Wednesday, Chester, post time: 15:05, BOODLES CHESTER VASE STAKES-G3, £140,000, 3yo, 12f 63yT
Field: Convergent (Ire) (Fascinating Rock {Ire}), Faire La Nouba (Ire) (River Boyne {Ire}), Further (Ire) (Waldgeist {GB}), Lambourn (Ire) (Australia {GB}), Lazy Griff (Ger) (Protectionist {Ger}), Pinhole (GB) (Frankel {GB}), Square D'Alboni (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}), Thrice (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}).
TDN Verdict: There's something about this week every year that seems to coincide with the beginning of Ballydoyle's season proper and Chester's resurgent May Festival has been a very happy hunting ground for the stable for some time now. As it hosts key Derby and Oaks trials, it is more than coincidence that Aidan O'Brien comes to the fore and with a record 10 wins in this old favourite it is to his representative that it is imperative to turn first. Lambourn is Ryan Moore's pick over Thrice, with his latest second in Leopardstown's G3 Ballysax Stakes an improvement on his lazy showings at two. If this place, with its demands and turns, can light his fire he could establish himself towards the front line of the yard's Derby arsenal. Ralph Beckett also has two, with Juddmonte's Pinhole of particular intrigue moving up from a mile having broken his maiden in style at Southwell in December. For what its worth, his half-brother Boardman liked it around here. [Tom Frary].
Wednesday, Chester, post time: 14:35, WEATHERBYS EPASSPORT CHESHIRE OAKS-Listed, £120,000, 3yo, f, 11f 75yT
Field: Caspi Star (GB) (Camelot {GB}), Kate O'Riley (GB) (Sea The Moon {Ger}), Minnie Hauk (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), Modern Utopia (Ire) (Sottsass {Fr}), Queen Of Thieves (GB) (Frankel {GB}), Secret Of Love (GB) (Sea The Moon {Ger}), That's Amore (Ire) (New Bay {GB}).
TDN Verdict: Aidan O'Brien already has eight of these and the 2023 Goffs Orby Book 1 topper Minnie Hauk ticks all the boxes stepping up from the mile over which she broke her maiden at Leopardstown in October. From the excellent Juddmonte family of Kingman and Oasis Dream, she has the six-length Newbury debut scorer That's Amore to deal with and also Cracksman's sister Queen Of Thieves who couldn't have done much more than win by 11 lengths at Yarmouth last month. [Tom Frary].
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