally get the case – a potential Group 1 or 2 horse lurking in a handicap, and the booking of Dettori is obviously interesting, but The Grand Visir looks a cracking each-way bet with the extra places to me, and he’s my first pick. 

He’s wonderfully consistent in these big-race handicaps, and his fourth in the Goodwood’s marathon last season, giving the best part of a stone away to the front three, is a terrific effort. A midfield draw looks tricky but stall 11 actually has a great record, the ground is ideal and given he’s run right to form after an absence before, the fact he’s not been seen since November is of no concern. 

3.15 Chester – 5f Boodles Stakes 

Pity we haven’t got the dead eight here, as with three no-hopers in the field you’d have been getting some value, but as it stands it looks a match between the popular speedster El Astronaute and King’s Lynn, who has a bit to find on the figures but has travelled like a quality horse on more than one occasion, and I take him to pounce on El Astronaute late on. 

3.45 – 1m2½f Handicap

Guaranteed pace on, with both Data Protection and Lawn Ranger likely to go forward, and that can only help Restorer, who has a great record at the track (14221), won’t mind a bit of cut and has won three times after an absence, including first time up last year. He’s climbed the handicap as a result of a good year last year, but it’s probably a workable mark on historic form and he’s got a lot going for him here. 

If they go too quick then you can expect to see Alternative Fact appearing on the scene very late, but he just doesn’t win enough for me and looks more of a forecast mixer than anything. 

Today's selection – The Grand Visir 2.45 Chester

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Good luck with all your bets today, 

David