Confirmed runners and riders for the Chester Cup on Friday - including crucial draw details

Hugo Palmer does not believe last year’s Chester Cup second Zoffee has been handed a boost after being drawn in stall one for Friday’s race (3.40).

The eight-year-old is a general 10-1 chance for the £170,000 contest that he came within a neck of winning 12 lengths ago, only to be denied by Metier, who was not declared by Harry Fry on Wednesday morning.

Due to the tight configuration of the track, having a low draw is often been seen as a bigger advantage to those drawn higher, who have to travel wider and further.

However, Palmer does not believe being positioned in stall one will aid last year’s runner-up as he is not one to set the pace for the field.

Palmer said: "Is one a good draw? I don't think it would be for Zoffee in a 17-runner field. 

"Unless you're going to make the running, you're in the danger zone of any beaten horses coming back and landing in your lap. Harry Davies is going to have to be aware of that."

Zoffee is one of two runners for Palmer in Friday’s feature handicap with Solent Gateway will set to break from stall five under last year’s winning jockey Saffie Osborne.

The four-time winner has raced on the all-weather in two starts this term, but returns to the track for the first time since finishing 11th in this race two years ago.

On his chances, Palmer said: "Solent Gateway has lucked out a bit in five and if I could swap them I would because I think we'll probably try to make the running on him, having been so keen in the Cup two years ago. 

"Stall one would have been perfect for him and five for Zoffee, but you can't have everything that you want."

Ante-post favourite Grand Providence will emerge from stall 12 and bids to go two better than when third behind Prince Alex at Newbury on her reappearance last month.

The market leader is one of three Andrew Balding-trained runners with Aztec Empire and 2022 course winner Spirit Mixer also declared. The Michael Bell-trained Duke Of Oxford has also been declared and is prominent in the market. 

2021 winner Falcon Eight will be joined by fellow Irish raiders Magellan Straight and Zanndabad will also line up on the Roodee. The Shunter was declared a non-runner on raceday.

Ian Williams won this race in 2018 with Magic Circle and will be represented by three runners, Zealandia, Aqwaam and The Grand Visir. The 17-strong field is completed by the Ed Dunlop-trained Citizen General, Declan Carroll's Emiyn and Too Friendly, who is the mount of 1,000 Guineas-winning rider Silvestre de Sousa.

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Chester Cup confirmed runners and riders

• Falcon Eight (stall 15) Oisin Orr
• Magellan Strait (2) William Buick
• The Shunter (13) NON-RUNNER
• Citizen General (9) Clifford Lee
• Spirit Mixer (17) Callum Hutchinson
• Emiyn (7) Zak Wheatley
• Zanndabad (10) Richard Kingscote
• Solent Gateway (5) Saffie Osborne
• Aztec Empire (4) Oisin Murphy
• Zealandia (11) Jim Crowley
• Aqwaam (6) Franny Norton
• Zoffee (1) Harry Davies
• Duke Of Oxford (16) David Egan
• Too Friendly (8) Silvestre de Sousa
• Forza Orta (3) Rowan Scott
• The Grand Visir (14) Joe Fanning
• Grand Providence (12) Hayley Turner

bet365: 6 Grand Providence, 7 Duke Of Oxford, Aztec Empire, 8 The Shunter, 10 Emiyn, Zoffee, 11 Magellan Strait, 12 Falcon Eight, Zanndabad, 16 Zealandia, Aqwaam, Forza Orta, Solent Gateway, 20 Citizen General, Too Friendly, 25 Spirit Mixer, 50 The Grand Visir

Passenger makes return in Huxley

Passenger: a strong contender for the Huxley StakesCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

The Sir Michael Stoute-trained Passenger is one of nine declared for the Group 2 Huxley Stakes (3.05).

The four-year-old has been a progressive performer for Stoute and landed the Group 3 Winter Hill Stakes on his last start for the yard at Windsor in August.

Before that, the son of Ulysses finished 12th behind Auguste Rodin in last year’s Derby and also placed third in the Group 2 Dante at York.

He is one of two runners for the yard, with Regal Reality also declared and Osborne booked to ride the five-time Group 3 scorer for the first time.

Group 2 winner Israr makes a quick return for John and Thady Gosden. The five-year-old, whose last victory came in the Princess Of Wales's Stakes at Newmarket last July, finished third in last month's Gordon Richards Stakes at Sandown.

Listed winner Royal Rhyme makes his first appearance of the season for Karl Burke, while Aidan O’Brien, who has won this contest three times since 2017, saddles recent Dundalk winner Hans Andersen.

The consistent Certain Lad runs for Jack Channon with the nine-runner field completed by Mashhoor, Oviedo and Sunchart.

Huxley Stakes confirmed runners and riders

• Certain Lad George Bass
• Hans Andersen William Buick
• Israr Jim Crowley
• Mashhoor Ben Coen
• Oviedo Callum Rodriguez
• Passenger Richard Kingscote
• Regal Reality Saffie Osborne
• Royal Rhyme Clifford Lee
• Sunchart Silvestre de Sousa

bet365: 9-4 Passenger, 7-2 Israr, 5 Hans Andersen, 11-2 Royal Rhyme, 11 Regal Reality, 12 Certain Lad, 16 Mashhoor, Oviedo, 25 Sunchart

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