ITV Wednesday Chester And Newton Abbot Preview

Chester’s May Festival kicks off with a hotly contested seven runner Novice Stakes affair over 5f and we’ve taken a real liking to the Tom Dascombe trained DEVIOUS ANGEL.

A four lengths seventh in a well ran maiden at Newmarket over this distance in April, the Cotai Glory filly built on that run in emphatic style at Southwell 12 days later winning by over five lengths on the bridle.

She’d drifted from 15/8 to 5/1 on that occasion and considering the ease she won with, much more is clearly expected from her for a partnership who are seen quite often in the winners enclosure at this course.

The first Listed event of the week sees the fillies battle it out in the Cheshire Oaks with seven declared to go to post.

Darlectable You, the full sister to Too Darn Hot, So Mi Dar & Lah Ti Dar, looks to be the best bred horse in the race but we’ve taken a real liking to the Roger Varian trained ZEYAADAH.

Half sister to four winners, she’s been faultless in her three career starts to date winning all three in relatively easy fashion.

She did however prove a little hard to handle when defeating eventual Listed winner Mystery Angel by over a length in the Montrose Fillies Stakes at Newmarket but what she lacked that day she made up for in staying power and she was evidently hard to pull up after the line.

Stepping up in distance by three furlongs in this field, she’s already available at around 33/1 for the Epsom Oaks and she should be right in the mix here.

The only race of the day from Newton Abbot on the ITV show is the Class 2 Handicap Chase over 2m5f and PINK EYED PEDRO for trainer David Brace should go close.

The 10 year old loves good ground, it can't be quick enough for him and last time out he proved his credentials in a better race that this.

Having started the season off well by winning a good race at Chepstow and then backing that up with a smart third at Exeter in a Grade Two event behind Greaneteen.

He went slightly off the boil after that but returned to form in a big way when a good second at Aintree's Grand National meeting in the Grade Three Topham Chase over 2m5f.

He has only gone up 3lb in the handicap and this event does not looks as deep.

A nice handicap affair, we’ve picked out ARMY OF INDIA as the one to beat in this race.A winner on debut over 6f at Kempton last June, he was way back in the field in the Coventry Stakes but bounced back to form emphatically when winning over 6f at Lingfield next time out.

He found the step up in class just a little too much when thrown in to Group 3 company over 5f at Glorious Goodwood but he did put in a solid performance to finish a close third when setting a fairly quick pace on his first start of 2021 at Donny last month.

The drop down back in trip here should suit and with Franny Norton booked, he’s got a massive chance of returning to winning ways.

Now for the main event of the day, the Group Three Cheshire Vase over 1m 4 1/2f.

The race has fallen apart a bit over the past day or two with Sir Lamorak and San Martino both been withdrawn by AP O'Brien due to the deteriorating ground conditions.

The one to keep an eye on from our stand point is the Richard Hannon trained FANCY MAN.

Two wins from four career runs so far, his best form has come on ground with a little bit of give in it and with rain forecasted at Chester over the next couple of days, conditions may just turn out to suit him to a tee and he may be worth a small punt either W/O Sir Lamorak or as an e/w punt.

By Mehmas and trained by Richard Hannon, he got off the mark at the second time of asking when flying home down the rail at Windsor in October.

He kicked off his 2021 season at Wolves over 5f and having been sent off at 13/8 second fav, he found himself just too far back in the field to mount a serious challenge to the odds on favourite Equality who had already got first run on the field.

He did stay on nicely on that occasion though without really been put through his paces and with the apprentice jockey taking 3lbs off on handicap debut, his mark looks generous as it is and he could well make a bit of a statement here.