It is Ladbrokes Chester Cup day! All eyes will likely be on the North West at 3.05pm when defending champion Zoffee appears to be like to defend his title, with Triumph Hurdle third East India Dock posing a formidable problem.
3.05 Chester – Zoffee and East India Dock conflict in Chester Cup
The Hugo Palmer-trained Zoffee appears to be like to repeat his victory on this race this 12 months off only a 1lb increased mark. He has seemed a shadow of his former self since successful the race final 12 months, however you’ll be able to belief the Manor Home workforce can have him primed to regain his crown on this 12 months’s renewal of the Ladbrokes Chester Cup.
Many followers of the Nationwide Hunt recreation will concentrate on the nice hurdling qualities East India Dock has nevertheless he reverts to the flat after tasting defeat for the primary time over obstacles at Cheltenham. He slips into this off a mark of 89 and Harry Davies will get the leg up for the Gredley household.
Joseph O’Brien will look to comply with in his dad’s footsteps in successful this race with Leinster. He has the providers of Ryan Moore after a devastating win on seasonal return displaying the gelding operation had labored the oracle.
2.35 Chester – The Foxes takes on six rivals within the Huxley Stakes
The Foxes has change into considerably of a global globetrotter working within the Center East. He was solely a size behind Insurgent’s Romance in a Group 3 final time and can absolutely construct upon that good run on this Ire-Incentive, It Pays To Purchase Irish Huxley Stakes, having stable kind within the ebook.
William Haggas will likely be hoping to spark extra enchancment with Area Legend given his gelding operation. Nonetheless, he already units a comparatively excessive customary and was final seen ending fourth – only a size behind Los Angeles – and can look to get again into the winners’ enclosure at present.
Sure Lad has been an admirable horse for the Channon workforce and ran creditably once more when third within the Group 2 Prix d’Harcourt.
12.43 Saint-Cloud – Uther aiming for extra Group 3 glory in Prix Greffulhe
Sights flip to France which sees Uther face Aidan’s Telephone as soon as once more having the Wertheimer owned three-year-old get the higher of the Patrice Cottier skilled rival. He’s a half-brother to main Arc hope Sosie and Christophe Ferland appears to be like to strike gold right here at present. Christophe Soumillion will get the leg up on the aforementioned Aidan’s Telephone for this Prix Greffulhe.
He searches for the four-timer was damaged final time however it will be of no shock ought to he bounce again at present. The Aga Khan owned Midak appears to be like to proceed his unbeaten run having gained a situations race at Chantilly in April. Retained rider Mickael Barzalona takes the trip.
Better of the remainder at Chester…
The cardboard at Chester opens with the Class 2 CAA Stellar Earl Grosvenor Handicap, ran over the prolonged seven furlongs at 1.30pm. By no means So Courageous will likely be aiming to repeat final 12 months’s efficiency on the Rudy for the Andrew Balding workforce, having lately transferred from the retired Sir Michael Stoute’s yard. He was disappointing when final seen at Ascot however having been gelded within the time since, he might hit the body once more. Of the others, Charlie Fellowes’ Gorak confirmed indicators of enchancment when stepping all the way down to an analogous journey at Haydock the final day and enters calculations underneath Callum Shepherd.
At 3.40pm, the Osbornes’ Flight Chief appears to be like up in opposition to it within the Precision Facades Handicap, shouldering topweight off 105. The early levels of the market have seen truthful assist for Andrew Balding’s Warda Jamila, while Joe Leavy takes an essential 3lbs off Gray Cuban, who boasts a course and distance victory in July final 12 months.
Artisan Dancer might properly carry a 3lb penalty to success within the closing Ladbrokes Get Rewarded With Ladbucks Chester Plate Handicap at 4.45pm for the Charlie Johnston workforce. This five-year-old noticed off the reopposing Surrey Belle by a head final day out and do not be stunned if the pair are within the locations once more this time round.
Elsewhere…
Courageous Mission represents Juddmonte within the opening 1.50pm Peroni Nastro Azzurro 0.0% Handicap at Ascot, getting back from a 245-day break with Rossa Ryan booked. Additionally going to put up is Energy Fizz, a pleasant William Haggas-trained sort who was narrowly denied a hat-trick at Goodwood final week.
Additionally at Ascot, just a few eyecatching debutants make their bow within the 2.20pm Juddmonte British EBF Restricted Maiden Fillies’ Stakes, together with Harlequin Angel, Supreme Diamond and Society Kiss.
Kieran Shoemark will get a uncommon trip within the Godolphin blue when he will get on Good Outdated Days within the 2.55pm Palmer & Co. Champagne Maiden Fillies’ Stakes. Her stablemate El Budoor may be one to observe for Shadwell, while Berezka goes for Harry Charlton.
At Ripon, the 5.45pm NHC Educating The Educators EBF Restricted Maiden Stakes might present the decide of the motion with Karl Burke, Richard Hannon and Michael Bell handing runners their first begins.
The 6.20pm Conventional Household Day Sunday 18th Could Handicap on the similar observe sees Zappata handed the monumental activity of citing the four-timer underneath an 18lb penalty. Liam Wright takes off 5lbs however it will nonetheless be an enormous shock if he landed a quartet of straight successes.
Watch each race from Chester, Ascot, Hereford and Ripon – reside on Sky Sports activities Racing…
