Fine Form
Jan Brueghel CS – 3.05
is expected to stamp his class on the Ladbrokes Ormonde Stakes at Chester.
Aidan O’Brien has saddled a record seven winners of this Group Three contest and appears intent on adding to his tally, with Jan Brueghel joined by the defending champion in Illinois.
The latter cannot be discounted given he was second in the Gold Cup and the Goodwood Cup after striking gold on the Roodee 12 months ago, but Jan Brueghel is a 9lb better horse on the figures and it is no surprise Ryan Moore has opted to partner him over his stablemate.
The five-year-old actually beat Illinois by a neck when claiming Classic glory in the 2024 St Leger and he has only run three times since, notably beating the brilliant Calandagan in last year’s Coronation Cup before that form was comprehensively reversed in the King George.
Jan Brueghel has not been seen since July and is sure to benefit from the outing, but the same can be said of his stable companion and he should have too many guns for these rivals.
O’Brien is also responsible for the hot favourite for the Boodles Raindance Dee Stakes in Constitution River, but narrow preference is for the William Haggas-trained
Morshdi CS – 2.35
A York maiden winner in the autumn, the Dubawi colt defied a market drift to win the Feilden Stakes on his first start as a three-year-old.
The runner-up that day, Poseidon’s Warrior, did not do much for the form back at Newmarket last week, but Morshdi was a good winner and Haggas immediately said his charge would ‘love it’ round Chester. He is backed to prove his trainer right in this recognised Derby trial.
Seven Questions CS – 1.30
can end a two-year losing streak in the curtain-raising CAA Stellar Handicap.
Robert Cowell’s speedster was rated 107 after springing a surprise in the 2024 Palace House Stakes, but a largely disappointing season last term has seen him fall down the weights fairly dramatically.
He made an encouraging start to the current campaign when third at Pontefract and while he ran below that form at Ripon last time, he is down another 2lb to a revised mark of 89 and is given another chance on the speed favouring track from stall one.
James Owen has his string firing on all cylinders and his
Moment Of Light CS – 4.45
is well fancied to complete his hat-trick in the Chester Handicap.
The three-year-old is two from two since going handicapping, being gelded and fitted with a tongue-tie and there could still be mileage in his new rating of 82.
Norflondonforever WD – 3.27
catches the eye in the Padel Maidenhead Anniversary Cup Handicap at Windsor.
Faye Bramley’s five-year-old beat several subsequent winners at Kempton in April of last year and while he has not been seen since, market support would be notable for this shrewd yard.
Notnowlinda HU – 2.45
is not one of newly-crowned champion trainer Dan Skelton’s bigger names, but she should have enough about her to land the Virgin Bet Mares’ Handicap Hurdle at Huntingdon.
It has been a while between drinks for the nine-year-old, but she is feasibly handicapped on her best form and will be ridden by Harry Skelton for the first time in almost two years.
Leave a Reply