Chester Cup tips: Invest in the Future at 11-1 on Friday

It is no surprise to see bookmakers offer 6-1 the field in this year’s Tote+ Chester Cup Handicap (2.45pm), with the £125,000 handicap looking fiercely competitive on paper.

The betting is headed by dual-purpose performer Not So Sleepy who was last seen finishing seventh in the Aintree Hurdle in April. He is one of a number of high-class handicap performers in the field, but a lot of the contenders appear exposed and do not have much in hand on the ratings, so I believe they could prove vulnerable to an unexposed, younger rival.

With this in mind, the lightly-raced FUTURE INVESTMENT looks one to have on side at 11-1 with the likelihood of more to come from him this season now he’s another year older.

Ralph Beckett’s charge is two from two at Chester and was earmarked by his trainer as a potential Chester Cup contender when landing a maiden on the Roodee in 2019.

The five-year-old did not quite progress as expected once sent handicapping but was not beaten far in a couple of valuable handicaps before gaining his second Chester success when carrying top weight to victory on his first start over two miles.

The extended 2m2f here did not look as though it would pose a problem on that occasion as he was strong at the finish and will face similar ground conditions on Friday.

Although he failed to land a blow in the Old Borough Cup and the Cesarewitch on his final two starts, there were positives to take from each effort as he was not beaten far in the former, and probably challenged too soon in the latter.

The selection is also a full-brother to Mountain Bell who was rated 107 in her prime and won plus finished fourth in two Listed races at Chester. One slight concern is his draw in stall 15, but he is a hold-up performer, and Making Miracles was successful from stall 16 in 2019.

He does not have a recent run under his belt, but he did run well on his seasonal return last year, and I expect this has been the plan for a while.

The other contender that looks worth siding with at the same price is TRUMPET MAN who finished behind a few of his rivals here when sixth in the Queen’s Cup on his return at Musselburgh, but there is every reason to believe he will reverse form here.

The four-year-old raced keenly in the early stages and was not helped by the slow pace plus lacked the tactical speed to challenge when asked for his effort. He also shaped as though the run was needed - his weakness in the market beforehand also suggested this - and it will have at least blown the cobwebs away.

It took a while for Trumpet Man to get off the mark in handicaps last season, but after scoring off a rating of 72 at Nottingham, Mark Johnston’s charge improved rapidly and was well on top at the finish when completing a hat-trick off a rating of 80, and carrying a 6lb penalty, in a two-mile handicap at Haydock.

The further he went there, the better he looked, and he did not quite have the gears to defeat his sole rival when dropped back in trip on his final start last season, but he again showed a good attitude under pressure.

I expect him to relish this new trip and although he is yet to prove he handles this track, no jockey rides Chester better than Franny Norton.

A fast pace is sure to suit in this contest, and I am hoping he breaks well from stall 12 to gain a good position early.

Johnston also remains in flying form having operated at a strike-rate of 24 per cent in the past and although the Trumpet Man will need a career best off a rating of 97, he ought to have further progress left in him.

1 point win on Future Investment at 11-1 with Coral.

1 point win on Trumpet Man at a general 11-1.