Full selections for today including the 2 from earlier :
Chester:
1.45 : I agree with Sir Cato that Bathwick Bear is hard to oppose but not backable at the short price.
2.15 Champagne Lifestyle : Made a nice winning debut last year before disappointing in a group race, well beaten in a race won by Music Show who is clearly a classy horse.
Some uncertainty as to whether she'll appreciate the step up in trip but is bred to stay and at around 11/2 I think it's well worth chancing a few quid on her. Very tricky race though with the front three ahead of the selection all trading around 11/4 currently. The market may well reveal more as it develops but hard to see Champagne Lifestyle drifting out beyond 11/2.
2.45
Bernie The Bolt - e/w. Available at 10/1 (Skybet)
Desert Sea - e/w. Available at 10/1 (General) (Don't think there is a horse Direct Sea TBH !)
Swingkeel – Win bet . Available at 10/1 (General)
Even though this race is over 18 furlongs the draw often plays its part. Bernie The Bolt hasn't, unfortunately, fared very well on that score and he will need plenty of good fortune to prevail. However he proved very progressive over long trips last season and signed off the campaign with an easy defeat of solid yardstick, Alanbrooke. This demands more from an eight pound higher mark but if his talented jockey can plot an unhindered path he could be on the premises come the business end of the race. The yard are in form and have a profitable 17% strike rate at the track in recent seasons. Desert Sea has a good draw in stall 3 and went close in this race last year. He runs from the same mark today and is reunited with Martin Dwyer for the first time since. He has won first time up for the last two seasons and is likely to have been aimed at this race by a yard whose horses are in good form under both codes. The most interesting horse in the race is Red Cadeaux. If he stays the trip he would be a massive danger, and although he’s not bred to, if he is to stay it on any course it would be Chester, where less emphasis is put on Stamina due to being constantly on the turn. Swingkeel is another of interest. He is well drawn, and looks sure to go well today on a track that should suit.
3.15 -
Green Manalishi - Win bet. Available at 7/1 (General)
Look Busy - Win bet Available at 7/1 (General)
Obviously the draw can be very important over five furlongs here and the two that appeal most from those drawn low are Green Manalishi and Look Busy. Green Manalishi was below par at Dundalk last time out but he has only disappointed once in eight outings here, winning three times. That disappointment came from the widest draw so it is probably best forgiven. He was fifth in this race last year from stall 13 so he looks primed for a big run from a much better draw. Effective on good ground and he has won from much higher marks in the past. The stable in very good order. Look Busy rarely runs a bad race and hasn't disappointed here in six previous visits. Five furlongs is her best trip and she could be a potent force back in handicap company after plying her trade mainly in Listed/Group company last season.
4.00 Alrasm : Alrasm shaped well on his reappearance albeit a beaten favourite, 2nd behind Miss Starlight who has since shown herself to be a smart filly when finishing 3rd at Newmarket last week in a very decent contest. Maxim Gorky is the likely favourite but at around 7/2 on BF Alrasm looks good value and should give a good account of himself.
4.35 Longliner Win bet Sir Michael Stoute has won three of the last five renewals of Chester's finale and Longliner attracted plenty of money before finishing down the field in the hotly contested 'Timeform' event won by Coordinated Cut at Newmarket three weeks ago. Hopefully can recoup losses today at around 7/2.
A couple at Kelso:
2.35
Mountskip - Win bet Available at 8/1 (General)
Claude Carter - e/w. Available at 20/1 (General)
A run on heavy ground aside, Mountskip has a progressive profile at a lowly level over hurdles. This is only his seventh start over obstacles and, although up two pounds for being beaten into second last time out, the winner is a highly progressive individual. Mountskip handles ground from g/s through to g/f and there should be more to come from him under a good three pound claimer. Claude Carter had some reasonable Bumper form at this track but five outings over hurdles have seen him well beaten. However they have all come in testing conditions and he may be seen in a better light on quicker ground. This race represents his easiest assignment to date and he may still have some potential from his current mark.
5.25- Benmadigan : Win bet. Available at 7/1 (General) Benmadigan isnt the most trustworthy but has been shaping better than his most recent form figures might suggest. At 7/1 I'm prepared to take the chance he runs his race and doesn't idle too much as he has looked to do in the past.
Good luck, enjoy the racing.
Chris
