Chester Future Winners

Hi all,

Inside today’s main piece I have three future winners from Chester’s May meeting.

It was nice to see Chester’s May meeting run on quick ground and in nice weather. Often the meeting ends up taking place on soft ground. Normally the three days provide me with plenty of eyecatchers but this year they haven’t.

Passenger's Set for Exciting Season

Before I start looking at my Chester tracker horses, a few words on Passenger and his win in the Group 2 Huxley Stakes on Friday. His margin of victory over Israr was just 1 ½ lengths. However, that doesn’t reflect just how dominant he was. He broke the course record and produced a Group 1 performance.  I wondered if he would be suited by Chester twists and turns, well he handled them beautifully. He literally floats over good to firm ground and seems to have a good temperament too. He’s set for an exciting season over 1m 2f and he may still prove effective over 1m 4f later in the season. For now, there’s plenty of targets over 1m 2f for him like Prince of Wales's Stakes and the Coral Eclipse.

I don’t think we saw a Classic winner running at Chester last week.  However, I’m hoping we might have seen a few Royal Ascot winners.

Passenger will take the beating in the Prince of Wales's Stakes and I’m hoping that Aidan O’Brien will run last Wednesday’s maiden winner Chester winner Gallantly in the King George V Handicap.

Gallantly was strong at the finish over 1m 2 ½ f suggesting that he’ll stay 1m 4f. Ascot should suit him even better than Chester and he can improve further with racing. I think he could make up into a Group performer at middle distances this summer.

Chester May Meeting Future Winners

Due For Luck – John & Sean Quinn

Due For Luck will have gone into plenty of notebooks after his neck 3^rd of 8 to Knicks in the 5f handicap on Wednesday. The 3-year-old didn’t get the best of starts and not the best of runs 1f out. He looked very unlucky and would have won with a clear run. He wasn’t knocked about close to home on seasonal reappearance and hopefully that kindness will reap benefits in the coming weeks. The Palace of Holyroodhouse Handicap at Royal Ascot could be a good target for the 3-year-old.

Crystal Mariner – Sir Michael Stoute

Crystal Mariner back from a gelding operation and wind surgery shaped with plenty encouragement when a 3 length 3rd of 11 to Tony Montana in the 1m 2 ½ f handicap at Chester on Thursday. This was his first run since July, and he might just have needed it. Lightly raced for a 4-year-old, just five starts, he’s on a workable mark and 1m 4f should be within his stamina range.  

Zanndabad – Tony Martin

Zanndabad was the unlucky horse in Friday’s Chester Cup. Not best placed in a steadily run race and he also didn’t get the best of runs between the final two furlongs. He finished his race off strongly to get within a length of the winner at the line. He handled the quick ground very well and would be a big contender in the Ascot Stakes at Royal Ascot if he sneaks in at the bottom of the weights.

Ascot Saturday

Before I finish this segment there were a few that caught my eye from Ascot on Saturday. In the opening 1m 4f handicap I was taken with the performances of Great Bedwyn and King Of The Plains in a race where the form should be worth following.

Great Bedwyn finished well, from off the pace, on his first start for 11 months, to take second.  His dam stayed 1m 6f and he could be suited by a step up to that trip.

King Of The Plains was having his first start since switching to James Horton and this was a solid effort given, he was bumped 2f out. He should be able to win a handicap on the evidence of this run.

Don’t give up on Pearle d'Or

Moving on to the Victoria Cup won by The Wizard Of Eye.  Having first start for Charlie Fellowes he’s got an entry in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes over 6f furlongs but on the evidence of this run 7f is his trip. Given he goes well on Ascot’s Straight Course he’ll be a leading player in the Buckingham Palace Handicap at Royal Ascot.

Of those behind the winner. Hickory another very effective on the straight course did best of those drawn low in fourth. Given he didn’t get the clearest of runs 1f out it was good effort in the circumstances. I’m not sure he wants quick ground but good or good to soft suits him well. The Buckingham Palace will no doubt be on his radar to.

Streets Of Gold made late headway into 6^th. A useful juvenile, he struggled last season be better company but could bounce back as a 4-year-old. He might be worth a try over a mile on the evidence of this run.

I wouldn’t be giving up on Pearle d'Or just yet. It’s not the first-time things didn’t pan out for the 5-year-old. He’s on a good mark, and I think the good to firm ground was plenty quick enough for him. A strong traveller, he might be worth dropping back to 6f for a big field handicap. He remains one to keep onside.

Leopardstown Sunday

Buttons sent off the 6/4 favourite was held up in the rear and had no chance from her position but did get within ¾ length of the winner. Buttons is capable of more progress and will be seen to much better effect in a more strongly run race. I would give her a decent chance in the Irish 1000 Guineas.

There were a couple of interesting Group 3’s at Leopardstown on Sunday. In the first of them the “Mutamakina” Stakes (1m) Wendla got an excellent front running ride from Colin Keane to win. He was allowed to dictate early steady fractions on the filly, stacked the field up and kicked on 2f out. His rivals had no chance of catching her.

One Look was weak in the pre-race betting and duly disappointed seemingly not liking the good to firm ground.

A far more interesting races was the Group 3 Derby Trial won by Los Angeles. Los Angeles win took his unbeaten record to three. It was hardly a sizzling success, but he was strong at the finish of the 1m 2f, contest and we know that the Aidan O’Brien 3-year-old’s have been needing their first start.  A workmanlike success from the son of Camelot but there should be more to come from the colt when stepped up to 1m 4f. Indeed, for me he looks more of a St Leger than a Derby horse. 

In a normal year I don’t think Los Angeles would have the speed or be nimble enough to win a Derby, but I don’t think this is a normal year. Ambiente Friendly win on Saturday was far more impressive but Los Angeles is in the mix.

Tuesday Racing

Ayr’s evening card provides the best of Tuesday’s action on a moderate day of sport.

Ayr

7:30 – I’d give dual C&D winner Jordon Electric a chance in this 6f handicap. However, only if the ground is good to firm.  

This is the 8-year-old’s record on good to firm.

Compared to his record on any other surface.

8:00 – Prairie Falcon is winless since September 2022 but the 4-year-old is down to his last winning mark. He shaped with promise on his first start for 7 months at Newcastle but needs to bounce back from a poor run at that venue 28 days ago. The first time blinkers are applied and he’s weighted to go close.

Tuesday Selection:

Monday's selection Garrybello landed the each way money at Killarney and today I'm off to Ayr for today's selection.

Ayr

8:00 – Prairie Falcon – 6/1 & bigger.

Roll on York. If you want my selections for York's Dante Festival and the Epsom Derby Festival you can get them here.

Good luck with your Tuesday bets.

John