Nick Luck’s William Hill Blog: Hoping I’m Due For Luck at Chester

Nick Luck, broadcaster and journalist, casts his expert eye over Chester’s Wednesday card.

Chester, Wednesday

EXPONISTA is one from left field for the opener at Chester’s May Festival (1.30pm). Truthfully I could suggest about seven possibles here, but the selection keeps catching my eye at a really big price. She has had an in-and-out career so far, but has often been overfaced, including in a Listed at Bath last time, when she actually ran much better than the position suggested, trapped wide throughout and clearly finding 5 furlongs too sharp. This is much more suitable, she can improve for the run, and is reunited with Rossa Ryan, successful when aboard for her impressive win last summer. The draw looks kind, and she can give this a bold go for a long way.

SERAPHIM ANGEL looks to have strong possibilities for a trainer that would dearly love a few winners round here (2.05pm). You could argue that her opening fourth on the Rowley Mile was the equal of anything achieved here, and she showed a nice bit of speed from the gates there that will serve her well on this second start. Her sire has made a very bright start with his first runners.

DUE FOR LUCK can win the sprint handicap on his seasonal debut (2.35pm). The stable does quite well with its very select handful of runners at this fixture, and this one would have won here off this mark last summer if he’d had any sort of run. He’s related to some hard knocking and talented sprinters, so should do better still, and has been handed a lovely draw.

SEAWARD is a drop of value against her favoured stablemate and the rest in the Cheshire Oaks (3.05pm). She’s not far short of having the best form in the race, despite not having had anything like a suitable trip yet. Her only slight blip was in the Fillies’ Mile, where she ran too hard early and ran on soft ground, conditions which her trainer had previously stated were unsuitable. A sounder surface, a good draw, and lots of opponents whose ability lives will inevitably be very mixed, make her quite a compelling each way bet at least.

HIDDEN LAW can strengthen Charlie Appleby’s hand in the Chester Vase (3.40pm). This looks a spicy enough edition given the form the Ballydoyle pair have already shown and the selection’s Southwell conqueror in attendance. Hidden Law, however, looked to take a good step forward mentally at Newbury even if the for wasn’t that flash, and he finished off in a pretty smart time given he’s bred to stay really well. The bottom of his pedigree suggests better grand should suit even better, and he could be pretty smart.