The pick of the prices at Chester on Friday....

Thursday, 9th May 2024

The pick of the prices at Chester on Friday….

Pragmatics win out in the final analysis of the CAA Stellar Earl Grosvenor Handicap (1.30) at Chester tomorrow….

I see the case for Boardman & Revich – both course specialists, both potentially well-handicapped, and both likely targeted at this race….

…. and you’d think both 8yos will be in the shake-up….

And I see the case for Percy’s Lad….

…. but find myself put off by stall 13 – the outside draw and a definite inconvenience over the easy mile around three tight bends….

Preference is for Roger Teal’s DANCING MAGIC at the general 5s – running out of stall 3 under the ministrations of an in-form William Buick….

I’m not sure the 4yo ever truly earned his career high official rating of 106….

…. and it has to be a bit of a concern that he’s still a maiden after a dozen appearances on the track….

But you could make the case that he’s been highly-tried at levels above and beyond his capabilities….

…. and that the calmer waters of the handicap division will enable him to be more competitive….

A wind-operation in August followed by a gelding procedure in October suggest connections have been hard at work under the bonnet in the close season….  

…. and Dancing Magic’s first time out performance in last month’s Spring Cup at Newbury was encouraging….

He travelled sweetly for a long way, was just about last off the bridle, made a nice move just past the two-pole that suggested he was in the game, but then couldn’t find what was required late on….

He might have just needed that reappearance and should be fitter for it tomorrow….

How he will take to this unique track is anybody’s guess – but he’s run well around the bend at Haydock….

….. and the ground won’t be a bother….

Bottom line: at handicap level he could be well-poised to strike from a nice draw on a mark of 94….

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The big handicap tomorrow is the historic Chester Cup (3.40) – contested over the extended 2m2f trip and 8 bends….

…. a big deal of a race if – like me – you hail from the county of Cheshire….

There isn’t a track quite like the Roodee….

…. or a race quite like this one….

…. anywhere in Britian….

…. and they’ve been doing it every May since 1824 – exactly 200 years ago. It’s one of the great old races that serves to connect racing fans across the decades….

At least that’s how sentimental old me sees it….

Tomorrow’s renewal is a wide open affair….

…. you could throw a dart and make a case for pretty much anything you hit – barring one or two….

I’ve come down on the side of AQWAAM at the general 14s….

Ian Williams likes to target this race….

…. Franny Norton is one of the best riders around this circuit….

…. and the horse has had a cracking winter on the AW since stepping up in trip – with form figures at 2m+ reading: 12317….

You can draw a line through that last effort given that he was late out of the stalls….

He’s totally unexposed at the 2m trip on turf….

…. and it’s not like he requires the AW….

When you consider his best performance on turf came over the longest trip he’s tried on that surface – 12f at Galway in July 2022….

…. he could easily take his turf form to another level tomorrow on account of the extra yardage….

Does he need it softer? You could make the case. But I’m not so sure….

His performance at Haydock last June behind Bringbackmemories looks all the more impressive over a 10f trip that now appears totally inadequate – with the benefit of hindsight….

That race turned into a sprint finish on proper quick ground – faster than advertised by the official going description….

Bottom line: I think he’s a nice price for an in-form horse with the scope to progress for a first-time encounter with this trip on turf….

• Finally….

That’s all for today….

I’ll be back tomorrow with my picks for the Saturday action….

Meantime – Contact me direct at nick.pullen@oxonpress.co.uk  

And remember – win, lose or draw – enjoy the racing….

Stay tuned….

Against the Crowd