WEDNESDAY'S SELECTIONS:
CHESTER: 1.35 Tharawal Lady, 2.05 Betterbetterbetter, 2.35 NEVER CAN TELL (NAP), 3.05 Confessional, 3.40 Shantaram, 4.15 Red Roar, 4.45 Rosslyn Castle.
FFOS LAS: 5.30 High Storm, 6.00 Border Lad, 6.30 Tempting Paradise, 7.05 Cold Harbour, 7.40 Martial Law, 8.10 Rifleman, 8.40 Kaki De La Pree.
KEMPTON: 5.50 Speedi Mouse, 6.20 Signora Frasi, 6.50 Plus Four, 7.30 Smart Affair, 8.00 Uprise, 8.30 Shy, 9.00 Perfect Fantasy.
PUNCHESTOWN: 5.10 Balnaslow, 5.40 See Double You, 6.10 Arvika Ligeonniere, 6.40 Vic Venturi, 7.15 Satorie, 7.50 Mat Hill, 8.20 Operating.
SOUTHWELL: 1.55 Trail Of Tears, 2.25 Flow Chart, 2.55 Putin, 3.30 Vivid Blue, 4.00 Bouncy Bouncy, 4.35 Wicked Spirit, 5.05 Landown Littlerock.
DOUBLE: Never Can Tell and Tharawal Lady.
Frankie Dettori rode a brilliant race to overcome a poor draw aboard Never Can Tell in last year's Cesarewitch and a similarly inspired effort can seal victory in the StanJames.com Chester Cup.
While Jamie Osborne's five-year-old mare was thoroughly consistent last term, it was hard to envisage victory at Newmarket last autumn after being drawn widest of the 33 runners.
However, Dettori rode a blinder to prevail by a length and a half and Never Can Tell's draw of stall six at Chester, while not ideal, offers much more hope.
The Cesarewitch form also received a boost last week as that day's third Colour Vision landed the Group Three Sagaro Stakes.
As if those facts were not enough to sway backers, Never Can Tell also boasts winning form on the Roodee having triumphed twice on the tricky track last term.
Those victories were over distances short of this extended two-and-a-quarter-mile trip but she certainly does not lack for stamina and would appreciate any drying of the ground.
Aidan O'Brien enjoyed a stellar weekend with a Guineas double at Newmarket and he tests out another Classic hopeful as Betterbetterbetter runs in the Weatherbys Bank Cheshire Oaks.
The Ballydoyle team won this race with subsequent Epsom runner-up Wonder Of Wonders last year, a filly who arrived with a similarly underwhelming profile on the face of it.
Betterbetterbetter won a Dundalk maiden last time after finishing second on her racecourse bow but is bred to be a star, hailing from a family that includes Classic-placed runners Quarter Moon, Yesterday and All My Loving.
A slight step up in trip here should be in her favour and O'Brien can further strengthen his grip on the Classic markets.
Wayne Rooney and his wife Colleen have their first runner as Pippy lines up in the Manor House Stables Lily Agnes Conditions Stakes but preference is for Tharawal Lady.
Pippy is one of five runners for his trainer Tom Dascombe, whose stable sponsors the race, but it is North Yorkshire handler John Quinn who can claim the cash.
Tharawal Lady looked pretty smart when opening her account at Beverley last month and with a favourable draw in stall one, she looks a speedy juvenile to follow round here.
Confessional let down favourite backers at Newbury last time but can make amends in the Stellar Group Handicap.
He looked a likely winner in Berkshire when leading two furlongs out but faded out of it in the finish, beaten just over four lengths into sixth.
Tim Easterby's runner is better than that effort suggests and should be given another chance.
Uprise did not enjoy the rub of the green on his seasonal bow but granted better luck this time, he should go close in the Racing Plus Sponsors of Millwall F.C. Handicap at Kempton.
He had three juvenile starts last term but finished winless and was then gelded over the winter months.
Uprise was sent off favourite as a rare Sir Michael Stoute-trained runner at Wolverhampton last month but after missing the break, he was always struggling to get back on terms before being checked in the closing stages.
Beaten three lengths over six furlongs that day, Uprise sticks the sprint trip and looks a certain future winner.
Bouncy Bouncy was another who was slowly away last time but she appears to be in flying form for the Betfred Goals Galore Fillies' Handicap at Southwell.
They race over the sticks at Ffos Las, with High Storm the pick in the Adam Jones Testimonial Raceday Maiden Hurdle at the first-named venue.
