Ben Linfoot free horse racing tips for ITV racing at Chester Friday May 10

The Verdict: Friday, May 10

1pt win Boardman in 1.30 Chester at 12/1 (General)

1pt e.w. Too Friendly in 3.40 Chester at 20/1 (bet365 1/5 1,2,3,4,5)

Sky Bet odds | Paddy Power | Betfair Sportsbook

Friendly fire in Chester Cup

Silvestre De Sousa marked his return to British racing with a Classic winner at the weekend and he could land his first Chester Cup aboard TOO FRIENDLY for Newmarket trainer James Owen on Friday.

This wouldn’t be a Chester Cup that has too many lightly-raced and improving stayers among its number, the well-found Andrew Balding pair of Grand Providence and Aztec Empire apart, but Too Friendly also comes into that category having had only the seven runs on the level with just four of those runs on turf.

Of course, he’s much better known as a hurdler for Owen and the Gredley family, with three of his five wins over timber coming for his latest handler, the improvement he showed in that sphere last summer sparking hopes he might cut it at Cheltenham.

Things didn’t quite work out in that regard, but he improved to be a 140-rated hurdler, such progression hinting that his Flat mark of 85 might be lenient and so it proved on the all-weather at Kempton in March.

He travelled strongly off an ordinary gallop that day and did it easily, three cracks of the whip all that was required for him to be kept up to his work for a very comfortable success.

A 4lb rise gives him a real chance in a race like this and if they go hard up front, all the better, as he does look like a horse that will travel with zest just in behind.

It could all work out nicely looking at the Timeform pace map, with plenty of prominent racers drawn to his inside, which should allow De Sousa to attain a prominent rail position just off the leaders from stall eight.

Plenty of dual-purpose horses have won this race down the years, including Metier 12 months ago, and Too Friendly looks a stayer with more to give on the Flat from his current mark.

The Verdict: Back TOO FRIENDLY in 3.40 Chester

Back Boardman to do it again

In the opening CAA Stellar Earl Grosvenor Handicap there has already been a bit of money for BOARDMAN but I’m not surprised and he’s still worth backing at 12/1.

Tim Easterby’s grand old Chester specialist has won around here off marks of 90, 95 and 97, chasing a strong gallop on each occasion, and he should get that same scenario again here from a perch of 94.

A wide draw in 10 isn’t ideal, but with pace drawn to his inside in the form of Liamarty Dreams, Dancing Magic, Island Native and Finn’s Charm, Phil Dennis will likely ride him like he did at the end of May last year, where he was held up in last from stall eight.

He managed to win by three lengths that day, looking better than ever at the age of seven, and judging by his encouraging return at Haydock 13 days ago, where he shaped well without being given a hard time, he looks capable of a similar level this season.

Easterby will obviously have targeted Chester and with his last five wins coming off breaks of 15, 14, 8, 19 and 15 days, his prep looks absolutely perfect.

The Verdict: Back BOARDMAN in 1.30 Chester

Preview posted at 1545 BST on 09/05/24

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