Horse Racing: Chester – Thursday 9th May Tips and Betting Preview

It is the second day of the May Meeting at Chester on Thursday as the build-up to Royal Ascot continues and also contenders for the Betfred Derby begin to present themselves over the course of another decent day of racing.

The Dee Stakes is among the featured races on Thursday but that doesn’t look like the great betting proposition to us so therefore we are targeting our attention elsewhere with the opener on the card where our sole bet comes from.

1.30 Chester

Preview

The opener on Day 2 is all about the speedsters, seeing a 12 runner sprint handicap over the minimum trip.  Oisin Murphy is on the favourite in the shape of Roman Dragon who has been doing ok over in Bahrain over the winter but that has seen his mark go up & despite his draw in 1, I’m struggling to see how he wins off this mark.  Democracy Dilemma looks to have plenty in his favour with the slight niggle being the fact he’s 5lbs above his last winning mark.  If that proves no burden & with a good draw too, he should go close.  Manilla Scouse has claims but may be tapped for toe whilst I did like Clearpoint where his run at Epsom last time out can be upgraded but the form of the yard is offputting.

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Betting

Vintage Clarets is hard to ignore if you forgive his last 2 runs.   He goes on any ground, loves a sharp 5 furlongs, has an excellent win to runs ratio, likes a turning track & hails from a yard very much amongst the winners.  A 4-time winner last term off marks from 87 to 94, he gets in here off just 1lb higher at 95 & I feel that’s very much within range.  At the tail end of the season, he landed a big field York handicap off 91 under this jockey (who is 1 from 1 on the horse) & despite the winning distance being just a neck, he travelled supremely well, idled when in front but never looked like being passed.   He then followed up at Catterick off 94, again prevailing narrowly.   You do have to forgive this season’s efforts but he probably needed his reappearance at Pontefract (track probably didn’t suit either) before flattering to receive at Ripon where he ran about it & perhaps suffered from having an inexperienced 7lb claimer aboard.  Professionally ridden today, and from a nice draw in 5, I fully expect him to be in the mix & he’s the each way play of the day.

Tips

Back Vintage Clarets (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 10.00 Betway BOG (⅕ odds 1-4)