talkSPORT betting tips – Best bets for day one at Chester May Festival
Chester's May Festival begins on Wednesday afternoon and will be one of the early season highlights of the Flat campaign following on from the Classic action at Newmarket over the weekend.
The opening afternoon will see action at Chester from 1:30-4:45, with the highlights including the Cheshire Oaks and the Chester Vase.
Enda McElhinney has three selections to follow on day one of Chester's showcase meeting.
Wednesday's tips
- 2.05 Chester - Daisy Inthe Breeze
- 3.05 Chester – Port Fairy
- 3.40 Chester – Hidden Law
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2.05 Chester - Daisy Inthe Breeze
The Lily Agnes EBF Conditions Stakes is one of the key contests on day one at Chester and it often goes the way of a talented speedster.
A field of 10 are engaged this time, including four with winning experience under their belts.
That quartet includes recent Brighton scorer Daisy Inthe Breeze and the Dominic Ffrench Davis-trained daughter of Land Force is fancied to make it 2-2 here.
She made a winning bow at Brighton just seven days ago and is quickly getting the chance to contest this valuable contest.
She showed good early speed in that Brighton maiden and handled the undulating course without issue, which stands her in good stead coming here. She's drawn handy in stall three and should be alert to get a good track position, which is a major plus over the 5f trip at this course.
Her Lambourn handler is doing well with his juveniles this season (4-14) and this filly could be the pick of them.
3.05 Chester – Port Fairy
Aidan O'Brien's recent record in the Cheshire Oaks shows five wins in the last seven renewals, with the likes of Diamondsandrubies, Somehow, Magic Wand, Thoughts Of June and last year's runaway scorer Savethelastdance victorious for the Ballydoyle handler.
He's often got more than one trick to play in the race, and that is the case once more as Port Fairy is joined by Rubies Are Red.
Ryan Moore has partnered all five of those O'Brien winners since 2015 and so it is noteworthy that he sides with the Australia filly now, leaving the UKs champion jockey William Buick to ride Rubies Are Red.
Port Fairy was well held on debut at Gowran Park (1m½f, heavy) in her sole 2YO outing but she improved in last month's comeback, scoring narrowly at Dundalk on the Polytrack over 1m2½f.
She's bred to improve again over this longer trip and the yard's record in the race ensures she makes plenty of appeal.
3.40 Chester – Hidden Law
O'Brien is also two-handed in the Chester Vase, with Grosvenor Square (Ryan Moore) and Agenda (Dylan McMonagle) boasting winning form as the Ballydoyle supremo targets an eighth win in this Group 3 contest in the last 11 renewals.
Team Godolphin were the beneficiaries on Saturday when City Of Troy failed to meet expectations in the 2000 Guineas and Charlie Appleby could be the man to thwart the Irish raider again with Hidden Law.
The Dubawi colt was edged out by the re-opposing Cadogan Place at Southwell on debut in March but has since impressed in streaking clear to win a valuable Newbury maiden (1m3f, good to soft).
He should improve again now and can take the measure of his Southwell conqueror in what should prove more of a stamina test, while he has a fitness edge on likely market leader Grosvenor Square.
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