Michael Owen could be celebrating another ‘home’ victory at Chester today with EVER GIVEN.
The colt, owned by the Dandy Boys syndicate, makes his debut for trainer Hugo Palmer, who replaced Tom Dascombe at Owen’s Manor House stables in February. And my selection, a winner at the track last year and last seen when fourth in a Listed race at York last October, can make use of a handy low draw and a drop in grade to land the 6f Deepbridge Handicap (3.40).
Earlier on the card, STAR OF LADY M can take the opening ICM Stellar Sports Lily Agnes Conditions Stakes (1.30) over five furlongs. The filly won on her debut at Redcar and readily followed up at Ripon three weeks ago. From a good draw, she is expected to maintain her 100 per cent record.
SHAMLAAN looks the value pick in the tote.co.uk Free Chester Placepot Every Day Handicap (2.05), also over the minimum distance. The progressive three-year-old has won four times from his last five starts and, despite a 6lb penalty, may go in again at the expense of likely favourite Live the Dream.
The superbly bred ABOVE THE CURVE will take all the beating in the Weatherbys Chester Oaks (2.40). The Joseph O’Brien trained filly made an eye-catching debut when third behind Villanova Queen at Leopardstown over a mile in the autumn.
She then made an impressive winning return over a mile and a quarter back at that venue last month when beating one of today’s rivals Thoughts Of June. She is expected to confirm that running, with the extra one and a half furlongs of today’s trip likely to suit.
NEW LONDON, 5-1 second favourite for next month’s Derby, should enhance his Epsom claims at short odds in the Boodles Chester Vase Stakes (3.10). The ITV4 cameras are also at Newton Abbot for the Racing Partnership TRP Handicap Chase (1.50), which can go to the Paul Nicholls-trained ERITAGE. The eight-year-old has been below par on his last two starts but the fitting of a tongue tie could make all the difference.
WEDNESDAY'S SELECTIONS
CHESTER
1.30 STAR OF LADY M
2.05 SHAMLAAN
2.40 ABOVE THE CURVE
3.10 NEW LONDON
3.40 EVER GIVEN
4.15 HONITON (NB)
4.45 GABRIAL THE WIRE
FONTWELL
5.00 COAL STOCK
5.35 FOUNTAINS CHIEF
6.10 DHOWIN
6.40 RUBY’S REWARD
7.10 BALLYCAMUS
7.40 RECTORY OAK
8.10 SPACE VOYAGE
KELSO
1.40 HIDDEN COMMANDER
2.15 LISSEN TO THE LADY
2.50 BRAVO TEAM
3.20 RAPID RAIDER
3.50 TONTO’S SPIRIT
4.20 JUST CAUSE
4.55 BLAZING COURT
KEMPTON
5.30 BEAUTIFUL EYES
6.00 EMOTION
6.30 THE MAD MONK
7.00 SUBSTANTIAL
7.30 RAINBOW MIRAGE
8.00 KING ZAIN (nap)
8.30 HICONIC
NEWTON ABBOT
1.15 HANG IN THERE
1.50 ERITAGE
2.25 LARGY G
3.00 DUKE OF BRONTE
3.30 QUICK DRAW
4.00 SEDDON
4.30 SWEET NIGHTINGALE
5.05 CAMEMBERT ELECTRIC
NEWSBOY'S DOUBLE: KING ZAIN and HONITON
