Aidan O'Brien was a perfect 5-5 at Chester's May meeting last year - who represents the trainer this week?
Aidan O’Brien enjoyed five winners from as many runners at last year’s Chester May meeting and the Ballydoyle maestro sends a select team to the Roodee this week. Here, we run through O’Brien’s Chester squad and provide a verdict on each of their chances.
Savethelastdance
Weatherbys Digital Solutions Cheshire Oaks (2.40, Wednesday, May 10)
Odds: 4-5
Aidan O’Brien landed last year’s Cheshire Oaks with Thoughts Of June (7-1), which was his fourth win in the last seven runnings, and this year he relies on Savethelastdance, who is expected to go off a prohibitive price.
This filly is beautifully bred being by Galileo out of US Grade 1 winner Daddys Lil Darling. She stepped forward significantly on a modest Thurles debut effort when scoring at odds of 20-1 in a Leopardstown maiden last month.
That form has received notable boosts courtesy of wins from the second and third since and this track should suit given that she made much of the running at Leopardstown.
Verdict: As short as 5-1 for the Oaks, Savethelastdance looks set to confirm her place at Epsom with victory on Wednesday.
Adelaide River
Boodles Chester Vase Stakes (3.15, Wednesday, May 10)
Odds: 4-1
The first foal out of Irish 1,000 Guineas runner-up Could It Be Love, Adelaide River marked himself down as a useful colt when bolting up in a Dundalk maiden last August.
The son of Australia did not manage to add to that success in three subsequent starts, but those runs all came in Group company, the most recent in October’s Criterium de Saint-Cloud where he finished third to Dubai Mile.
A 50-1 shot for the Derby, Adelaide River should be suited by stepping up to the extended one mile four furlongs of the Chester Vase and Aidan O’Brien has farmed this race, landing seven of the last nine runnings.
Verdict: Likely to appreciate a test of stamina this season and his trainer has a fine record in this race, but he has six lengths to find with favourite Arrest on their Saint-Cloud running, which looks too substantial to consider him a betting proposition.
San Antonio
Boodles Dee Stakes (2.40, Thursday, May 11)
Odds: 5-1
By Dubawi and out of 2017 Irish Oaks runner-up Rain Goddess, San Antonio shaped with promise without managing to get his head in front in a pair of juvenile runs last October before making a winning three-year-old debut at Dundalk in March.
San Antonio hit the line hard there to score by three and three-quarter lengths, and bookmakers rate the colt a 50-1 shot for the Derby.
The bare form of that Dundalk success is nothing special (second since well held), but San Antonio did have Sunday’s impressive Derby Trial Stakes winner Sprewell directly behind him in one of his juvenile runs, which indicates that he could be above average.
Verdict: The form of his Dundalk maiden win has been let down since and on Racing Post Ratings he is going to have to find a chunk of improvement to trouble the best of these.
Changingoftheguard
tote.co.uk Bet £5 Get £20 Ormonde Stakes (3.15, Thursday, May 11)
Odds: 3-1
Made all to land the Chester Vase at this meeting last year before finishing fifth in the Derby, a performance worth upgrading as he cut out much of the running yet refused to wilt when headed.
He was sent off the 11-10 favourite for the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot subsequently and just held on to score by a short head from the wayward Grand Alliance.
He has been off the track since, but returns with no concerns over the track, while getting back on a softer surface will also suit.
Verdict: Impressive winner of the Vase here last year but has a significant absence to overcome and a good bit to find with Hamish on these terms.
Point Lonsdale and Bolshoi Ballet
IRE-Incentive, It Pays To Buy Irish Huxley Stakes (2.40, Friday, May 12)
Odds: 7-4 (Point Lonsdale), 14-1 (Bolshoi Ballet)
Not far off top-class as a juvenile, Point Lonsdale was only seen once at three, finishing well down the field in the 2,000 Guineas won by Coroebus. The colt returned to winning ways in the Group 3 Alleged Stakes at the Curragh last month and given that was his first start in almost a year, he is entitled to come on for it.
Soft ground seems important so any rain will be beneficial and he looks the potential class angle in this field.
Aidan O’Brien could also call on one-time Derby favourite Bolshoi Ballet, who has been held at Listed level the last twice. He might be better over further than this distance, however, and would almost certainly be the stable’s second string.
Verdict: This looks like a good opportunity for Point Lonsdale to supplement his recent Group 3 Curragh success. He’s less exposed than most over middle distances and will appreciate any further ease in the ground.
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