Nick Luck’s blog: Start the day with a win on the Board

It’s been another great Chester May meeting and we now find ourselves at the business end of the week where we can hopefully round off the meeting as we started with a couple of nice priced winners.

Read on for Nick’s thoughts on five races from the final day of the Chester meeting.

BOARDMAN looks a fair bet at 11/4 to follow up his recent success in the final day opener at Chester on Friday (1.30pm). He started to live up to his illustrious pedigree around this time last year, looking particularly slick at York and here (plenty of cut in the ground). He has been fortunate to get away with a two-pound rise for his Haydock win – that by no means takes him to the ceiling of his ability – and can give another bold showing.

BRENTFORD HOPE makes quite a bit of appeal at 4/1 in the Deepbridge (2.05pm). He ran some pretty creditable races in pattern company here and abroad last year, and he’ll enjoy a return to slightly calmer waters – the last time he humped a fair weight in a handicap, he barely came off the bridle. There will be a nice pace to aim at here, he’s well drawn, and he should be fit enough as he was ready to run a fortnight ago only to be pulled out on account of the ground.

MAJESTIC DAWN makes quite a lot of sense at 7/1 in the Huxley (2.40pm). He rounded off last season with two belting efforts – first on soft at Salisbury, then when bustling up the very promising bay Bridge. He’s facing higher profile rivals here, but Megallan isn’t a superstar on all known evidence, Al Aasy probably is but doesn’t always consent to show it, while Solid Stone arguably wants better ground. In addition, none are confirmed pacesetters at this trip, so the selection may be able to dictate – and he’s good enough to stay there.

SOLENT GATEWAY looks most appealing at 9/2 in the Chester Cup (3.15pm). The youngest in the field, he’s open to easily the most improvement, loves the track and the ground, and is completely unexposed over a trip, having hacked up on his only try over further than middle distances here last autumn. His mark looks highly attractive, having been nudged up only a pound for a luckless defeat over an inadequate trip at Epsom. He’s perfectly drawn and has a huge chance.

FLAMING RIB can get back on track at 7/2 in the conditions event (3.45pm). Five furlongs is a little sharp for him ideally, but this ground and pace will make this a decent test at the trip, and he has the benefit of dropping somewhat in class and the removal of the hood which becalmed him in the Greenham (he still ran respectably).