Chester races tomorrow are headed by the Queen Charlotte Fillies’ Stakes, due off at 3.33pm over seven furlongs. The listed race sits at the centre of the card and gives the meeting its main focus for readers following the day’s runners and prices.
ROSS SHEPHERD previewed the Chester meeting and set out the Queen Charlotte Fillies’ Stakes as the highlight. The race was transferred from Chelmsford, and the move leaves Chester with the clearest feature on a card that also includes a six furlong handicap at 3.03pm and a seven furlong race at 4.10pm.
Circe and Bellarchi at Chester
Richard Hannon’s Circe brings listed form into the race after winning at Edinburgh earlier in the month. Bellarchi and Forty Years On should also be in the frame, which makes the front end of the market harder to read than a simple Chester sprint with one standout runner.
That sort of race shape usually turns on who settles over seven furlongs and who handles the demands of Chester best. Stratusnine adds another angle from stall nine, while Rosenpur arrives as a previous Chester scorer and Purest Time comes in as a recent winner.
Ruby’s Angel at Chester
Ruby’s Angel is the most obvious contradiction in the race. She ran on strongly to collect the spoils at Chester, but she was down the field at York a fortnight ago, so backers have to decide whether to trust the Chester form or the York run.
The other race that may pull attention is the 4.10pm contest, where ten runners go over seven furlongs. Start Me Up won at the last meeting at Chester over six furlongs, and the extra furlong should not pose problems, while Sovereign Ocean is having only his second outing of the season after running at Sandown.
Bright Summer and Do Bronx
Bright Summer and Do Bronx have been running well of late, and that keeps them in the discussion for the later races on the card. At 4.45pm, Patagonia girl returns to the distance after winning at the May Meeting at Chester and then being outclassed in a Group Three contest at Carlisle, which points to a better fit for her back at Chester.
The closing race at 5.20pm covers two miles and brings seven runners into play. Shipshape goes for the hat-trick after a last-time-out Chester win, and Solar Pass has been knocking on the door this season, so the final race should still have shape even after the feature has gone off at 3.33pm.
