Totesport Chester Cup Betting Preview

Immediately after Newmarket's Guineas meeting, we are treated to three days of action on the Roodee at Chester, and the highlight of the popular May meeting is the totesport Chester Cup on May 10. The improving Greenwich Meantime heads the market following his sound start to the current campaign, winning his two starts, including at Ripon last time. Richard Fahey's charge merits respect but the only time he has ran over farther than two miles he appeared to run out of stamina. As such there remains a valid doubt with regard to his stamina over this 2m 2f trip, despite the sharp nature of this track. Moreover, the race he won last time was not particularly strong for a Class 2, and he will need to improve a great deal to land this prize, although he is technically 2lb well-in in this race, as he carries a 3lb penalty for his Ripon win, but the handicapper has actually allotted him a 5lb higher mark for future races. On a line through Numero Due, who was one-length second to Greenwich Meantime at Ripon, the Amanda Perrett-trained Bulwark has the beating of the favourite, as he beat the horse in question by two and a half lengths at Nottingham last September, conceding 1lb more to the runner-up, yet can be backed at around three times the price of Greenwich Meantime - 12/1 with Stan James. Mrs Perrett has been represented in this race in four of its last six renewals, and has sent out the winner once, Bangalore in 2000, and Big Moment has been placed twice from three shots at this race - finishing second in 2003 and third in '04 - so it's fair to say that she knows what it takes to prepare one for this marathon. The four-year-old ran a fine trial for this over an inadequate trip of twelve furlongs at Newmarket where he shaped as though he would be all the better for the run, as he appeared very fresh, holding his head high when under pressure, essentially doing very well to be beaten just four lengths in the end. Furthermore, his partnership with Aussie jockey Kerrin McEvoy will be resumed on Wednesday, and all of his four career victories have come when Godolphin's No 2 rider has been aboard, so the partnership clearly click. The winner of the race at Newmarket, Mikao, is also set to go to post on Wednesday and, like the selection, is still relatively unexposed, thus open to improvement. However, over this six furlong farther trip - and on 5lb worse terms - Mark Tompkins' charge will have his work cut out to confirm the placings with Bulwark. The Nawab went from strength-to-strength last season and, having had just ten career starts to date, the four-year-old looks sure to improve, and hails from the John Dunlop stable, successful in this race with Fantasy Hill in 2002. The Almutawakel colt shaped well when three and a half lengths second to Sirce on his all-weather debut at Kempton last month, staying on well without being given too hard a race, and shaping as though he would come on a good deal for the outing. As such, he looks a live danger. Although Sir Mark Prescott's horses always merit respect, I am not convinced that Elusive Dream is good enough to win a race like this, while Swift Sailor is capable of a bold bid but is not one to rely on. Contact Dancer, a former winner of the Cesarewitch when in the care of Mark Johnston, has been performing with credit over hurdles during the winter, and the booking of Kieren Fallon takes the eye.