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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Chris Wright

Chester May Festival Day Two: Star Of India can land the Dee Stakes

STAR OF INDIA can give Aidan O'Brien another victory in the Dee Stakes (Colts & Geldings) (3.40pm) on the second day of the Boodles Chester May Festival on Thursday.

The Dee Stakes is another Cazoo Derby Trial but run over 1m2f, there have been very few winners who have gone to glory at Epsom - Kris Kin in 2003 the last to complete the double.

But Star Of India can at least put himself in the Classic conversation with victory.

The three-year-old son of Galileo has only had two runs and is clearly open to plenty more improvement. He won his maiden in taking style at Leopardstown last October. But he had no answer to subsequent QIPCO 2,000 Guineas runner-up Native Trial when fifth in the Craven Stakes at Newmarket last month.

But back down to Listed level and with no-one of that calibre of that horse in this, and with that seasonal reappearance under his belt Star Of India can come out on top of several horses who could potentially go on to better things.

Mr McCann – who is owned by the AJT Group which is made up of several Liverpool FC players including Jordan Henderson, James Milner, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Andy Robertson and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain – is an interesting outsider for trainer Hugo Palmer, who is the new trainer at Michael Owen's Manor House Stables in Cheshire. He could go well stepped up in trip after some decent efforts, including two wins at Lingfield and Haydock Park, during his juvenile campaign.

Ralph Beckett's ALBAFLORA can win the Group Three tote.co.uk Proud To Support Chester Racecourse Ormonde Stakes (3.10pm).

The five-year-old mare ran at many of the big meetings last year with great credit, finishing fourth in the Group One Coronation Cup at Epsom, fifth in the Group Two Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot and third in the Group Two Lillie Langtry Stakes at Glorious Goodwood.

Her best effort was on her final start in the Group One QIPCO British Champions Fillies and Mares Stakes at Ascot, when beaten a short-head by Eshaada in October.

She is still fairly unexposed over this extended 1m5f trip and she can thrive over it. Albaflora can take this en route to challenging at all the big meetings over the summer.

LOOK OUT LOUIS can land another victory at Chester in the ICM Stellar Sports Handicap (1.30pm).

The Julie Camacho-trained six-year-old won over six furlongs on the Roodee last June, but has also scored over this minimum distance most recently at Newcastle at the start of the year.

He ran a fine race to be second at Newmarket last month and appears to be at the top of his game.

Look Out Louis is well-drawn in stall three and for a horse that tends to break well and be up with the leaders, he looks good to grab victory ahead of course and distance winner Militia.

Scouser Franny Norton rarely goes without a winner on his trips to Chester and he has a couple of good chances of victory, firstly with Mark and Charlie Johnston's VALUE THEORY in the Deepbridge Handicap (2.05pm).

The three-year-old filly won one of her four juvenile starts and probably needed the run when seventh on her seasonal return at Musselburgh.

She was placed in Group races last year and is now handicapping. From stall four she should be able to get to the front soon enough and may be able to hang on for victory.

TROJAN HORSE may give the Johnstons and Norton another winner in the Roofing Consultants Group Handicap (4.10pm).

He is the type of improver the Johnston stable do well with. He won at Redcar on his second start last season and returned with an even better success at Ripon. From an opening handicap mark of 82 Trojan Horse can bring up the hat-trick.

While another from the Johnstons' stable FAIRMAC, who also be ridden by Chester specialist Norton, looks to hold a decent each-way chance in the Boodles Raindance Handicap (3.40pm), despite a couple of below-par efforts in two runs this season.

The eight-year-old is a course and distance winner and has been in good form on the all-weather, winning three times in his last five outings.

He is 4lb higher than his last win on Turf, but he looks more than capabable of getting involved in the finish.

Eve Johnston Houghton's BLATANT has landed the plum draw in stall one in the five-furlong British Stallion Studs EBF Maiden Stakes (GBB Race) (4.15pm) and the two-year-old can take advantage to land a first victory on his third start.

Wright Ones on the Roodee

CHESTER MAY FESTIVAL (DAY TWO)

1.30pm Look Out Louis
2.05pm Value Theory
2.40pm Star Of India (NAP)
3.10pm Albaflora
3.40pm Fairmac
4.15pm Blatant
4.50pm Trojan Horse

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