Top trainer Richard Fahey brings you the exclusive inside track from his Malton yard, including the lowdown on his Chester team.
York next for in-form Mayson
I was delighted with Mayson in the Pearl Bloodstock Palace House Stakes at Newmarket, he's right on the button at the minute. He was a little bit on his head early on but he came good a furlong out and was always going to win. I could pick him out as the winner a long way from home which is always good with a sprinter.
He's going the right way. The difference is he's relaxing. He's a horse that hasn't had a lot of racing, he's a lot stronger this year and he's relaxing. At Doncaster he was a bit fresh, he hit the lids and led them until the last 100 yards, but he ran a great race. He just got tired as he's a gross horse and he's just gone on from there. It'll be the Duke Of York for him next, I put him in the Temple Stakes just in case but it will be York next all being well.
Saving Portrait for a big summer pot
Sparkling Portrait is a very nice horse who is still learning his trade. He looks a good horse and he's starting to race like one, he gets better with each run. He stepped up well at Newmarket, I couldn't be happier with him now and I still think there's improvement in him. I always felt he'd be better on a better surface but he's won his last two on soft just because there's been nothing else to race him on.
It does make me think whether he does prefer it soft but I'll have no problems running him on fast ground - it will be interesting to see how he gets on. He'll have a bit of a break now after two quick runs on soft ground but I think there's a big handicap in him later in the summer. He'll go for a decent pot at the July Meeting or Glorious Goodwood, we'll be saving him for that now.
Seventh not quite heaven for Lily's Angel
Lily's Angel ran a respectable race in the 1,000 Guineas. It all happened a little bit away from her and at one stage I thought she was going to be placed but she's not been beaten far if you ignore the winner. You always want to be placed in these races if you can but she wasn't good enough for that so we'll wait and see with her.
Chester May Meeting Day One, Wednesday May 9
Arctic Feeling - Stellar Group Handicap (15.05)
He's drawn a little bit wider than I'd like but they've had a lot of rain at Chester and while it will scupper a lot of plans it won't bother him. He'll love the ground but will need a little bit of luck from slot eight. Laura Barry rides again, she gave him a great ride to win at Wolverhampton so there was no reason not to put her back on.
Badea - GL Events Owen Brown Maiden Stakes (15.40)
He's a big baby this one. I would love to have got a run under his belt but we've saved him for this race for his owner, Dr Marwan Koukash. I'm just concerned he might be a little bit raw to win around Chester but he won't mind the ground. He's fit, very well and ready to race.
Chester May Meeting Day Two, Thursday May 10
Area Fifty One - M&S Money Handicap (13.35)
He's quite a nice horse. Going strictly on his form he won't like the ground, but Marwan's keen to run and I'm keen to find out if he goes on it. If it was good ground I think he'd have a big chance but there is a question mark in the conditions. If he goes on it I think he'll run a big race.
Myplacelater & Glen's Diamond - Betfair Huxley Stakes (14.05)
Glen's Diamond is in great order, he's won around the track at the trip and he will love the ground too. I've always liked him and thought he could turn out to be a Melbourne Cup horse in time but he was just a bit keen over longer trips in Dubai. I don't know if the quickish ground out there was just stopping him from finishing his races off. Maybe I got it wrong with him, but stepping him back in trip on this sort of ground was something I wanted to try.
Myplacelater will love the ground. Her form deteriorated and I've been a little bit disappointed with her although I don't think she stayed the 1m6f last time, but she's got to step up on what she's done recently to be competitive.
Mickdaam - MBNA Chester Vase (14.35)
Jamie Spencer rode him at the Craven Meeting and said he felt like a horse that was having his first race. It was his first run on grass for a long time as he'd been running on Tapeta in Dubai, but he ran a blinder, only going down by a neck. He's been training well, we're very happy with him and I'm just a bit concerned about the ground. The trip will be fine for him, I think it's tailor made for him, it won't be an issue as he stays well. But the ground, I'd be worried if they were desperate conditions.
Gabrial - Boodles Diamond Eternity Handicap (15.05)
I like this fellow a lot, he's a nice horse. If we are going to get Marwan a winner at Chester this week then he could be it. He was a little bit unlucky on his first run back but he's been working exceptionally well since then and he's my best chance of the meeting. He's drawn in three but the way this guy works it wouldn't matter where he's drawn. We're very happy with him and he just needs to go and show it on the track.
Kimbali & Personal Touch - Investec Structured Products Handicap (16.15)
Personal Touch ran well in a handicap at Newmarket on Saturday and he's gone up 5lbs now. Nothing really went right for him at Newmarket, he hit the lids and just ran with the choke out a little bit. Hopefully he settles a bit better. If he's not feeling the effects of Newmarket he's got a big chance so we'll see.
Kimbali looks high enough in the weights but he's won around Chester which gives him a chance. However, Personal Touch would be the pick of my two if he's got over his Newmarket exploits.
Calaf - Cheshire Oaks Handicap (16.45)
Calaf gets in here without a penalty for winning an apprentice race. He's won around the track and won't mind the ground so he's got a good chance. He's another who could win for Marwan, it's all about him this week. I hope he has a great meeting - I hope people are sick of seeing him on the TV in the winners' enclosure!
£50 Charity bet, courtesy of Sky Bet: Gabrial. He's my best chance of the week.
