The Flat season is starting to really get going after the first Classics of the season at Newmarket last weekend. Hopefully there will be plenty of Classic pointers on offer at Chester’s May Meeting this week and their three-day May Festival kicks off on Wednesday.
We’ve picked out our three best bets across Wednesday’s cards and they could be well worth following. These include one for Charlie Appleby in the feature race of the day, the Group 3 Chester Vase.
3.40 Chester – Chester Vase (Group 3)
This race often goes the way of Aidan O’Brien and his all-conquering Ballydoyle yard, having won it 10 times with six of those victories coming in the last nine runnings. There’s a clear question mark over the form of his three-year-olds so far this season and he looks worth taking on this time around.
Charlie Appleby tasted victory in the 2000 Guineas on Saturday and already has one leading Derby contender in the shape of Arabian Crown. HIDDEN LAW (3.40) will be looking to throw his hat into the ring for Epsom’s showpiece by winning here and he’s fancied to get the job done.
The son of Dubawi and Oaks runner-up Secret Gesture got off the mark in emphatic style at Newbury last month and the step up in grade looks warranted. He’s entitled to find any amount of improvement and really could be anything. Grosvenor Square is likely to be the popular choice on his juvenile form but Hidden Law has a fitness advantage and could well be the one to beat.
3.45 Kelso – Herring Queen Series Final Mares’ Handicap Hurdle
This £50,000 handicap hurdle for mares certainly looks competitive and there’s an added dimension of interest with a couple of Stuart Crawford-trained Irish raiders. It’s one of those raiders that gets the nod, J J Slevin’s mount LILY DU BERLAIS (3.45).
She finished third behind Irish Point in a Grade 3 novice hurdle at Naas in March 2023 and that form looks very good in the context of this race. Clearly a talented filly, it was only a matter of time before she got off the mark and the eight-year-old managed to do so at Ayr last time out.
Crawford’s mare travelled eye-catchingly well that day and pulled clear on the run-in to win by just shy of eight lengths. This is her handicap debut and that latest effort suggests that a mark of 120 isn’t beyond her. Further progress is expected in this sphere and she should go close here.
6.20 Gowran – Irish Stallion Farms EBF Vintage Tipple Stakes
It’s a fair card at Gowran on Wednesday, with two Listed races to look forward to. The first of those is a competitive race for fillies and mares over 1m6f. DANCING TANGO (6.20) progressed nicely for Joseph O’Brien last term and it was a career best effort when winning a Listed race at Naas on her final start of the campaign. She carries a 3lb penalty as a result of that success but it’s unlikely to make too much difference in the grand scheme of things.
Her overall form suggests that 1m6f shouldn’t be a problem as she sees 1m4f out well. The ratings suggest she’s the best horse in the race and the five-year-old mare is expected to prove it.
Chester’s May Meeting: Day 1 Selections
3.40 Chester – Hidden Law (Nap)
3.45 Kelso – Lily Du Berlais
6.20 Gowran Park – Dancing Tango
By Rob Eddy
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