Passenger in driving seat?

PASSENGER can make a winning start to his 2024 campaign in the Ire-Incentive, It Pays To Buy Irish Huxley Stakes at Chester this afternoon.

The four-year-old has been off the track since winning the Group Three Weatherbys Global Stallions Winter Hill Stakes at Windsor by a short head from West Wind Blows last August. That win followed a poor run in the Derby, where he beat only two of his 14 rivals.

The colt, trained by Sir Michael Stoute, pictured, should relish the extended ten-furlong trip and has form on the ground.

Elsewhere on the card, Grand Providence holds strong claims in the Duke Of Westminster Supporting The Chester Cup.

The four-year-old filly won three of her nine starts last season and only finished outside the top three on one occasion, when trailing home 16th in the Cesarewitch in a race won by The Shunter who reopposes here. She should reverse that form and has won at the distance in the Cesarewitch trial at Newmarket last season.

Grand Providence was not disgraced when third on her seasonal reappearance at Newbury, beaten three lengths by Prince Alex and, despite being one of the youngest horses in the race, her stamina should stand her in good stead.

Liamarty Dreams can make it a hat-trick of victories in the opening CAA Stellar Earl Grosvenor Handicap over seven and a half furlongs. The five-year-old has won over course and distance and has a perfect record in the 2024 season.

The gelding started his campaign with victory at Doncaster before an impressive run when making all to win at Musselburgh over seven furlongs.

Meanwhile, Ephesus can break his maiden for Aidan O’Brien in the Boodles Darley “Confined” Maiden Stakes. He caught the eye when third on his debut last month on the allweather at Dundalk and should come on for that run.

And Polar Princess can carry her all-weather form on to turf in the concluding second division of the Horse PWR Apprentice Handicap.