Chester: Three Best Bets to have on the opening day

Chester’s May meeting is often targeted by some of the heavyweights of the training world and this season’s three-day feast promises to be no different. Our news team have selected their three best bets of the opening day which includes a solution to the annually testing Chester Cup.

NAP– Bright Approach (2:15 Chester)

Only one of six odds-against favourites trained by Aidan O’Brien have obliged in the last two weeks and with Terrific set to fall into that category the favourite has to be swerved.

Ballydoyle have had lots to write home about from this fixture down the years but enough of their horses are failing to run up to their supposed level and investing in the jolly is simply not worth it.

With the market leader beaten the race could be left to the mercy of Bright Approach for John Gosden.

After a quick start to the season the flow of champagne has slowed at Clarehaven recently, however, they have still been finding the target with plenty of their fancied runners.

Their daughter of Derby winner New Approach quickened away nicely on her only start at Newbury just under four weeks ago and has the pedigree to stay unbeaten like her father.

Lively Longshot – Magical Memory (1:45 Chester)

Barry Hills always used to target this meeting with plenty of success and his son Charlie has a chance of maintaining the good family name in the opener.

Magical Memory was a beaten favourite on his debut a month ago but ran with better credit than his seventh placed finish would suggest after being hampered in the final furlong.

Hills’ runners aren’t renowned for being ready to fire on their first starts and with the stable enjoying almost a 25 per cent strike rate in the last fortnight his son of Zebedee is worth another chance.

Two of the field that fared much better on their first racecourse outing, Mukhmal and Roudee both put their token unbeaten records on the line.

And although the latter represents last year’s winning stable if one of the pair was preferred it would have to be Mark Johnston’s charge who had the beating of the re-opposing Cheerio Sweetie who won by nine lengths on his bow at Lingfield at the beginning of April.

NB – Angel Gabrial (2:45 Chester)

The Hills connection will ensure that Glenard goes off well supported with the retired trainer capturing the prize on three occasions in a decade, however, his heir may have to wait for his first success in the historic contest.

Instead the prize might remain on the same mantelpiece with Richard Fahey bidding to follow up Address Unknown’s victory last year with another of Dr Marwan Koukash’s horses, Angel Gabrial.

You could be forgiven for thinking that the biggest owner in Britain thought the Chester Cup was the Derby such is the volume of his runners he instructs to be trained for the race and this year is no different with Fahey’s pupil one of five Koukash plans to run.

The five-year-old looks to have the best opportunity, however, on the basis of his victory at Ripon last time where he recorded his fourth career win.

This would have always been the aim for the son of Hurricane Run and although he has never been able to post consecutive victories there are few in the race who can be trusted to perform with the same confidence.

Ladbrokes are also running their C4 offer where if you back a winner at odds of 4/1 or greater in any C4 race on your mobile you’ll get a free bet matching the stake up to £25. T&Cs 

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.

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