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Racing Preview Wednesday May 7th 2008

RACING PREVIEW – MAY 7th
Wednesday features the opening day of the Chester May Festival, supported by an afternoon Flat card from Beverley and jumping from Fakenham. There are 2 evening National Hunt fixtures, at Cheltenham and Huntingdon

CHESTER
The feature race on the Chester card is the “totesport.com Chester Cup Heritage Handicap,” a Class 2 race for 4-y-o+, run over 2m 2f 147yards, worth a shade under £75k to the winner. Leading fancies include:

Highland Legacy
A progressive middle-distance stayer last year. Won a 2m Class 2 handicap, under 9-7, at Ripon, with more in hand than the official distance of 2l suggests. Market leader, best priced at 4/1, with William Hill.

Double Banded
Satisfactory reappearance when beating Kasthari at Nottingham. John Dunlop traditionally does well with staying handicappers. Best priced at 5/1 with Paddy Power.

Greenwich Meantime
Last year’s winner, who though well beaten in the Cesarewitch, returned to form on faster ground at Ripon. Seasonal reappearance, but sets the standard. Best-priced at 9/1 with William Hill.

Black Rock
Showed progressive form for Michael Jarvis last season, and if tuned up for his return to action, must be a danger to all. Best-priced at 9/1 with William Hill.

A classy undercard includes the “Weatherbys Bank Cheshire Oaks (For The Robert Sangster Memorial Cup)” a Class 1 Listed Race, for 3-y-o over 1m3f79y. Several leading stables are represented. Barry Hills’ Sugar Mint heads the market at around 7/4, with Sir Michael Stoute’s Laughter at 3/1, Sail at 5/1, Queen of Naples 11/2, and 9/1 bar.

BEVERLEY
Contrastingly, Beverley features the “John Robinson Builder Retirement Handicap” a Class 4 race for 4yo+, rated 0-80, run over 1m 2f and worth £4,209 to the winner. This is appears a “trappy” affair, and the betting exchanges seem to agree. In a tight market, Rosbay, Rudry Dragon and Nelsons Column are all well fancied. James Bethell’s Snowed Under, a course and distance winner, should run a big race.

Betting Forecast: 11/4 Rosbay, 3/1 Rudry Dragon, 9/2 Nelsons Column, Snowed Under, 8/1 Sudden Impulse, 12/1 Fever, 16/1 Ursis, 25/1 Rain And Shade

FAKENHAM
Aleemdar, whose performance in a selling hurdle at Fakenham more than two years ago remains the subject of an investigation into betting patterns on the race, returns to action at the Norfolk venue. Now aged 11, Aleemdar again tackles plating company, having been entered by new trainer John Panvert on what will be his first appearance since November 2006. Aleemdar’s display on Easter Monday 2006 resulted in then trainer Alan Jones being found guilty under the “non-trier” rule and fined £5,000, and conditional jockey Derek Laverty receiving a 28-day ban. Both lodged appeals which have remained on hold, pending the outcome of the BHA investigation.

CHELTENHAM
Cheltenham hosts it ever-popular “Hunter Chase” meeting. The feature event is the “Red Mills Intermediate Point-To-Point Championship Final Hunters’ Chase,” a Class 4 event for 5-y-o+, run over 3m 1f 110yards. In a fine renewal of this final, Massimo and Range Rover must have decent chances.

Betting Forecast: 7/2 Massimo, Range Rover, 5/1 Bravery Scotch, 8/1 Bowdens Lane, 14/1 Adams Wine, Flax Hill, Holly Walk, 16/1 Tommy Two Toes, 20/1 BAR.

HUNTINGDON
Huntingdon’s feature is the “Irish Night Handicap Chase,” a Class 4 event over 3m. Wenger and Toni Alcala are in good form, but Richard Phillips’ Bauhaus showed decent form last season and should go well if fully wound up.

Betting Forecast:3/1 Wenger, 4/1 Toni Alcala, 13/2 Big Al, 7/1 Bauhaus, 15/2 Celebrity Call, 12/1 Dune Raider, 14/1 BAR.

All odds correct at time of writing. Please click here for the latest odds