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Chester headlines a busy Saturday afternoon at Sky Sports Racing with two wide-open handicaps before the focus shifts to New York and the returning Kentucky Derby hero.
3.20 Chester – Outgate directs the competition handicap function
In-form trainer William Haggas only sends a runner to Chester on Saturday but his representative appears to have a leading chance Additional seats each day at Betway Handicap (3.20).
thunder legend He was in fine form in three starts as a two-year-old when coached by Hugo Palmer, chasing future Group 1 winners Modern Games in a red-hot girl on his debut before hitting the bull’s eye at Hamilton in August.
Haggas took him over seven furlongs into a competitive Ascot handicap in his first start this season and finished a solid third place before taking the same place over a mile at Haydock when he was last seen.
A mark of 84 looks serviceable, although he faces 13 rivals led by course and distance winners Outgate and locally trained two-time Chester winner Roman dragon for Palmers.
3.55 Chester – Spirit Mixer seeks foursome in valuable heat
Andrew Baldings ghost mixer has quickly risen through the ranks in permanent handicaps and comes for the Edinburgh Gin Boyzlife Handicap (3.55) looking for a four-timer and a quickfire chester double.
The four-year-old has enjoyed the endurance test of a mile and a half with victories at Salisbury, Chelmsford and here in three races in May, but is now stepping up to two miles for the first time.
One rival who shouldn’t have a problem with the marathon trip is Roger and Harry Charlton’s top weight hold backwho reappears for the first time since he finished the field in the Cesawitch.
The nine-year-old has 9 pounds to give to the rest of the field but brings top class form to the table by some margin after winning at list level two years ago.
Withhold has won seven of his 28 career starts, including two list awards
11:44 Belmont – The hero of the Kentucky Derby returns in the Grade One Belmont Stakes
The third stage of the US Triple Crown rounds off a nice day of action with the Grade One Belmont Stakes (11:44 p.m.) from New York.
The Rennstars 80/1 shock winners of the Kentucky Derby Rich punch for trainer Eric Reed, with the pair hoping to prove that victory at Churchill Downs was no fluke.
Todd Pletcher couple Mon Donegal – Fifth in the Kentucky Derby – and second at the Kentucky Oaks nest Check out the top contenders alongside the winner of the Peter Pan Stakes We the people for Rodolphe Brisset.
Rich Strike, front right, with Sonny Leon on board, wins the 148th heat of the Kentucky Derby
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Expert Picks
Hugh Taylor
2.10 Chester Count D’orsay
2.45 Chester – Lawn Rangers
4.30 Chester – John Kirkup
Count D’orsay He narrowly failed to get up from a poor draw in Chester two games ago and from a mark just a pound higher should have another good record there today (10-2).
Coming from stand 10, he was soon a little behind the leaders but made up a lot of ground in the last furlong as the post came just a few steps early.
This improved what was already a good record here, and often formed well out of big draws. He ran creditably over six furlogs next time at York when he wasn’t well marked but is of most interest here. His stable is saddled with another well-handicapped sprinter in Copper Knight and he should be running well too, but the Gosforth Park Cup in Newcastle later this month could be his prime target.
Count D’orsay is best off when he has strong pace and he should get that here too so he seems to have a lot in his favor.
Lawn Rangers Hasn’t seemed in shape lately but he’s run very well in three of his four runs at Chester and got back on form out of the blue on two of those occasions so it might be worth aiming for a good draw in one put-mile-and-two-furlong handicap (2.45).
He won a 90 mark here in 2020 after being beaten wide in his two previous starts, ran well when he was narrowly beaten by a 92 mark in a 0-105 handicap on his next start here, and last year after a couple of bad runs he was again narrowly beaten at this course and distance, this time with a score of 85.
He’s running off 77 here so his chance is obvious if he gets back to his form and from stall 2 it looks like he’s worth risking.
John Kirkup has had excuses in each of his last three runs and is looking a little overpriced in Chester today (4.30) in the six furlong handicap.
He won over five stages at Musselburgh in May and then formed well in sixth at Hamilton Racing alongside the unfavorable grandstand rail.
Next time he had brought back his usual blinkers on five furlongs at Catterick and unsurprisingly failed to land a shot and then last time at Musselburgh he was badly drawn in a valuable Class 2 handicap and did all that was realistically possible to finish ninth . He was apprentice ridden last time but now has Rossa Ryan on board.
He has been placed by stable nine at odds of 20/1 and 16/1 in his last two runs here and if he’s lucky he can do well.
Watch all races from Bath, Chester, Hexham, Worcester and Belmont Park live on Sky Sports Racing (Sky 415 | Virgin 535) on Saturday 11 June.