Thursday, 5th May 2022
Today is Day 2 of Chester’s May meeting – but we’re already ahead of the game here on ATC….
I always go out with my picks 24-hours ahead of time – in an effort to beat the market to the punch and to try and bag the best of the prices about my selections….
I sent out my advice for Day 2 of the meeting yesterday. If you missed it, you’ll find it here….
Today the focus is on Day 3 – where the feature event for handicap fans is the Chester Cup run over the turning 2m2f trip at 3.15. A field of 17 goes to post….
For an 8yo ARCADIAN SUNRISE hasn’t really raced too many times – taking in just 16 assignments under rules to date….
But he’s certainly proved his versatility – earning decent money over hurdles and on the flat for Irish trainer John Queally….
Last summer – in the space of just 19 days – he underlined the options he gives his trainer by winning a £40k handicap hurdle at the Galway Festival before turning out at York and winning the Sky Bet Handicap over 2-miles in comfortable fashion off a mark of 90….
Up 7lb for that last win Arcadian Sunrise’s next stop was Naas in October for the November Handicap on the flat over the 2m trip. Eighteen went to post that day and Jamie Spencer travelled across the Irish sea to take the ride….
Spencer had been onboard for the York win – delivering the horse late on. So, perhaps it was only natural – and deserved – that he retained the ride at Naas. But the booking caught my eye, nevertheless….
It was Spencer’s only ride on the card and it’s not like Naas is a regular venue for Spencer. He’s ridden just two horses there in the last 12-years – as far back as I checked….
You can read too much into these things but the horse was fancied that day – sent off at 5s.
The race didn’t go as the market anticipated – with Arcadian Sunrise finishing 9th of the 18 and beaten 14-lengths (maybe the outright heavy ground did for him) – but I reckon Spencer travelled to Ireland that day for what connections were convinced was a ‘live’ ride….
Tomorrow may be a case of unfinished business – and the pair can earn compensation. I think there’s more to come from Arcadian Sunrise and whilst he hasn’t had a run before showing up here, he wouldn’t be the first horse to win on seasonal debut – and his record fresh is pretty good….
The general 12s is fair enough in my book….
Each-way backers take note: Sky Bet are 1/5 the first 6. It is 1/5 the first 5 generally….
Nick’s Dark Horse….To recap on my idea of the dark horses capable of running big races at tasty prices in the big handicaps tomorrow afternoon…. In the Chester Cup (3.15 @ Chester)….
Advised prices are correct at the time my column is submitted for publication. But prices are subject to fluctuation. There’s nothing I can do about that. Be sure to consult Oddschecker – you may find a quote better than advised…. |
That’s all for today. Back tomorrow with coverage of the weekend handicap action. Meanwhile….
Anything to report? Anything to say? Anything to share? Contact me at: nick.pullen@oxonpress.co.uk
Stay tuned.
Operated by Spa Publishing Group Ltd (Company No. 15830286) 
