14:25 Chester

Friday 12 May 2017

All13:5014:2515:0015:3516:0516:3517:05

Homeserve Dee Stakes (Listed)

Off time: 14:26 | Winning time: 2m 10.85s

(9)

Al Hamdany²⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Harry Bentley| T: M Botti| OR: 97

33/1

Runner-up in a Listed contest towards the end of last year and form of that effort has a solid look to it. Well beaten on return but he's better than that and quicker ground may not have suited. Place chance if the rain arrives.

Form: 2212-65

(1)

Bay Of Poets¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: W Buick| T: C Appleby| OR: 101

5/1

Won his maiden in good style at Kempton but failed to go on from that last season. Showed promise on his return at Epsom in the Derby trial behind one of the market leaders for the Classic itself and should be able to build on that so plenty to like from a nice draw.

Form: 61888-3

(7)

Cliffs Of Moher^t¹⁹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien

4/5

Easy winner at Leopardstown on his final start of 2016 and the form of that race looks the best on offer here. Did get the run of the race somewhat but that could happen again and he will no doubt appreciate the step up in trip as that will have been on the sharp side. Yard have won three of the last five renewals of this contest and are flying at present so plenty to like.

Form: 51-

(5)

Fujaira Bridge²²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: R Varian| OR: 81

12/1

Exchanged hands for a small fortune twice before he had raced but has been a little disappointing in four starts so far. Form of his Ripon win needs improving upon if he's to even make the frame in this contest and he hasn't always looked the most straightforward type. Best watched this time.

Form: 723-1

(3)

Majeste²³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Tom Marquand| T: R Hannon| OR: 101

25/1

Won his maiden at Newbury in impressive style but not shown enough in two pattern races since to suggest he should be of interest here and remains to be seen whether this significant step up in trip will see him in a better light. Yard won this last year with Viren's Army.

Form: 214-6

(8)

Max Zorin²⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: David Probert| T: A M Balding| OR: 95

25/1

Respectable debut effort at Sandown on fast ground and lost his maiden tag when an easy winner here towards the end of last season. Has struggled upped in class since though and looks opposable despite his trainer's record around here.

Form: 2013-4

(6)

Mirage Dancer²⁰³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Oisin Murphy| T: Sir Michael Stoute| OR: 87

7/2

Frankel colt whose dam was a Group 1 winner and half-sister to Dansili. Has a beautiful pedigree and holds an Epsom Derby entry. Should improve for his run last year when he got the hang of things late on to score at Doncaster and market probably the best guide to expectations this time around.

Form: 1-

(4)

Star of Rory²²⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: R Kingscote| T: Tom Dascombe| OR: 98

16/1

Won a soft ground Haydock maiden but hasn't really backed that up since. Likely to be more to come this year and trainer and jockey both have a fine record around here but has a bit to prove in this line-up and a place probably the best he can hope for.

Form: 125-

Non-Runners

(2)

Apex King²⁴

Weight: 9-0| Age: 3

T: E A L Dunlop J: P J Smullen

Forecasts

Cliffs Of Moher (4/5), Mirage Dancer (7/2), Bay Of Poets (5/1), Fujaira Bridge (12/1), Star of Rory (16/1), Max Zorin (25/1), Majeste (25/1), Apex King (25/1), Al Hamdany (33/1)

A Listed race only in name with several runners in here likely to be playing their trade in Group company this season. Cliffs Of Moher sets a clear standard on form and Aidan O'Brien's record speaks for itself in this race but with him likely to go off long odds-on, and not guarenteed to be fully tuned up for this, a chance is taken on BAY OF POETS. Charlie Appleby's runners often come on for their reappearance runs and he shaped like he needed the run at Epsom last time. He should prove a different prospect this year and may be capable of upsetting the likely favourite. Mirage Dancer could hardly have a more precocious pedigree and the market is possibly the best guide to his chance.