William Hill ambassador Nick Luck looks over Thursday’s ITV racing from Chester’s May Festival.
Chester, Thursday
FAIR TAXES can strike for Ireland in Chester’s TV opener on Thursday (1:30pm). It’s all well and good to be drawn on the inside, but he has the tactical pace to use the draw, and ran a remarkable race round here from a wide gate last year. He could be very dangerous back here and dropped in distance.
FRIO is poorly drawn, but has strong form claims in the maiden (2:05pm). He had a shocking trip on his debut, but finished off really well – the second has advertised the four handsomely since – and the experience should bring him on a ton. The trainer has done well here over the years, and the draw will be factored into the price.
CALLA LAGOON could be the answer to the Dee Stakes (2:35pm). He needs to be ripe enough for his seasonal debut to beat a race fit Ballydoyle horse round here, but he has some potential judged on last season’s progressive form, and he was way too far back in a steadily run affair at Pontefract at the back end. Expect better still.
AL QAREEM looks the play in the Ormonde (3:05pm). He’s as hardy and genuine as they come, is piping fit, and should get the run of the race from his inside draw. Added to which, Illinois needed a coupe of spins to get him to concert pitch last year, and Absurde has had a couple of tough enough runs over hurdles.
OUR MIGHTY MO is a very big-priced pick to hit the frame in the final TV race (3:40pm). There are some badly handicapped horses in here, but this one – although more exposed than some – is on a perfectly feasible mark, and really caught the eye on his comeback at Musselburgh. The slight drop in distance will help, and he can tuck in and get settled off a good pace.
