Chester day two preview
We stick with O’Brien and Moore
Day two and the star attraction goes in the form of the Chester Vase, a group three contest due to post at 3.35pm. Click here to back the winner, or to have your say on all the day’s UK and Irish horse racing.
We’ve drawn up a list of our best bets on the card, focusing on matters at Chester, and run through our NAP and next best below. Betting on the go? Flick to the bottom of this page where you’ll find a selection in every race, which can be used in multiples.
Deauville’s best good enough
Going in early and our ace lines up in the second leg, the 2.25pm Huxley Stakes, another group three affair. Six runners are set to dispute the prize money over one mile two furlongs, and of the pack, Deauville is the one for us.
We chose to set-up in support of Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore on Wednesday, and adopt that strategy again here when throwing our weight behind the well-bred four-year-old colt. On his day, he is more than a match for this level, and him winning would come as no major shock to punters. But he has been known to blow hot-and-cold during his eight-race career.
Moore must remain patient
Going in to the day with a CV reading two wins and three seconds, he got off to a flyer, winning back-to-back in his first two attempts, but has been less than consistent since. Seen ending runner-up behind Ulysses in the group three Gordon Richards Stakes at Sandown last month, he led for the most part of that race, before weakly surrendering under a bit of pressure.
The selection will really have to be back to his best if wanting to claim this, and must be given a tactical ride by Moore, not putting too much in early. He has been mixing it with better company than he faces here though, and with decent results too. Looks worth the benefit of the doubt at the 15/8 currently being offered up by Coral.
More to come from Venice Beach
Next best and we give a chance to Venice Beach in the bill-topper, the Chester Vase. We have a fascinating eight runners penned in for this one, but again O’Brien and Moore are taken to do us a favour.
The three-year-old caught the eye on debut, finishing in the silver medal spot at Leopardstown late last year, and he’s done nothing but improve since. Got off the mark last time around Tipperary, claiming a maiden when going as an even money jolly, and doing it the way backers would’ve expected too. Still plenty more to come and he’s a 9/4 favourite here, which is deserved.
Chester Selections
1.50 – Khairaat
2.25 – Deauville
3.00 – Via Egnatia
3.35 – Venice Beach
4.05 – Dahik
4.35 – Full Intention
5.05 – Banish
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