Thursday, Chester, post time: 15:05, THE LADBROKES ORMONDE STAKES-G3, £150,000, 4yo/up, 13f 84yT
Field: Sons And Lovers (GB) (Study Of Man {Ire}), Al Qareem (Ire) (Awtaad {Ire}), Beylerbeyi (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), Illinois (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), Jan Brueghel (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), Mount Atlas (GB) (Masar {Ire}), Rahiebb (GB) (Frankel {GB}), Real Dream (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}).
TDN Analysis: Jan Brueghel returns from a lengthy lay-off after failing to shine on fast ground in the King George, but has what looks an ideal trip and a kind surface to relaunch his career. Joined by another Ballydoyle runner starting out for the year in last year’s winner Illinois, he is clear on form and anything near the level of his Coronation Cup defeat of Calandagan will certainly be good enough. The St Leger runner-up Rahiebb is the other intriguing runner and bearing in mind how close he got to Scandinavia at Doncaster is the most likely to spoil Aidan O’Brien’s annual Chester celebrations. [Tom Frary].
Thursday, Chester, post time: 14:35, THE BOODLES RAINDANCE DEE STAKES-Listed, £100,000, 3yo, c/g, 10f 70yT
Field: Morshdi (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), Shayem (Ire) (King Of Change {Ire}), Constitution River (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Flushing Meadows (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Generic (Ire) (Kameko), Golden Story (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}).
TDN Analysis: Like Benvenuto Cellini, Constitution River makes his seasonal bow with obvious questions surrounding how straight he will be while possessing a class edge over his peers. Not seen after his Futurity win in August, he should be okay over this trip but whether he wants the Derby trip is another question. Morshdi is forced to carry a penalty for his defeat of Poseidon’s Warrior in the Feilden last month and while the runner-up has disappointed in the interim, overall that form suggests he should put up a fight. Golden Story impressed on his sole start at Doncaster in October, when greenness stopped him from beating the useful Infraad by a wide margin and if he handles this occasion is a danger to all. [Tom Frary].
Friday, Chester, post time: 14:35, THE DEEPBRIDGE HUXLEY STAKES-G2, £170,000, 4yo/up, 10f 70yT
Field: Bay City Roller (Ire) (New Bay {GB}), High Stock (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), Ice Max (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}), King’s Gambit (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}), Lambourn (Ire) (Australia {GB}), Royal Rhyme (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), Starford (Ire) (Beckford {GB}), Sky Safari (GB) (Zoustar {Aus}), Sparks Fly (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}).
TDN Analysis: Last year’s Chester Vase and Derby winner Lambourn returns over a trip shorter than ideal with cheekpieces fitted to get him into the groove quicker than might be the case. Bay City Roller missed Friday’s Jockey Club Stakes due to Newmarket’s fast ground and gets a kinder surface here but is another who may need further and has a Group 1 penalty while Royal Rhyme needs to prove he retains his old ability which would probably see him win. [Tom Frary].
Friday, Cologne, Germany, post time: 18:30, SAUREN DACHFONDS PREIS (EX GERLING-PREIS)-G2, €70,000, 4yo/up, 12fT
Field: Hochkonig (Ger) (Polish Vulcano {Ger}), Zuckerhut (Ger) (Almanzor {Fr}), Alleno (Ire) (Nathaniel {Ire}), Enzian (Ger) (Zarak {Fr}), Padre Palou (Ger) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}), Waldnebel (Ger) (Reliable Man {GB}), Wintertraum (Ger) (Lord Of England {Ger}).
TDN Analysis: All seven original entries stand their ground, with the draw also remaining in place, in this rescheduled contest. Last term’s G1 Deutsches Derby hero Hochkonig has not been seen since annexing Hamburg’s July highlight and lines up returning off a 306-day break. His rivals include Derby also-rans Enzian, Zuckerhut and Waldnebel, with Zuckerhut having previously lowered Hochkonig’s standard in June’s G2 Union-Rennen. Last year’s hero Alleno is best of the older brigade and comes back off a third in a course-and-distance Listed heat last month. [Sean Cronin].
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