The 2024 Chester Cup: four key runners for the big race

Trainer: Andrew Balding.  Odds: 6/1. 

This filly is at the head of the market and it’s easy to understand why. She progressed well when having her stamina tested last season and the four-year-old daughter of Nathaniel is open to further progress. 

Grand Providence won at Kempton, Doncaster and Newmarket last year, looking all stamina when winning the Cesarewitch Trial at Headquarters over 2m2f in September. She proably found the Cesarewirch itself one race too many after a busy year but her comeback third at Newbury was most encouraging and should have put her spot-on for this. 

Unlike several in this field, the drying ground will pose her no problem and her draw in stall 12 is not a big concern as the past four winners of this race have all jumped from double-figure stalls. Hayley Turner has won twice on her and resumes the partnership. 

Trainer: Andrew Balding.  Odds: 7/1. 

This son of Sea The Stars had a mixed time of it last year but his placed efforts at Newbury, in late July, and York, a month later, stick in the memory. 

On the first occasion he tanked through the race but time has shown he faced a thankless task trying to concede 2lb to the winner, Sweet William, who has continued to thrive since and is now rated 20lb higher. Next time, at York’s Ebor meeting, he again moved sweetly but was touched off by Forza Orta in a controversial finish. He looked unlucky not to be awarded the spoils by the stewards. 

looks to have the blend of speed/stamina needed for this race and resumes this year only 2lb higher. A gelding operation since last year may also have benefitted him.  

Trainer: Kevin Ryan.  Odds: 16/1. 

This six-year-old touched off Aztec Empire when having his first run over 2m at York in late August and it’s a little insulting that he’s twice the price of his old rival. 

He was perhaps fortunate to keep that race but he’s only 1lb worse off  and remains unexposed as a stayer. 

Forza Orta shaped better than the bare form suggests when failing to make an impact on his return at Thirsk, over 1m4f on soft ground, and that is likely to have an added an edge. 

Trainer: Emmet Mullins. Odds: 8/1. 

The Cup was first run in 1824 and I cannot find an 11-year-old who has previously won it. Could The Shunter change all that? 

The 2021 Cheltenham Festival winner was having just his sixth race in the level when landing the Cesarewitch in October. He flawed a big gamble on Pied Piper that day and it was a strong race – certainly deeper than this one. 

He’s 6lb higher in the ratings but a bigger worry would be the drying ground as he’s unproven on a sound surface. His 166-day absence is also a niggle because his record when fresh is not that compelling, albeit his connections have probably had this in mind for some time. 

Trainer: James Owen.  Odds: 20/1. 

This five-time hurdle winner carries the familiar yellow silks of Bill Gredley and the booking of Silvestre de Sousa catches the eye. 

Too Friendly was well-beaten at Plumpton when last in action but he had previously enjoyed himself on the Flat at Kempton, winning a 2m handicap in snug style. 

That was only his seventh run on the level and his first when having his stamina tested. He’s been nudged up 4lb but we don’t know where his ceiling might be in this sphere.