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2.10 - Racing Welfare Supporting Racing's Workforce Novice Stakes (7½f)
Top-weight C'mon Kenny won a Ludlow bumper in April and will do well conceding weight to this field. In any case, he has plenty on to turn around last month's C&D form with SUNSET SALUTE for the Andrew Balding stable.
William Cox's mount got away alertly in that race and made every yard, improving nicely from his Kempton debut. He was comfortable at the end and that form has been nicely boosted since by the second and fourth scoring on their next starts.
The Twilight Son gelding may be better placed to defy his penalty than December's Kempton novice scorer Billy Peyto for David Simcock. That race has thrown up plenty subsequent winners but race-fitness, allied to that very useful Chester experience, tilt things towards Sunset Salute at this stage.
C'mon Kenny's trainer Ian Williams also runs debutant Chica Boom and he's worth a check in the betting. Duchess Rose should be sharper for her first start at Thirsk recently and Richard Fahey's filly is another worth noting.
Meanwhile Aesthete showed improved form on seasonal return/first start for Ralph Beckett at Salisbury (7f, good) last month and could be a player here with first-time blinkers deployed given the Muhaarar gelding didn't quite appear determined to go and get his race that afternoon.
2.45 - Retraining Of Racehorses Handicap (5f)
GLAMOROUS ANNA has had some tough assignments since winning a Glorious Goodwood handicap over this trip from this mark last summer.
She reappeared in last month's Palace House Stakes at Newmarket and then contested the red-hot King's Stand at Royal Ascot 11 days ago, where she was understandably outclassed amid one of the fastest gallops seen on British turf in many a while.
As a result, Chris Mason's filly now finds herself back on her last winning mark of 90 and she has run well in her sole previous visit to Chester. This is a close-knit handicap but she should have leading claims dropping in class and her rider takes off 3lb. It could be a quick-fire double on the Roodee for William Cox.
Caroline Dale is well worth some attention despite David Loughnane's filly making her first start of the year. She was Group 2-placed last summer as a 2YO and has plenty scope for better this season given her low-mileage profile.
Gabrial The Devil tends to run this track well and is perfectly drawn in stall one, though there's a concern that Richard Fahey's gelding may find this 5f trip sharper than ideal.
Bossipop was a 5f soft-ground winner at Pontefract last month and is holding his form well this season. Tim Easterby's charge should remain competitive, though a career-best may be demanded from this rating.
3.20 - nationalracehorseweek.uk Handicap (7f)
Stylish Performer has been progressive on the all-weather and Karl Burke's three-year-old perhaps didn't relish the give underfoot at Ascot in his lone turf start last month when he was last of seven in this grade. He ran a shade too keen that day and will have to settle better for claiming rider Pierre-Louis Jamin now.
Sibaaq made a winning return at Salisbury in April for the Mark Johnston team and has backed that effort up when second over the same C&D four weeks ago. The Dark Angel gelding is well-drawn to attack here and should be in the mix.
Paws For Thought is in form but will need the breaks from his wide draw, while Master Zoffany was a winner over slightly further here last month for Richard Fahey. He perhaps didn't quite get home over a mile since at Haydock from this increased mark and isn't one to draw a line through.
CAIRN ISLAND could be the answer for Kevin Ryan and Danny Tudhope. He was a useful 2YO last season, winning at Ayr and York over 6f before ending with a creditable showing in the big Sales race at Doncaster's St Leger Festival.
He began his season with a solid fourth at Newmarket (6f, good to firm) in April from a 1lb higher mark in a race that has worked out spectacularly well.
The winner Creative Force is 3-3 since, including the Group 3 Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot, while runner-up Significantly was a 5f handicap winner at the same meeting and the superb Rohaan (fifth that day) landed two Group-race wins at Ascot and Haydock prior to winning the Wokingham this month.
First-time cheekpieces are added here and Cairn Island and, up in trip, it's unlikely this race will be quite as warm as that seasonal comeback. The Kodiac gelding makes solid appeal.
3.55 - EBF Maiden Stakes (5f)
Russellinthebushes sets the standard for Tom Dascombe and Jane Elliott. She has finished second-best in 3-4 starts so far (including over C&D in May), with the sole blemish coming in a York Listed contest after that. She has done little wrong and was picked off late at Windsor this month. From a good low draw, she should go well.
ZOLTAN STAR may be better-placed today. The Kodiac colt was third over C&D at the May Festival (just behind the filly) and has since contested a hot renewal of Epsom's Woodcote Stakes. The re-opposing pair are both drawn ideally and perhaps the colt can now progress enough to get the job done in this return to maiden company.
Cheekpieces go on Archie Watson's Top Exhibit for the first time. He was second at Yarmouth on second outing recently and is open to further progress here. Cotai Hero was not far behind in fourth in that same race having been held up (started 2/1 favourite) and Ed Walker's colt should be able to rise a more stern challenge now.
He's drawn in the middle here and has Saffie Osborne claiming a handy 5lb, while Top Exhibit is out wide in stall 11 and facing a job to get up on the early speed as he did last time.
4.30 - Mental Health UK Handicap (1m4f)
Elhafei seeks a four-timer for trainer John Mackie after wins at Catterick, Haydock and here a fortnight ago. Another 5lb has been added by the assessor now and, while it's not insurmountable, the six-year-old may be one to take on this time.
The Marwan Koukash colours are out in force with three runners from two stables. Gabrial The One was runner-up over shorter on seasonal comeback a fortnight ago and will have his chance if building on that now.
His 2-25 strike-rate on turf isn't overly inspiring, however. The Ian Williams-trained Heart Of Soul was right behind him in third there and may have similar aspirations stepped up in trip again.
Bay Of Naples made good progress on the all-weather after leaving Mark Johnston to join this yard. He was a winner when last spotted in February (4lb lower) and hasn't had many tries on turf. It will be interesting to see how he fares here.
Carlos Felix and King's Castle are capable, if not altogether reliable, and so a chance is given to SALIGO BAY - the least exposed of these with just four starts. The son of New Bay was third last month at Salisbury when stepped up to 1m2f behind a pair of improving three-year-olds.
He should have this increased trip within his compass and his rider claims a useful 5lb. A wide draw may not be such a concern in this small field and he's afforded the chance to improve.
5.05 - Horseradish Handicap (2m)
Iconic Belle's winning running was halted at five when she was only fourth at Thirsk 11 days ago. Phil Kirby's mare now goes back up to this 2m trip and another strong showing from the Sixties Icon mare is likely.
DESERT FRIEND was entitled to need the run at Wolverhampton in April on his comeback, also a first crack at this sort of trip. He was competitive under a patient ride there and is 2-2 at distances of 2m+ since. The ex-Mark Johnston inmate is also 2-3 on turf in his career and has scope for better.
It wasn't a great race he won at Lingfield (turf) three weeks ago but it was noteworthy how he did it. He looked to challenge up the running rail only to have the door closed in his face. Louis Steward took back and angled outside the eventual second and his mount responded, going past to win going away.
He's 3lb higher in a better race but looks to have more to offer. The fact only five are left in this race should aid his cause too, in terms of luck in running/traffic woes.
Nottingham winner Call My Bluff is 6lb higher and entitled to claims, while the Ian Williams pair Speedo Boy and Arabist are respected despite holding only patchy records on the Roodee.
5.40 - Family Funday Tickets Now On Sale Handicap (5f)
Plenty of these boast Chester credentials. Amongst that band is MILITIA for trainer Paul Midgley. He was a C&D winner last summer on his only visit and is rated only 2lb higher now.
He's drawn in the middle here and Danny Tudhope's mount should be able to bag a good position. He comes here after a close third at Musselburgh early in the month, his best effort from three this term, and looks primed for a big challenge.
Spoof and Powerallied are other former C&D winners, the former looking more likely on recent efforts including a silver medal at Windsor last time out.
Recon Mission hasn't yet sampled success on this quirky circuit but he has run into the money in both visits and he's dropped 10lb below the mark from which he was third here last summer. Cameron Noble eases his burden to the tune of 3lb and, having won at Epsom in April, he ran a fine race in 'The Dash' back there on Derby Day from this mark.
Tony Carroll's charge demands a place on any shortlist for what is a daunting finale for punters.
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