15:35 Chester

Thursday 11 May 2017

All13:5014:2515:0015:3516:0516:3517:05

MBNA Chester Vase Stakes (Group 3)

Off time: 15:36 | Winning time: 2m 35.84s

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Selected odds by:

(5)

Count Octave⁴⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: David Probert| T: A M Balding| OR: 86

9/1

Frankel colt who didn't need to improve last time to score at Wolverhampton. Clearly talented and makes plenty of appeal on paper but could find this a bit of a culture shock and may be a little short on experience.

Form: 3-1

(6)

Cunco¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: L Dettori| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 104

5/1

Fair effort in the Classic Trial at Sandown last time but odds-on favourite was particularly disappointing and he is going to have to have improved to take a hand here. Shaped like he'd stay this trip last time at least and trainer and jockey have been in good form scoring here on Wednesday.

Form: 44327-1

(8)

Druids Cross¹⁸³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: C O'Donoghue| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 90

40/1

Showed very little on first two starts but improved to win a maiden at Dundalk last time. May have more to give back up in trip and not dismissed despite coming from a slightly more unfashionable form line.

Form: 891-

(7)

Finn McCool^p1²⁰¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Wayne Lordan| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 101

20/1

Held in high regard by connections and has a beautfiul pedigree but been disappointing outside of maiden company when tried in Group 1 company last year. The first-time cheekpieces and step up in trip should see him in a better light but has a fair bit to find on form and trainer's runners can come on for their reappearance.

Form: 37217-

(2)

Tamleek²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Jim Crowley| T: S bin Suroor| OR: 93

11/4

Eye-catching third on debut at Yarmouth and confirmed that promise with an impressive maiden win at Newmarket on reappearance. Every horse to have come out of that race and had a run has won a race and this trip could bring out more improvement. Plenty to like from a nice draw.

Form: 3-1

(1)

The Anvil⁴¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: D O'Brien| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 109

7/1

Didn't need to improve to land his maiden at Dundalk last time but clearly well-suited to the step up in trip. Did run some nice races in defeat last year in Group company and probably sets the standard on his effort in the Royal Lodge at Newmarket. Likely to be ominous that Moore prefers Venice Beach but should run well from his pea draw.

Form: 23230-1

(3)

Venice Beach^p,t²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien

5/2

Very nice effort on debut and improved for his reappearance run when he was an easy winner at Tipperary last time. Form of that race looks questionable but trainer and jockey have won the last four renewals of this contest so he warrants respect on that fact alone with three stablemates in the line up seemingly passed over. Dam has plenty of stamina in her pedigree so this trip could see him in an even better light; he looks sure to run a big race.

Form: 2-31

(4)

Wings Of Eagles¹⁹³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: J A Heffernan| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 101

8/1

Won a maiden on fast ground at Killarney last season but proved a little disappointing when upped in class. Needs to have taken a step forward through the winter to get involved here and possible he will come on for the run.

Form: 7149-

Forecasts

Venice Beach (5/2), Tamleek (11/4), Cunco (5/1), The Anvil (7/1), Wings Of Eagles (8/1), Count Octave (9/1), Finn McCool (20/1), Druids Cross (40/1)

Even though Aidan O'Brien and Ryan Moore have such a formidable record in the race, going for their fifth success in as many seasons with Venice Beach , it may be worth taking a chance on TAMLEEK at likely bigger odds. He couldn't have been any more impressive in what now looks like a particularly hot Newmarket maiden and there could be more to come upped in trip. The Anvil sets a fair standard on form and proved he was in good-heart with an easy win on his comeback run; he should give another good account.