1.35 Manor House Stables Lily Agnes Conditions Stakes
A very much bigger line-up than normal and Tom Dascombe looks determined to take the prize with no less than five entries. Stable jockey Richard Kingscote has elected to partner newcomer Trinityelitedotcom, though a high draw isn't favourable to the cause. Just Past Andover has plenty of experience and made all for a very easy victory at Yarmouth, though the heavy ground may have been responsible for the margin back to the runner-up. Heavy Metal has the worst of the draw and Baddlini couldn't go the pace at Kempton. Dreamy Ciara is speedy enough and Tharawal Lady looked a nice prospect when scoring at Beverley but the race won by Lothian Countess from ALL FUR COAT at Redcar could hold the key and, though the latter has since been beaten by Tassel at Newmarket, she ran very well and is taken to reverse the form with George Foster's filly and land this for Jo Hughes.
2.05 Weatherbys Bank Cheshire Oaks (For The Robert Sangster Memorial Cup) (Fillies' Listed)
Aidan O'Brien has won three of the last four renewals and BETTERBETTERBETTER can continue the sequence. Her overall form leaves her with a bit to find but this daughter of Galileo, who is closely related to three fillies placed in the Oaks, has massive potential and can book her place for Epsom here. Her compatriot Absolute Crackers has done well with her second to Homecoming Queen at the Curragh in October now looking a cracking run. She had few problems on her return at Cork and is a very nice prospect. Inchina made all for an impressive maiden success at Newbury and should be kept on the right side while the two expensive fillies at the bottom, Zaina and Zimira, are superbly bred and could be anything. Dreams Of Fire is another who should make progress this season.
2.35 StanJames.com Chester Cup (Heritage Handicap)
Overturn is an absolute star having won a total of 11 races, including this from a 7lb lower mark a year ago. His second to Rock On Ruby in the Champion Hurdle suggests he could have improved that much over timber so he looks certain to be in the firing-line again. A confirmed front-runner, he should be able to get an early lead from stall eight but last year's fourth, MOUNT ATHOS, should have his measure this time. He was never able to land a blow from his outside berth that day but a decent pull in the weights and a much lower draw can enable him to reverse the form and take this on his debut for Luca Cumani, though he does have four lengths to find with Never Can Tell on Cesarewitch form and Jamie Osborne's charge should also be in the shake-up. Last year's third Mystery Star is drawn wide again while Gulf Of Naples has the worst berth of all and will do very well to get involved but reserve Shubaat will now get a run and was a very easy winner at Musselburgh - he could play a part from stall three.
3.05 Stellar Group Handicap
Despite having won just once in the past three years, Tax Free will be fancied for this as he's drawn in stall one and should be up with the pace from the start. Last year's winner Doctor Parkes is only 3lb higher but arrived in winning form that day and is without a prep race this time. Falasteen isn't badly treated and Kieren Fallon should be able to get a good position from stall four, though he sometimes gets left at the gate, but the lightly-raced and progressive Dickie's Lad ran poorly on his only start on ground with some give. Jamesway has just one victory from 18 starts on turf but looks quite well treated and made a decent comeback at Epsom on easy ground. Blue Jack ran well in the race a year ago and comes here in good form but it's CONFESSIONAL, fourth last year when out with the washing in stall 12, who is handed the vote as he's ideally berthed and the handicapper has given him a chance again.
3.40 GL Events Owen Brown Maiden Stakes
John Gosden has won this four times in the past ten years and SHANTARAM can carry on the good work. Just touched off on his debut at Sandown in September, he lost out by a nose to Model Village at Newmarket last month with the remainder well beaten. Father Of Science is a close relative of High Chaparral and Black Bear Island so he'll do better over an extra couple of furlongs. However, he will have needed his warm-up run at Navan and will be a different prospect this time. Finity Run attempted to make all on very heavy ground at Pontefract and should do better around this tight track on today's going while On My Own caught the eye on his debut behind Noble Mission at Newbury. Linkable was a bit disappointing in his first season but was always likely to do better as a three-year-old and may be best of the rest.
4.15 Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Conditions Stakes
This is an ideal track and draw for ADDICTIVE DREAM, who can fly out of stall one and make all. Twice a winner at Meydan in January, he couldn't quite match strides in Grade 1 and 2 company on his final two starts there but takes a big drop in class and can return to winning ways. The superb Borderlescott looks as though he's just starting to feel his age and might do better back in handicaps now he's been dropped in the ratings but Dinkum Diamond had some very good form last year and, though disappointing on his return at Nottingham, should be sharper for the run. Duchess Dora won't mind some cut in the ground but she's 17lb higher than when landing a C&D handicap in June. Noble Storm is likely to take on Addictive Dream for the lead and he was in tremendous form at this time a year ago. He'll be better for a recent run at Lingfield and can provide the main threat.
4.45 Merseyrail Day Saver Ticket Handicap
Tom Dascombe won this last year and has three entries at the bottom of the weights this time. Richard Kingscote is on board Third Half but he's never been beyond a mile and his ability to last out the trip is unknown. Theturnofthesun made all to beat Bordoni at Kempton on his handicap debut and, with just a 4lb rise and the track certain to suit, he has to be on the short-list. The runner-up may struggle to contain him but ROSSLYN CASTLE is out of an Irish Oaks winner so this trip should prove ideal. He looked a nice prospect when winning impressively over 1m2f at Windsor and can make a winning handicap debut. Gabrial The Great probably didn't have much to beat on soft ground at Newcastle but did it in style and there looks much more to come and Martin Chuzzlewit is better than he showed on his reappearance at Newmarket while Frankie Dettori's booking for Montaser looks significant as his mount ran well on his Doncaster comeback without being subjected to a hard race.
