Today's tips: Racing preview and best bets
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Racing betting tips: Thursday May 9
1pt win Democracy Dilemma in 1.30 Chester at 9/2 (General) - take no lower
1pt win Bracken's Laugh in 3.05 Chester at 9/2 (General) - take no lower
13:30 Chester
The 5f handicap on Wednesday 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 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.
14:35 Chester
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 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.
15:05 Chester
Neither of the black-type 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 who beat Capulet fair and square in the Woodford Reserve Cardinal Stakes at Chelmsford last time, and 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.
15:40 Chester
I found myself finding reasons why all the runners in the Ormonde 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, 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.
4:40 Stratford
This is a tough little contest for the time of year, with German Group 3 winner Wales making his debut over hurdles for Newland and Insole, and Scintillante, a winner off 76 for Andrew Balding on the Flat when last seen, also makes his hurdling debut for Alastair Ralph, but it's Minella Miracle that's the most interesting one as far as we're concerned.
You fancy this is going to improve for the move to Fergal O'Brien and with Jonathan Burke taking over in the saddle from the enthusiastic John Reddington, he ought to get a bit more assistance in that direction as well. Placed in a bumper on debut for Tom Gallagher, he's not had chance to showcase his talents as yet, but it'll be interesting to see how he fares on his hurdles debut today.
19:50 Stratford
Charming Getaway is of some interest for this lowly handicap hurdle.
It never really happened for him when he was with Kim Bailey but he's been given plenty of time to get over whatever issues he had, and now he's joined Mel Rowley, who has a good record with turning castoffs around, we'd expect him to get back on track sooner rather than later.
A mark of just 78 gives the yard plenty to work with, and it's interesting to note that the yard won first time up with Kyntara last year, a horse that was also trained previously by Kim Bailey.
Possibly just one to monitor tonight given the long absence with a view to backing it in the near future.
Posted at 0944 BST on 09/05/24
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