Chester abandoned midway through card
Sunday afternoon’s card at Chester was abandoned due to a waterlogged track midway through racing.
Three races took place with Mark Johnston’s Van Ellis winning the M S Bank Queensferry Stakes but just before 3.30pm the course was hit by torrential rain.
Initially racing was delayed by 30 minutes but soon after the card was called off. In no time at all puddles formed on the track leaving officials with no choice but to abandon. PA
Chris Cook’s selections
What would you get if you took Black Caviar out of the Diamond Jubilee Stakes? Today’s Maurice de Gheest at Deauville is what. Moonlight Cloud and Restiadargent, the two French fillies who nearly made Luke Nolen pay for dropping his hands, line up for the first time since, along with The Cheka, who was way back in 12th that day.
You can see the Ascot race here and it’s worth another look, however many times you’ve watched it. Excellent commentary by Simon Holt, while we’re on the subject.
Restiadargent was in front of Moonlight Cloud until the final strides and her two best wins came on very soft going similar to today’s, so you can see why the market likes her. Moonlight Cloud has much stronger credentials, though, as the winner of this race last year. Had the chips fallen a little differently, she might have been unbeaten since then and her strong finish over Ascot’s stiff six furlongs suggests this six and a half may be her ideal.
I like her a lot but 11-10 can’t be more than marginal value at best. I’m interested in the 8-1 about Wizz Kid (2.40), who finished in front of Moonlight Cloud in Ascot’s Champion Sprint last autumn, in which the pair were second and fifth (thought the other filly was a bit unlucky).
Five furlongs is not far enough for Wizz Kid unless the going is really deep and it’s a bit surprising that she doesn’t get more chances over further. She was last seen getting hopelessly outpaced in the King’s Stand before staying on when it was too late. Conditions here could really suit and she’s overpriced.
Incidentally, I don’t remember anything being made of the fact that the first three home in the Diamond Jubilee were all fillies or mares. Female horses also filled the places in the Arc de Triomphe last year and it could easily happen in this race. Go girls.
The market never seems to expect much of Carlitos Spirit (4.00), backable at 10-1 for a handicap hurdle at Market Rasen as I type. He’s won his last two races at this track at 28-1 and 16-1 and, because he was all out the last time, at least one high-profile tipster thinks he’s badly handicapped with another 5lb to carry.
But it was more than three lengths back to the third in a field of 12 that day in May, so I don’t agree and he’s surely overpriced for a horse who goes so well here. He ran well on a recent spin on the Flat at Ripon and, if the going remains on the quick side, he is one of the few who should cope, though he’ll also be fine if it softens up a bit.
Night Carnation (3.05), a decent sixth in the King’s Stand, hasn’t had many straightforward opportunities in the last year. An exception would be her seasonal return in a Listed race at Bath, when she ruined her chance by racing too freely.
Conditions should suit at Chester today and she has a low draw for another Listed event. The 9-2 is only fair, though.
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