Chester ITV4 Racing Tips & Preview

The Sir Michael Stoute-trained Khairaat could well be a warm order to land the opening handicap, but BROROCCO (Best price 3-1) is following a similar path to 2015 winner Collaboration who won the same Epsom handicap his stablemate secured a fortnight ago. Trainer Andrew Balding enjoyed a notable success yesterday in the Chester Cup and the son of Shirocco can add to those gains this afternoon if he can reproduced the same level of speed figure he achieved on his comeback. Although that race has yet to work out particularly well, Brorocco also produced a terrific sectional time from Tattenham Corner which suggested his winning run may not have ended there.

The Sandown Group Three won by Ulysses could hold the key to this event with runner-up Deauville and fourth-home Royal Artillery both representing the form. The latter is arguably the one likely to improve significantly as he is a big, gross horse which needed the run dramatically at the Esher venue. However, Sir Michael Stoute has utilised this race for a stepping stone to Royal Ascot for a number of quality colts in the past decade, including Maraahel and Cannock Chase, so POET’S WORD (Best price 10-3) could make a dramatic step up from handicap company to become a genuine Pattern-race class performer. Stoute has won this race six times since its inception and Ryan Moore was keen to look after the four-year-old on his reappearance at Chelmsford with a view to bigger targets further down the line. He ran out a cosy winner that day and could be worth keeping faith with.

The application of the hood appeared to do VIA EGNATIA (Best price 4-1) few favours on his reappearance and he was ultimately soundly beaten in Conditions company. He is surely a better horse than though and the removal of the headgear may give him the opportunity to show it in this tightly-knit handicap. Stall one offers Frankie Dettori the opportunity to make the running if required – a return to tactics which suited the selection well at Newmarket last backend on the Rowley Mile. If Dettori prefers to take a lead then I’m sure the progressive Sharp Defence will provide it from stall four and he could prove a dangerous adversary if allowed to dictate as he did at Salsibury for his maiden win on fast ground.

Trying to oppose an Aidan O’Brien three-year-old this spring has proved a largely fruitless task, but TAMLEEK (Best price 5-1) could be overpriced to lower the colours of Venice Beach in the Chester Vase. Ballydoyle have monopolised virtually every Group race run in recent days and the five-length Tipperary maiden winner looks another colt likely to give a good account in this prestigious Derby trial. The first-time tongue tie and step up in trip appeared to help the son of Galileo three weeks ago and he is likely to progress again now he tackles an even faster surface on the Roodee. However, Tamleek created a superb impression when spread-eagling a decent field of Newmarket maidens at the Craven meeting and the form has already begun to work out well. Victories for runner-up Oasis Charm, fourth-home Pealer, Daawy in sixth and eighth across-the-line Globetrotter suggest the race is above average and, although the selection looks a robust and powerful sort in confirmation, he looked a well-balanced colt at HQ so he may cope with Chester’s tight turns.

Read Sam Turner's tips in the Daily Mail every day or at www.dailymail.co.uk/racing