Friday's ITV4 Chester Racing tips & Preview

In contrast to well-fancied favourite El Hayem, there isn’t likely to be any improvement to come from SOUND ADVICE (Best price 11-1) at the age of eight, but the veteran’s course record may ensure he is again competitive in this opening handicap. While El Hayem’s claims are there for all to see – arrives on the back of an eyecatching reappearance at Newbury in a strong race – the positives for Sound Advice aren’t quite so obvious although the selection did shape with some promise at Thirsk in a hot race last Saturday. That may well have brought him on physically and mentally and, as his course stats are 11410 and he was fourth in this race last year, his morning odds are quite tempting.

Those that supported CLIFFS OF MOHER into third favourite for The Derby have had to wait a while to see him, but they finally have an opportunity this afternoon and the form from his backend win at Leopardstown is beginning to work out pretty well with runner-up Orderofthegarter scoring twice already this season. It goes without saying that he appears a colt of immense potential and his claims are obvious if this track presents no issues, although his trainer’s comments that he wasn't sure if his colt would be ready for this meeting suggests he will surely improve markedly for the outing.

With nine runners it would have been a nice race to have a crack at an each-way bet without the odds-on favourite, but the absence of Apex King terminated that plan. So, with the proviso that this is very much a speculative play at a big price, MAX ZORIN (Best price 40-1) is put forward as a value alternative to Cliffs Of Moher. The selection’s stable have enjoyed an excellent week on the Roodee and their course winner is expected to improve markedly for his comeback in the Feilden Stakes where he was an honourable fourth. Yes Max Zorin has plenty to find, but I’m can’t understand why he is twice the price of Star Of Rory despite beating him comfortably at Epsom last September. He is a fun bet to put his experience of the track to good use.

EVERGATE represents a yard that won this race in 2013 with Normal Equilibrium and I’m optimistic that the son of Exceed And Excel can repeat the trick. A vet certificate for stiffness earned the selection a reprieve from a poor draw earlier in the week and his handler’s patience could be rewarded if his gelding can repeat the level of form which saw him perform with a great deal of credit at Bath in a strongly-run handicap last time. My only reservation about his chance, given his breeding, would be the volume of any rain as his chance would diminish with significant rain.

The case of US ARMY RANGER (Best price 5-2) is not watertight but he always appeared the type of horse to improve for age and he could repeat his victory at this meeting last year following an encouraging comeback. The Galileo colt looked a bit gassy when he made his reappearance at Naas but, with that run under his belt and his yard in great form, he appeals as the likely winner. Sent off favourite to win last year’s Derby, the selection didn’t quite live up to the hype but he will find conditions to his liking and could account for Midterm who sports the headgear for the first time after looking more than a shade reluctant when push came to shove at Newbury. Aidan O’Brien’s horses have largely been on the money this week on the Roodee and it’s easy to imagine last year’s Derby runner-up looking more the finished article today.