Chester Friday Preview - 10/05/19

The opening race on Day Three of the Boodles May Festival is the Liverpool Gin Earl Grosvenor Handicap, and Love Dreams can get us off to a great beginning.

The five-year-old won off 7lb higher at Goodwood last season, when taking a decent handicap in strong style around this time in the year.

He ran there again on his most recent start off this mark just a few days ago on the Sussex venue's opening fixture of the season, so should go well here.

Franny Norton is a strong plus as well, who will try and weave his way through from the widest stall of all.

Matterhorn makes his long awaited switch back to turf in the Group Two Huxley Stakes, after an outstanding winter on the all-weather led him to 'Champion Winning Most Horse' on the artificial surface in the off-season.

He was crowned at Lingfield on Good Friday after a sensational victory in the Easter Classic over 1/3f Wissahickon, making it seven wins on the all-weather from nine starts.

Finished third in a one mile maiden last year, and needs to prove he can do it on the turf.

If transferring over that winning feeling, he will be a force to be reckoned with.

The Boodles Diamond Handicap ran over ten furlongs can go the way of David O'Meara's Frankuus, who will be hoping to build on his close second at Ripon under a fortnight ago.

He was beaten by the very talented Mark Johnston-trained King's Advice - who is a son of Frankel, and recorded his fifth straight win in a row on the day,.

Decent seasonal return for this five-year-old who is back down to a very workable mark after winning a Group Three at Haydock in 2017.

This should be a good opportunity to get back into the winners enclosure.

The big race of the day - although not feature in terms of prize money, is the coveted SportPesa Chester Cup Handicap, and we have singled out both Low Sun and Who Dares Wins.

Firstly, Low Sun is part of a growing band of runners for Willie Mullins in the colours of Rich Ricci on the flat, and won the Cesarewitch when last seen at Newmarket in a thirty-three runner field.

This six-year-old won a hurdle contest at the Galway Festival in August, but five career starts on the turf (flat) in his career has merited three victories - including a useful handicap at the Curragh in June.

Has risen 9lb from his big win at HQ in October, and has time to overcome the widest draw of all here.

Meanwhile, Who Dares Wins is one of many individuals in the field also happy to chop and change in between jumping obstacles and racing on the flat.

Two starts in the last twelve months have both been on the turf, finishing third here in this race last year before third to Coeur Blimey and Coeur De Lion at Newbury in a decent handicap.

Prior to that he was a good fifth to Delta Work in the Pertemps Final before third to Jester Jet in a Grade Three contest.

Worthy participant in this, and will stay every yard on rain softened ground.

Kachy was absolutely relentless when running away with the Sprint Championships at Lingfield on all-weather Finals Day on Good Friday, and now tackles the White Oak UK Conditions Stakes once again.

Making all that day, he broke with a three or four length lead he was that fast out the stalls, and it is hard to see if anyone is going to get close to him here as the six-year-old heads back to the turf.

Three from three since Boxing Day, he smashed the track record when taking this contest last year at blistering speed, and overcame a wide draw that day like he has to again this time around.

A nine length winner, we could be looking at one of the fastest horses on the globe. Very hard to beat.

Azari can make good use of Thore Hammer Hansen's five-pound claim in the English Fine Cottons Apprentice Handicap over a mile-and-a-half.

The seven-year-old finished third when last seen at Chelmsford behind Lucky Deal and Busy Street who are both in action earlier on the card in the Chester Cup.

Azari meanwhile will be dropping back in trip to the distance that led him to three consecutive victories at Southwell in the space of a month.

Rising 11lb in the process, he will need to show it back on the turf, but ran well in defeat here last October.

On a day of staying contests, Coeur De Lion can take the Chester Plate Handicap - the final race of the Boodles May Festival round the Roodee, for trainer Alan King and again in the hands of Thore Hammer Hansen.

One start this year which showed plenty of promise and potential going forward, finishing a good second to Sue Gardner's Coeur Blimey at Newbury.

Plenty to suggest he will be on the premises, including when he was second in this contest by a neck this time last year.

Big run expected by connections, who will be aiming him at some big races again this year.