Rachel Candelora's top tips for Wednesday: Argentello fits bill

This time last year I was heading up to Chester for the first time for their May meeting and was a little apprehensive as I had heard mixed reviews.

However, when I went to the course on Wednesday morning I was absolutely blown away. The old city walls surrounding some of the track lent that historic feel which the entire city of Chester exudes.

Also, I did not believe people when they said that the racecourse was literally in the centre of the city, but when walking from my hotel to the track they were absolutely right.

In addition the racing last year at the meeting was fantastic,with Enable and Wings Of Eagles making their classic cases and the enigmatic Cliffs Of Moher already beginning to divide opinion.

Due to other commitments I will be watching this year’s May meeting from the comfort of home but have picked a few that have caught the eye.

I was among the massive crowd on Guernsey on Bank Holiday Monday and the Race Club President Trevor Gallienne was celebrating a successful meeting while also looking forward to seeing his green and purple colours carried by Lihou in the Lily Agnes today.

He is trained by David Evans, who has saddled the winner of the Lily Agnes twice in the last ten years, including 12 months ago with Yogi’s Girl.

A son of Mayson, Lihou ran an excellent fourth in the Brocklesby before winning a novice at Kempton from a wide draw - beating subsequent dual winner Kinks, who he re-opposes.

He should get a similar race set up from stall four (drawn five but Light My Fire in three is already a non-runner), with two speed horses to his inside that he can sit off including the favourite No Lippy who is running around a turn for the first time in public this afternoon.

This extended 10f three-year-old maiden after the “sexy” races have been run on the opening day of the Chester May Meeting is worth hanging around for as stars for the future are very often on show and the trainer to unleash them in the past has tended to be John Gosden.

The maestro trainer has won this maiden three times in the past seven years and all of his runners have come here off 18-20 day breaks and Argentello is coming here with good form off a 20-day layoff.

This son of Intello ran well at the Lincoln meeting at Doncaster to be runner-up before finishing third during the Craven meeting in a 10f novice.

His draw in three is much better than his main market rival Baritone in ten and he should come on for his third career start. He already has a Royal Ascot entry and given that he is from the family of Dar Re Mi and Rewilding much more can be expected.

Still a maiden on the Flat, but a dual winner over hurdles, this four-year-old has an excellent chance of opening his account on the level stepping back up to two miles.

Arguably he was a little unlucky not to finish a lot closer when fourth over 1m6f at Chelmsford last time out given he didn’t get a clear run through that race and now in an Amateur Riders’ contest he gets the assistance of the extremely capable Alex Edwards.

One of two course and distance winners in the field, Critical Thinking is one of the all-weather horses that I have followed this season to good effect and he has a solid chance to go in again tonight.

He missed out on a hat-trick of wins last time out by only 1¾ lengths over course and distance at this level when drawn nine of nine and remember the 7f start at Wolverhampton is tricky for those drawn wide.

He was ridden by Tom Evans last time out and now Stevie Donohoe gets back into the plate and he has a great record on Critical Thinking with three wins and two placed efforts from only five rides.

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