Boodles Chester Vase: runner-by-runner guide and 20-1 tip

The flashy chestnut was impressive last season, getting off the mark emphatically at the second time of asking ahead of subsequent Autumn Stakes and Ballysax Stakes runner-up Endorsement.

He then struck gold in the KPMG Champions Juvenile Stakes by five lengths, again seeing out the mile readily, but he came unstuck back on softer ground on his final start of the campaign in the Futurity at Doncaster (sent off 7-4 favourite) – though he probably ran to the same level by finishing third up in grade.

This is obviously a different test, and he is up over half a mile in trip. Will he stay? He is a full-brother to last season’s Lingfield Oaks Trial winner Giselle, who certainly stayed just shy of a mile and a half, whilst his dam Newspaperofrecord was a high-class miler, winning the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf by almost seven lengths. The suspicion is he will be seen to best effect over shorter than this.

However, he is rated 112 and that sets a solid standard on form. His trainer Aidan O’Brien is seeking a record-extending twelfth win in the race and Ryan Moore gets aboard him for the first time.

A son of Derby winner Camelot and out of German Oaks heroine Diamanta, Del Maro has only raced over a mile and a mile and a quarter so far, but he is sure to relish this extra two and a half furlongs.

Though he held his own in Pattern company at two (third in the Zetland behind Pierre Bonnard), he failed to win in four starts, finishing second twice and third twice.

Connections resisted the temptation to give the €850,000 purchase a gelding operation over the winter, and the German-bred colt got off to the perfect start this season by finally getting off the mark at Yarmouth in novice company last month, though he didn’t need any improvement on his juvenile form to win.

It is surely a matter of time before he wins a Stakes race of some description, and he is drawn well in stall two, but is he quite good enough? The suspicion is he may just come up slightly short again.

Charlie Appleby saddled the ill-fated Hidden Law to win this impressively two years ago, though the form of the yard at present (1/25 over the past two weeks at the time of writing) is a minor concern.

The second of three sons of Frankel in the race, Richard and Peter Fahey’s colt has a similar profile to Del Maro in that he ran well at two without winning (twice second and fifth in the Zetland) and broke his maiden tag last month dropped in grade, showing a good attitude to win by a short head.

A grandson of the high-class racemare Shiva, he has the potential to improve beyond ten furlongs. Positive tactics have usually been employed, but a career best is likely to be needed by some way.

From the family of Warm Heart, Aidan O’Brien’s multiple Group One winner over middle distances, this step up in trip is also likely to suit Mr Vettori, who shaped like he was crying out for further last season. 

He chased home subsequent Group One winner Hawk Mountain on his second start before getting off the mark at the third attempt on heavy ground at Gowran in October.

He ran to a similar level on his reappearance at Cork a couple of weeks ago, being first off the bridle, but staying on well for pressure over an extended mile and a quarter, finishing half a length behind the winner Limestone, who had the run of the race. He deserves some credit for getting as close as he did to the winner, closing from the rear off a very slow pace - the FSP was almost 120 per cent.

This will be the fastest ground he has encountered, but he is a likeable performer who ran well on good ground last season. He is one of the more interesting outsiders from stall three.

Can Wayne Lordan repeat the feat just three days after the 1000 Guineas and win the big race of the afternoon on a Ballydoyle ‘second string’? On the face of it, Proposition would rate a shock winner on the bare form of his two starts, having been well beaten over a mile on debut and then winning a maiden over seven furlongs.

However, his trainer is Aidan O’Brien and he has been sent to Chester – a vote of confidence, even if he is there with a view to helping his better fancied stablemate.

Out of an Irish 1000 Guineas, Nassau and Sun Chariot winner, he is a half-brother to Magical and Rhododedron, and can certainly benefit from this better ground and longer distance. He will wear cheekpieces for the first time, but is drawn widest of all in stall seven (five with the two non-runners) and a massive career best will clearly be needed, but that is not impossible.

NON-RUNNER

NON-RUNNER

Whilst it would be no surprise should Benvenuto Cellini win this race given his promise so far, he is there to be taken on at this trip. At the prices, I can't resist a bet on MR VETTORI at 20-1 for a yard that knows how to train a decent three-year-old and should enjoy this step up in distance.