13:30 Chester

This looks a competitive 0-105 handicap but preference goes to the bottom weight REPERTOIRE (best priced at 8/1) who runs here off the same mark as his victory at Ascot last Wednesday. The David Simcock trained six-year-old was winning for the first time in his career on turf but it was a really impressive victory on his reappearance by six lengths. 

That victory came in an apprentice handicap under Saffie Osbourne so Repertoire is unpenalised for that success which makes him 5lbs well in at the weights. The jockey also now gets to claim her 3lbs in this race which puts him off a feather weight in this handicap and I expect him to run well with up to four places available. 

Repertoire - 0.5pts e/w @ 8/1

14:05 Chester

The wide margin success of Pride Of America at Chester yesterday has boosted the form of BARYSHNIKOV (NAP) (best priced at 9/2) and I expect the David & Nicola Barron trained gelding to prove hard to beat in this race. The six-year-old was sent off an unfancied 20/1 shot on his reappearance at Pontefract last month but he won easily by 2 ¾ lengths beating Pride Of America who won easily here yesterday by 5 ½ lengths. 

The handicapper has raised Baryshnikov 5lbs for his latest success but that in hindsight looks very fair and I expect him to follow up in this race at a track where he has form figures of 114 in his career. 

Baryshnikov - 1pt e/w @ 9/2

14:40 Chester

Sir Michael Stoute, Ryan Moore and Saeed Suhail combined to win this with Cannock Chase in 2016 and the pair hold strong claims again this year with SOLID STONE (best priced at 9/4). The six-year-old ended last season with two Group 3 victories at Windsor and Newbury and despite having a below par reappearance run in Saudi Arabia in February, that run is easily excused. 

The favourite Megallan made a nice reappearance at Newmarket behind Master Of The Seas but he is a doubtful stayer over this trip in my eyes and I expect Ryan Moore to continue his good week and win this race for a record seven times. 

Solid Stone - 1pt @ 9/4

15:15 Chester

Hugo Palmer provided Michael Owen and Manor House Stables with an impressive winner at Chester on Wednesday and he will be hoping to provide his new boss with the Chester Cup this year. He runs the progressive four-year-old SOLENT GATEWAY (best priced at 9/2) who looks to have a lot going for him in this contest. He has good form at Chester including an impressive victory in August over 2 miles and he was eyecatching on his return at Epsom last month.

Solent Gateway was only beaten ½ length when 3rd that day and he races here off only a 1lb higher mark. The soft ground is a slight question mark as he was disappointing on heavy ground at Newbury in October but I will take a chance on him back at Chester in a race which looks an obvious early season target for connections with five places on offer.

Solent Gateway - 0.5pts e/w @ 9/2