York Ebor Festival 2015: First Race Special Handicap preview (13:55)
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Chancery bolted up last time out and can make light of a penalty to follow-up in the 1m 4f handicap that opens proceedings on day three of the York Ebor Festival (13.55).
The David O’Meara trained gelding won the contest two years ago off a mark of 91 went on to be placed last year on a couple of occasions of 97.
Chancery’s form then tailed off, but the seven-year-old made a winning return to action at Ripon when running on strongly to cosily beat Puzzle Time by 2 1/4 lengths a rating of 89.
The son of Street Cry backed that up with a solid seventh of 18 to Mahsoob in a class 2 contest at York off 95, and was also far from disgraced when third to Fire Fighting in a similar grade affair at Redcar.
Chancery then failed to sparkle in his next four starts starts, but that resulted in the handicapper cutting him some slack and he took advantage in no uncertain terms when turning a 1m 2f handicap at Ripon into a procession three days ago.
After being held-up off the pace, Chancery scythed through the field and overcame all sorts of trouble in running before quickening clear inside the final furlong to win in facile fashion by five lengths off a mark of 90.
Chancery could not have won any more easily, and despite having to shoulder a 6lb penalty remains very well-treated on the pick of his form and is going to be very tough to beat if turning up in the same sort of form.
There are plenty of dangers in a wide open contest, and for those looking for a lively each-way outsider Buonarroti fits the bill.
The gelding had some useful form to his name as a juvenile when trained by Aidan O’Brien, including when fifth to Kingston Hill in the Group 1 Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster off an official rating of 105.
Now in the care of Declan Carroll, the four-year-old is able to race off a career-low mark of 87 having posted his best effort for a long time last time out at Doncaster when fourth of 14 to Elkaayed in a competitive 1m 2f class 2 contest.
Buonarroti stayed on strongly form three out to be gaining at the finish and beaten just two lengths, and the step up to 1m 4f looks sure to suit.
It was an effort which suggested the son of Galileo retained plenty of ability, and if he build on it Buonarroti looks potentially well-treated off an unchanged mark.
Coral’s top tip: Chancery looks value to follow-up his facile success at Ripon. Buonarroti is a lively big priced each-way contender
