Group Three Chester Vase Guide 2021

The Charlie Appleby trained Wirko looks to be a highly talented son of Kingman, being seen three times to date and on his last two runs he has improved both times to win nice events.

The colt made is debut in October 2020 when finishing second over 8.5 furlongs at Wolverhampton and then a month later at Kempton got off the mark for his career in a decent Novice Stakes.

Given a break he returned to make his seasonal debut as a three year old and it saw him land the Listed Blue Riband trial at Epsom, getting better the further he went.

It put him massively in the frame for the Derby in June, but before that this event looks to be right up his street with the extra few furlongs looking sure to suit.

Having won on good ground last time out it is unsure whether soft will suit, but if handling it he looks a horse to be on the right side of.

The second Godolphin runner in the field is the John Gosden trained Law Of The Seas who looks an out and out stayer at this trip, also being a son of Golden Horn.

The colt has been seen three times so far during his career, needing his debut at Chelmsford in December, but then he came on for the run to land a Novice Stakes event at Kempton when stepped up to 1m4f.

Given a small break he was next seen at Leicester having his turf debut and it saw him hack up by four lengths, showing superb staying ability.

This is a much tougher event and he is unproven on soft ground, but he will certainly stay the trip and will be looking to bring up the hat-trick.

Youth Spirit for Andrew Balding is being stepped up massively in trip for this event, but it is worth a try in this event to if he stays before potentially heading into the Derby.

The son of Camelot started his career off in June last year at Haydock finishing a decent fourth behind the likes of Legion Of Honour and Devious Company.

He then came out and won next time out at Newmarket on soft, seeing off a good field that included six horses that have since gone on to win.

The three year olds final run as a juvenile came at Goodwood in the Group Two Vintage Stakes and he ran a cracker to finish third behind Battleground.

Back for another season last time out he made his seasonal return over 9f at Newmarket in a Listed event finishing fourth behind some smart Godolphin horses.

He is stepping up a fair bit in trip but his pedigree suggests he will get it, being out of a Derby winner.

Fancy Man for the inform Richard Hannon yard has not done a lot wrong in his career to date and he is certainly one horse in this race that will enjoy the soft ground.

Having made a winning debut in July at Haydock over 7f, he then went to Salisbury in a better event and finished a good second behind a nice type for Clive Cox.

His final run as a juvenile came back at Haydock on soft ground in a Listed event over a mile and he ran out an impressive winner.

Stepped up to 1m1f for his three year old debut, he finished a fair fifth in the Listed Feilden Stakes, having form tying in with Youth Spirit.

He is another runner being stepped up in trip for this event and if taking to it will not be a million miles away.

Aidan O'Brien now only has one runner in the event having withdrawn Sir Lamorak and San Martino and Sandhurst has it all prove at this trip.

The son of Galileo has been seen three times to date, finishing third on debut at Leopardstown over seven furlongs and then backed that up at Gowran Park over the same trip on heavy ground.

He was next seen as a three year old in the Group Three Craven Stakes when being totally outclassed and now the yard are hoping this step up in trip and return to softer ground can get him back on track.

The final runner of the event is the Roger Charlton trained Pleasant Man who is another runner who acts on soft having landed his debut outing in September at Haydock.

At the end of that month he then went to Newmarket in the Group Two Royal Lodge Stakes and was totally outclassed finishing last of the five runners, with the quicker ground going against him.

Saved for his three year old campaign he returned in April at Windsor over 1m2f and finished a good third on quicker ground.

If taking to the extra two furlongs he could cause a slight upset with the softer conditions looking to be in his favour.