ADELAIDE RIVER can give Aidan O'Brien another victory in the Boodles Chester Vase Stakes (3.15pm) on day one of the Boodles Chester May Festival. And with success in the Group Three feature on the Roodee the three-year-old can book his ticket to next month's Betfred Derby at Epsom.
The Ballydoyle handler has won this race a record 10 times and several of his previous winners have gone on to contest the Derby, with Ruleroftheworld winning both races in 2013 and Treasure Beach finishing second at Epsom before taking the Irish Derby following his Vase victory two years earlier.
Adelaide River can at least become part of O'Brien's Derby team at Epsom on June 3 by this time gettin gthe better of John & Thady Gosden's favourite Arrest. Adelaide River won his maiden at Dundalk last August, but has yet to win in Pattern company despite running well in defeat. He was runner-up to Kubrick in France and second to Crypto Force in the Group Two Beresford Stakes at the Curragh in September. The son of O'Brien's 2014 Derby hero Australia was then third behind Dubai Mile and the aforementioned Arrest stepped up to Group One level for the first time in the Criterium de Saint-Cloud. He has a bit to find with Arrest on that running, but O'Brien's juveniles invariably improve for stepping up to this near 1m4f. In the past his contenders in this have tended to handle the unique twists and turns of the Roodee and Adelaide River, under Ryan Moore, can do so as well and turn the form around with Arrest.
Stable-mate SAVETHELASTDANCE can also book her place at Epsom with victory, under Moore, in the Listed Weatherbys Digital Solutions Cheshire Oaks (For The Robert Sangster Memorial Cup) (2.40pm).
The daughter of the late, great Galileo was beaten nearly 10 lengths on her debut in a Thurles maiden over a mile last year. But sent off at 20-1 on her seasonal return at Leopardstown last month, Savethelastdance comfortably beat the better-fancied stable-mate Boogie Woogie stepped up to 1m2f, marking herself down a potential Betfred Oaks candidate. Boogie Woogie has since franked the form winning her maiden comfortably while the third, Azazat also scored at Leopardstown at the weekend. Savethelastdance looks sure to improve again stepped to nearly 1m4f and can take this Listed company before bidding for Classic glory next month.
Former England and Liverpool FC forward Michael Owen targets Chester with plenty from his Manor House stables and will be looking for trainer Hugo Palmer to provide him with winners over the three days of the May Festival. One of those could be ROMAN DRAGON in the finale on day one, the Everyone's Turf Handicap (4.55pm).
It looks like the four-year-old has been targeted at this seven-furlong contest and he can return to winning ways. Roman Dragon was second over seven furlongs at Haydock Park on his first start of 2022 and went on to run well earlier in the campaign, scoring over six furlongs at Chester in June. He paid for that with a hike in the handicap and was down the field at Glorious Goodwood and for the rest of the year. But he is back down to that last winning mark and although he has a potentially tricky draw in stall 14, back up to seven furlongs he should have enough time to work his way into a winning position and give his Cheshire-based stable a 'home' win.
Stable-mate Balon D'Or would have been of interest in the opener, the CAA Stellar Lily Agnes Conditions Stakes (GBB/IRE Incentive Race) (1.30pm), but she also has tricky draw in stall 11 over the minimum distance. With that in mind the well-berthed ZIGGY'S PHOENIX may build on her recent success at Ripon with another on the Roodee. The Richard Hannon-trained Kodiac filly won on her second start, breaking well and leading all the way. Similar tactics from the plum stall one can see her score again and possibly book a trip to Royal Ascot next month.
Another horse who is well-drawn in a five-furlong contest – the Declan Carroll-trained SEANTRABH – may also win the tote £100K Guaranteed Placepot Every Day Handicap (2.05pm). The three-year-old won his final start of last season, making all at Catterick. He was fourth on his return to the reopposing Democracy Dilemma at Thirsk last month. But from stall three and with that run behind him Seantrabh can reverse the form on 6lb better terms and triumph.
Hannon's ROYAL DRESS can follow up her recent win at Doncaster with another in the Camden Pale Handicap (3.45pm). The three-year-old daughter of Night Of Thunder scored on her seasonal return in a Novice Stakes event last month after three decent efforts in defeat as a juvenile. She looks a horse on the up and a mark of 80 on her handicap debut leaves her with a good chance of following up her win 12 days ago. She is also ridden by top rider Moore, who could have a superb first day at Chester.
Moore can also partner the Gosden's VAGUELY ROYAL to victory in the Deepbridge Syndicate Maiden Stakes (GBB Race) (4.20pm). The three-year-old son of Galileo made a pleasing debut when third over a mile at Yarmouth last month. Stepped up to 1m2f he can land a first career success before going on to potentially bigger and better things in the colours of Bjorn Nielsen, the owner of legendary stayer Stradivarius.
Wright Ones
CHESTER MAY FESTIVAL (Day One)
1.30pm Ziggy's Phoenix
2.05pm Seantrabh
2.40pm Savethelastdanceforme
3.15pm Adelaide River
3.45pm Royal Dress
4.20pm Vaguely Royal
4.55pm Roman Dragon (NAP)
