Chester May Meeting

The 479th edition of the Wayward Lad blog.
There's been no blog for a week or so, mainly as I've been lacking the motivation to write one. Today tho' see's one of the highlights of the flat racing season – the Chester May Meeting. Despite the rain and soft going, it should still be a worthwhile event. Looking back to this day last year, I advised paying particular attention to any runners sent over from Ireland by AP O'Brien. I recall he sent over 6 of which one was a non-runner and the other 5 all won! This Chester meeting is one of his favourites and the 3yo's that he sends to it are (generally) the best of this year's crop. Having taken both the Guineas races at the weekend perhaps this week's runners from his stable will be a little below his usual standard but, even so, they cannot be ignored.

He has 3 runners today, and the one I am most taken with is in the Chester Cup at 2:35, HARRISON'S CAVE. This well related 4yo colt made great improvement last autumn and comes into this race on a handy mark of OR94. He will handle the "give" in the ground, and should also stay the trip well. He would be a "win" wager today if he had a better draw than 15 (it still has an effect, even over this trip) and at just 8/1, there is no value in his odds. He should finish on the premises and, with luck, he could well win as I reckon he'll end the season rated 105-110; but odds of 8/1 represent no value at all. I'd be looking for 12/1 or longer and I may be tempted to wager in-running.

Next on the card at 3:05 is a 5f race which looks very competitive. An inside draw in such races is a must at Chester, even on soft going, as is a runner which has the pace to be prominent thru'out. Drawn 5, LEXI'S HERO who is a winner at Chester and always a prominent runner should be up to winning this at 7/1 (Bet Victor). He should be capable of matching strides with those drawn on his inside, none of whom have the greatest of form lines, and those drawn on his outer have a lot to do.

Finally, at 4:15, we have another 5f race in which the super-consistent NOBLE STORM has been drawn 3. He should blast out of the stalls and make-all from this draw, and only has to fear Addictive Dream (drawn 1) but he should have too much natural speed for him. Odds of 3/1 are available generally, and look fair.

This Saturday, the 3rd round of the Greyhound Derby takes place at Wimbledon dog track. Unfortunately, for London and all sporting fans, it looks most likely that greyhound racing at Wimbledon will cease within the next 12-18 months. Wimbledon is the last greyhound track in the capital. Even in my memory, I remember White City, Wembley, Harringey, Catford, Walthamstow. It will be a very sad day for the sport if Wimbledon is allowed to close. That said, a week or so ago, I advised a list of 10 dogs that I thougt would be worth following thru' the competition.

They were:-
BUBBLY PHEONIX (Apr10) - the 8/1 co 2nd-fav
TAYLORS SKY (Mar09) – the 8/1 co 2nd-fav
JAYTEE PEDRO (Mar10) – 14/1
BOWTIME SYKES (Mar10) – 66/1
RAZLDAZL JAYFKAY (Nov08) – now the 3/1 outright fav,
DROOPYS LORENZO (Feb10)  - still 50/1
BOHER PADDY (Oct08) – 14/1

And these 3 who have been eliminated:-
JAZZ APOLLO
JAYTEE APACHE
RIO TORINO
My selection for top-honours was DROOPYS LORENZO who is still @ 50/1 for the competition but, with only 48-dogs left in, this young dog still has a fair chance of reaching the final.

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Thanks from Wayward Lad.