DEMOCRACY GETS MY VOTE
THE 5f handicap at Chester yesterday was dominated by the horses with the most speed rather than those with the best draw, with stalls 6 and 7 dominating from the off.
In an ideal punting world, the best pace and the best draw would combine and that looks to have happened here to a large degree with the speedy DEMOCRACY DILEMMA (1.30, Chester) coming from stall two and looking well positioned to make all the running.
The selection ran well on his debut for Robert Cowell at Meydan and has won two of his three starts over C&D in his time with David Evans.
His most recent win came by a comfortable margin here in September on heavy ground, but he ran well on quicker turf at Meydan and although
5lb above his last winning mark, given the impression that he has more to come as a sprinter for current connections, who haven’t had him long.
Minimal
Never So Brave will be very popular here after an easy win on his return at Thirsk, and his second to the top-class Vandeek at Nottingham last summer suggests that he could be ahead of his opening mark.
That is no secret, however, and odds of 6/5 around Chester make minimal appeal at the best of times.
One who offers more in the way of temptation at the odds is the Andrew Balding-trained Celtic Warrior, who represents a stable with an excellent record at this meeting.
Backing all the Kingsclere handicappers blind at the May meeting over the last decade would have put punters over €550 in front to a tenner at SP, and the stable does target the meeting with progressive sorts, making that stat no fluke.
CELTIC WARRIOR (2.35, Chester) may have run into one on handicap debut at Southwell in March when beaten a head by Inner Temple, with the pair well clear.
Celtic Warrior made amends when winning a 7f Kempton maiden last time, and his strength in the finish that day strongly hints that he will progress again at a mile. This intermediate trip will certainly suit on that evidence and he seems sure to run a solid race against the hyped favourite.
Neither of the blacktype races on the card make much appeal for punting purposes, but if forced to have a bet in the Dee Stakes, it would be on Richard Hughes’s BRACKEN’S LAUGH (3.05, Chester) who beat Capulet fair and square in the Woodford
Reserve Cardinal Stakes at Chelmsford last time.
He ought to be much shorter than that rival in the betting here, no hint of a fluke about that comprehensive win and still a hint of greenness about a colt having just his third start there.
Like City of Troy, Capulet is a son of Justify and there must now be a question about how these precocious juveniles are training one, with several disappointing to varying degrees this season having shown top-class form as two-year-olds.
I found myself finding reasons why all the runners in the Ormonde Stakes won’t win, and that tends to knock confidence in backing any of them.
Deauville Legend can go well if taking to blinkers, but the presence of the headgear on his return is a definite worry.
Arrest was impressive on this card last year but does seem a more potent force on softer ground and I ended up coming round to POINT LONSDALE (3.40, Chester), who I would have as a dubious stayer at the trip, but almost certain to be able to dominate.
If Ryan Moore can put the brakes on in front and turn this into a sprint, then his mount could hold the aces.