Ben Linfoot free horse racing tips for Chester May Festival day one

The Verdict tips: Wednesday May 10

1pt win Hadrianus in 3.15 Chester at 5/1 (Sky Bet, Hills)

1pt e.w Frankness in 3.45 Chester at 16/1 (General 1/5 1,2,3,4)

Sky Bet odds | Paddy Power | Betfair Sportsbook

Hadrian’s ball in the Vase

Derby trial season is here and Chester’s May Festival kicks off with a couple of launchpads for Epsom including the Boodles Chester Vase Stakes at 3.15.

Ruler Of The World and Wings Of Eagles have come out of this race and won the Derby in the last 10 years and after Auguste Rodin’s Guineas flop Aidan O’Brien will be hoping he finds some strong contenders in the trials starting in this one.

Adelaide River is his representative in the Vase and the son of Australia is expected to improve on his two-year-old form at three now he steps up in trip, so he’s a danger to all, even if he does have six lengths to make up on Arrest on their Saint-Cloud form.

Arrest is an odds-on shot for this after finishing second to Dubai Mile in France, but he needed his first run last season and he looks very short to me against the race-fit HADRIANUS who is worth backing at 5/1.

Charlie Johnston’s son of Galileo had his first couple of starts on the all-weather before Christmas where he ran well, winning at Kempton, but he improved markedly over 10 furlongs in soft ground at Epsom in the Blue Riband Trial two weeks ago.

He was outpaced at a crucial point and had to switch, but he finished his race well to get within three-quarters-of-a-length of the winner, Epictetus, suggesting as though he’d thrive for an extra two furlongs.

With that race under his belt he’s got a sharpness advantage over the two market leaders and he’s got a touch of the same stable’s Dee Ex Bee about him, a horse who ran in the Epsom trial, finished second in this race and then ran second in the Derby.

Strangely, he has been declared for Thursday’s Dee Stakes over 10 furlongs, too, but it’s over 1m4f that he interests me and if he stands his ground I can see him going well under Franny Norton.

The Verdict: Back HADRIANUS in the Chester Vase

Frankel filly who likes turning track

In the handicaps, I'm going to chance one each-way from a wide draw as FRANKNESS has otherwise seductive claims in the Camden Pale Handicap at a huge 16/1.

Her 2000 Guineas-winning trainer Andrew Balding always targets Chester and he has an amazing record with three-year-old handicappers at this track, winning 34 from 142 at 23.94%, while he was five from six with Frankel progeny on the Roodee last year.

Frankness was responsible for two of those wins, winning a couple of novice races here including one by over six lengths under a penalty from Tellus, a filly who has struck twice on turf this season already including at Ayr on Monday.

This daughter of Frankel has had her sights raised since then, running in the May Hill and the Nell Gwyn, shaping quite well at Newmarket given she was too keen over seven furlongs in a race that didn’t play to her strengths.

Dropping back to six furlongs at Chester for her handicap debut could pay dividends and while stall 12 is clearly not ideal, she’s got the right man in Oisin Murphy to navigate a passage from which she can challenge.

The Verdict: Back FRANKNESS for Andrew Balding

First published Tuesday afternoon - updated at 0835 BST on 10/05/23

More from Sporting Life

• Racecards
• Fast results
• Full results and free video replays
• Horse racing news
• Horse racing tips
• Horse racing features
• Download our free iOS and Android app
• Football and other sports tips
• Podcasts and video content

Safer gambling

We are committed in our support of safer gambling. Recommended bets are advised to over-18s and we strongly encourage readers to wager only what they can afford to lose.

If you are concerned about your gambling, please call the National Gambling Helpline / GamCare on 0808 8020 133.

Further support and information can be found at begambleaware.org and gamblingtherapy.org