UK Horse Racing Tips: Chester

Only one of the last eight winners of this has come out of a stall higher than the six box, which suggests that RESPOND has every chance. Successful at Chelmsford in March and third at Kempton over further since, Andrew Balding's gelding could be tough to peg back. Great David should appreciate the return to handicap company after being found wanting in Listed and Group 3 races last year, although a mark of 102 seems high enough. El Burhan might hit a place from a fractionally higher draw.
Prediction : 1st Respond 2nd Great David 3rd El Burhan

Glory Of The Seas could prove popular in the Godolphin blue for Roger Varian, but he needs to take a step forward after a seven-and-a-half-length fourth at Newbury. GALIYAN showed his inexperience on debut at Newmarket when ducking at the start and running green before finishing fourth, but it will be a huge surprise if he doesn't learn plenty from that experience. Joulany is getting better with racing and cannot be discounted, while Distorted Truth needs forgiving her last run to figure.
Prediction : 1st Galiyan 2nd Glory Of The Seas 3rd Joulany

Last year's Derby winner LAMBOURN looks poised to make a winning return to action back at the site of his Chester Vase victory. After a couple of below-par runs at the end of the season, the application of cheekpieces here can sharpen the colt up. George Scott's Bay City Roller rounded out his season with Group 1 success in Germany and may be the most likely challenger to the Derby winner. King's Gambit was no match for the winner when second in the Sefton Stakes last month but may be better for the run. Curragh Group 3 winner Starford arrives here having made a solid start to his season but will have to overcome the widest draw from stall nine, while Royal Rhyme may appreciate a softer surface than this.
Prediction : 1st Lambourn 2nd Bay City Roller 3rd Kings Gambit

Joseph O'Brien boasts a strong hand here with GALILEO DAME the most appealing of the lot. The mare comes here in good form off the back of a second-placed effort at Navan and boasts proven stamina from her success over hurdles. This race can often go to a dual-purpose performer and the booking of Ryan Moore certainly catches the eye. O'Brien also saddles the lightly-raced A Piece Of Heaven and Irish Cesarewitch/Cheltenham Festival winner Puturhandstogether, who won't mind the big field but has been handed the widest draw of all in stall 17. Blindedbythelights is a consistent type but has been unable to get his head in front since June 2023 and finds himself 22lb higher than that now. The hat-trick seeking Team Player has won both his starts since joining Ewan Whillans and the four-year-old could have more improvement left in him.
Prediction : 1st Galileo Dame 2nd Blindedbythelights 3rd Team Player

We all know the value of a low draw at Chester, especially in the sprints, and if HOODIE HOO starts well from the four stall, he has every chance. Second on his return at Lingfield after over five months off, nominal improvement would give him every chance off the same mark. Clonmacash heads over from Ireland after winning at Dundalk and has to be considered off 3lb higher, while Paws For Thought has won here six times and may hit a place from the less-advantageous nine stall.
Prediction : 1st Hoodie Hoo 2nd Clonmacash 3rd Paws For Thought

Gibside is only 1lb higher than when successful in this contest last year and cannot be ruled out. Third in the Chester Cup back in 2023, Call My Bluff bounced back with a convincing win at Newbury last month and the veteran could make his presence felt, but SHRIMP SHADY is less exposed than most. He's improved with every step up in distance and is taken to build on his recent second over 2m at Lingfield off what looks a workable mark. Kingstonian, Imperial Sovereign and Hamsiyann are others to note.
Prediction : 1st Shrimp Shady 2nd Gibside 3rd Call My Bluff

Alvin returned the cosy winner at Bath recently and enters calculations. However, he could have had more luck with the draw and preference is for SCHRODINGER'S CAT. Grant Tuer's sprinter posted a fine effort on his seasonal/handicap debut when runner-up at Thirsk and the son of Ardad could launch a strong challenge off his current mark. Champonie will need to be sharper from the stalls at this track if she's to remain unbeaten, although Billy Loughnane's presence is a positive.
Prediction : 1st Schrodingers Cat 2nd Alvin 3rd Champonie

PATAGONIA GIRL won over a shorter trip here last June and looks worth another try over this extra distance. The daughter of Australia just missed out in a fight to the line at Yarmouth on her reappearance and Jack Nicholls' allowance further helps her cause. Nightsinwhitesatin was narrowly defeated at Thirsk last month and is likely to prove competitive once again, while Siouxfonic has a bit to find with the selection but is not totally discounted returning to 1m4f.
Prediction : 1st Patagonia Girl 2nd Nightsinwhitesatin 3rd Siouxfonic