Chester Cup 2023 Tips, Odds & Runners Guide

Chester Cup Runners Guide

Falcon Eight 

• Trainer: Dermot Weld 
• Jockey: Ryan Moore 
• Odds: 6/1
• Form: 546518

 

Won this race quite comfortably two years ago off 104 and was by no means disgraced in finishing fifth to Cleveland off 109 last year in his defence bid. The eight-year-old has a touch of class and did win on soft-ground back in October but he is still weighted to the hilt off 108 and he is vulnerable to a potential improver in the field. 

He is still likely to prove popular with the combination of Ryan Moore in the saddle and a good draw in stall 4 but to win this again would be some training achievement and a testament to the ability of this horse. He isn’t getting any younger though and might have to settle for minor honours at best. His odds are a touch too skinny for my liking as well. 

Metier 

• Trainer: Harry Fry 
• Jockey: Saffie Osborne 
• Odds: 7/1
• Form: 275182

 

With conditions set to be quite testing, Harry Fry’s smart performer will be in his element. He won the Grade 1 Tolworth Novices’ Hurdle at Sandown and proved his effectiveness on the Flat when landing the November Handicap at Doncaster in November, again when the ground was in his favour. 

His latest second to Wise Eagle at Musselburgh last month was a perfectly-respectable effort and he has each-way possibilities despite creeping back up in the weights. Preferably a lower draw than 14 would have been better and his stamina for this trip remains inconclusive but the seven-year-old is respected all the same. 

Zoffee 

• Trainer: Hugo Palmer 
• Jockey: Ben Curtis 
• Odds: 7/1
• Form: 113734

 

Never quite reached the heights that were expected of him over hurdles and fences but has certainly enjoyed himself on the Flat since, recording two handicap wins over staying trips last year and came close to winning the valuable bet365 Trophy at Newmarket when third of 16, when marginally denied in a three-way finish to proceedings. 

He was fourth off this mark in the Cesarewitch when last seen, and has established himself on multiple occasions he can handle the hustle and bustle of a big field. He is drawn well in stall 3 plus Hugo Palmer’s impressive 24% strike-rate here is worth noting. The only thing that could set him back is his first-time-out record and soft ground which isn’t great but he will have been trained to the minute and has place claims.

Vino Victrix

• Trainer: Hughie Morrison 
• Jockey: Benoit De La Sayette (3)
• Odds: 14/1
• Form: 221248

 

Jockey Benoit De La Sayette is getting ever-closer to losing his three pounds claim and this five-year-old he rides encountered a preparatory run at Newbury last month but that was arguably a disappointment despite needing the appearance, finishing well down the field. 

He is likely to leave that behind here and his second in the Cesarewitch is a decent piece of form, while his win at Goodwood is also good form. However, all of his best form has come on a sounder surface and he remains on a career-high mark, so there is no room for error, though he could find improvement to run well.

Rajinsky 

• Trainer: Hugo Palmer
• Jockey: Harry Davies (3)
• Odds: 10/1
• Form: 341916

 

A tough and generally reliable stayer, who was third in this race last year. That form has been upheld since as the second, Coltrane, has won two of his last three, which includes the Doncaster Cup and the Sagaro Stakes on his return. This seven-year-old produced a career-best performance to beat Trueshan at Nottingham on his seasonal comeback. 

That said, he seemed to put all his eggs in one basket that day, as he turned in a poor effort when last of six in the Sagaro Stakes, which was uncharacteristic of him to say the least. He is drawn well in 5 and a repeat of his third last year would certainly give him place claims but a 13 pounds higher mark is likely to catch him out under these conditions, so he is opposable. 

Tritonic 

• Trainer: Alan King 
• Jockey: Hollie Doyle 
• Odds: 11/1
• Form: 448210

 

Has often mixed it over hurdles and on the Flat and this classy dual-purpose horse won off just a four pounds lower at Goodwood last October and ran well at the Grand National meeting last month when fourth in a valuable handicap hurdle event. 

National Hunt trainers tend to do well in this race with their runners, so Alan King’s charge could be well-suited to this sort of race and has Hollie Doyle on his back. The ground is a concern though, he has no experience of this course and is likely to come unstuck on the ground. 

Call My Bluff 

• Trainer: Dominic French Davis
• Jockey: John Egan 
• Odds: 17/2
• Form: 403202

 

Will have no issue over this trip, who ran well on his reappearance last month when second to the progressive Novel Legend. He has developed a liking for this course, as he has run here three times, winning once alongside placing in the other two, including at this meeting last year in the Chester Plate. 

He will relish conditions, stays well, and is drawn nicely in stall 2. He looks capable of ranking a few pounds higher, especially over this trip on this ground, so a new personal best could well be on the cards and he won’t go down without a fight either. 

Almuhit

• Trainer: Denis Hogan
• Jockey: Joey Sheridan (5)
• Odds: 28/1
• Form: 48123

 

Formerly trained by John Gosden, who has had just the five starts on the Flat but was a well-held third on heavy ground at Doncaster when last seen in this sphere and came up well short in the Triumph Hurdle when last seen.

He appears to be quite harshly treated off 92 back on the Flat too. He might well prove he stays the trip but this is a tough race to bounce back to form in and an outside draw in stall 17 makes his task even more difficult. Not for me. 

Aztec Empire 

• Trainer: Andrew Balding
• Jockey: Oisin Murphy 
• Odds: 20/1
• Form: 214166

 

A winner of two of his five starts this year but a tame finishing effort after travelling well saw him return a well beaten sixth at Newbury last time and he needs more. 

His trainer does have a good record in this race and Oisin Murphy rides but this son of Sea The Stars needs to bounce back despite this probably being the target for a while. 

Emiyn

• Trainer: Declan Carroll
• Jockey: Harrison Shaw
• Odds: 11/1
• Form: 421359

 

An ultra tough front-runner with a good record at this course, which reads 142421 from six starts. He is race-fit following two runs at Musselburgh and Thirsk and beat Call My Bluff over track and trip in September, which is a decent bit of form. 

He was fourth at this meeting last year in the Chester Plate but finds himself four pounds higher in this tougher assignment and will undoubtedly need a career-best performance to take this. He is drawn well in stall 1 but is he classy enough to win this from the front? I’m not sure but he should make a bold bid at the least. 

Calling The Wind

• Trainer: Richard Hughes 
• Jockey: Jamie Spencer 
• Odds: 10/1
• Form: 433704

 

Won over 2m4f at Glorious Goodwood in 2021 and while has been stuck in between major handicaps and pattern races over the past couple of years, the seven-year-old was third of 32 in a Cesarewitch off this mark, second of 23 in the November Handicap off a mark of 103 and third in the Queen Alexandra Stakes at Royal Ascot last year. On the face of it, we know he is seen to best effect in larger-field scenarios. 

He warmed up for this with a close-up fourth at Wolverhampton on his reappearance and Jamie Spencer is in the saddle, who could be very well-suited to this hold-up performer, who travels well and has form on soft ground. Despite never racing at Chester so far in his career, he is likely to be charging late and is the ideal type to be best placed to pick up any scraps and possibly win this if the race is run to suit. 

Euchen Glen

• Trainer: Jim Goldie 
• Jockey: Paul Mulrennan
• Odds: 16/1
• Form: 732654

 

This 10-year-old hasn’t won for nearly two years but has been campaigned superbly by his trainer and has run some big races in defeat since his last success. He caught the eye last-time-out when a staying-on fourth of 14 from the back of the field in the World Pool Queen's Cup and isn’t no back number despite his advancing years. 

He has never competed over a trip this far in his career, so his stamina has to be taken on trust, but he is a class horse who should get the run of the race. He is a better horse on better ground but he does have winning form on testing ground, so it would come as no surprise to see him run well. He is a remarkable servant who I’m sure will do his connections proud. 

Law Of The Sea 

• Trainer: Ian Williams 
• Jockey: Franny Norton 
• Odds: 20/1
• Form: 655300

 

Needs to step up from what he has shown after two starts this year but is sure to grab the attention of some punters with Roodee specialist Franny Norton in the saddle. The handicapper has given his mount a fair chance though, dropping him 10 pounds from when he was rated 100 when last seen in the UK. 

He is another with stamina to prove though, as he looked a non-stayer when fifth in the Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot two years ago over 1m6f. I think he would prefer better ground as well, so he has plenty to prove at present and can be passed over. 

Bascule 

• Trainer: Richard Hughes 
• Jockey: Billy Loughnane (3)
• Odds: 25/1
• Form: 450243

 

He is on a decent mark on the pick of some of his form but he is a better horse on the all-weather and his record reflects that. He remains above his last winning mark, even with Billy’s claim taken into account and he has previously struggled on soft ground. 

He has also been well beaten on both previous attempts at this trip so it is unlikely he will turn in a career-best effort under unfavourable conditions. I am happy to pass him over as the stable have a more appealing candidate in Calling The Wind. 

The Grand Visir 

• Trainer: Ian Williams 
• Jockey: Richard Kingscote 
• Odds: 33/1
• Form: 203669

 

Winless since winning the the Ascot Stakes at the 2019 Royal meeting but he was second in this race two years ago from a six pounds higher mark. He could only finish midfield in last year’s renewal and has been absent since. 

A lower draw would have been better too, as he is drawn in stall 16 but his second in this two years ago was on his reappearance, so fitness won’t be an issue. The likelihood is the ground has gone against him unfortunately and his chance of winning this might have already gone two years ago. Still, he could hit the frame. 

Reshoun 

• Trainer: Patrick Morris 
• Jockey: Jim Crowley 
• Odds: 40/1
• Form: 215340

 

Showcased smart form when formerly trained by Ian Williams and is only two pounds above his last winning mark. However, he has been well beaten in the last two renewals of this race and his overall record here isn’t great either. 

He makes his stable for a local stable and the booking of Jim Crowley is interesting but he has often needed his first run of the season and it is hard to make a case for him to potentially make it third time lucky in the race. 

Al Zaraqaan 

• Trainer: Sam England 
• Jockey: Leigh Roche 
• Odds: 66/1
• Form: 626970

 

A winner of four races last year but he isn’t the most straightforward. That said, his turf mark is lower than his all-weather mark and he is evidently well-handicapped.

All of his form points to him being a better ground horse, which he won’t get here and he is more than likely going to be outclassed. He is the outsider for a reason and would be a surprise winner in my view.  

Chester Cup 2023 Tips & Prediction 

As always, the Chester Cup has the makings of a great race. I have three against the field, two of which are hold-up performers and are more than capable of being competitive off their current marks. 

CALLING THE WIND (best price 10/1) has spent the last few years competing in valuable handicaps and while he has been winless since winning at Glorious Goodwood nearly two years ago, he won that day over 2m4f and has placed in the Queen Alexandra twice at Royal Ascot and also when second in the November Handicap off 103. 

Essentially, he is three pounds lower for this race, the same mark as when third in the 2021 Cesarewitch. He is a proven stayer, who travels well and has Jamie Spencer doing the steering, who is likely to give him a patient-stalking ride and should be suited to Richard Hughes’ charge. 

Moreover, he does tick a lot of boxes and warmed up for this with an eye-catching staying on fourth at Wolverhampton last time in a middling affair. He will need a lot of luck-in running given his run style but if he gets it, he must have an outstanding each-way chance at the very least with five places widely available. 

Similar to the former, EUCHEN GLEN (best price 16/1) has plenty of smart form, who is closely matched with Richard Hughes’ charge and will need luck-in running as well but he is proven on the ground and is worth a go at this trip as he’s often finished his races strongly over shorter. 

He has won and placed in pattern-class and handicaps off higher ratings and marks and the last time he ran off a mark of 101, was nearly three years ago when easily winning the Old Borough Cup on testing ground. 

He is really well-handicapped, will be suited to the race and if he does stay, expect him to be finishing late and fast. With five places widely on offer, he is an appealing each-way bet at the odds. 

I’ll also play an each-way bet on one of the likely pacesetters in the shape of EMIYN (best price 11/1) who loves this course and is drawn well in stall 1 to attack early and get prominent pitch early doors, which can only be seen as a positive if able to do so. 

He handles testing ground, ran well over an inadequate trip to finish third in the November Handicap on similar ground off only a pound lower mark and returns to his favourite track with plenty in his favour as well. 

He ran a big race when fourth off top-weight in the Chester Plate at this meeting last year from the front on ground quick enough and has no doubt been aimed at this race since. Again, with five places generally available, this course specialist looks poised to run well back on the Roodee.