Boodles Chester Vase Stakes (Group 3)

Off time: 15:16 | Winning time: 2m 52.31s

(2)

Adelaide River²⁰⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 105

9/4

Winning debut on AW last summer and placed 3 times at Group level in the autumn, although he was 6 lengths adrift of the reopposing Arrest in Criterium de Saint-Cloud on final start. Top Irish stable has outstanding record in this.

Form: 1223-

(3)

Arrest²⁰⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: L Dettori| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 113

10/11

Most progressive juvenile who scored twice over 1m before head second to Dubai Mile (Adelaide River 6 lengths back in third) in Criterium de Saint-Cloud on final start. This son of Frankel should stay 1½m and looks the one to beat on his seasonal return.

Form: 3112-

(4)

Duke Of Oxford²⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: H Crouch| T: M L W Bell| OR: 90| D

16/1

Winner of 2 AW novices this spring, looking very useful when scoring by a wide margin over this trip at Wolverhampton last month. Takes a jump in class now switching to the turf but he's an exciting prospect.

Form: 11

(1)

Galactic Jack²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Oisin Murphy| T: A M Balding| OR: 88

14/1

Goodwood maiden winner last autumn but his limitations have seemingly been exposed at Group 3/listed level at Newmarket since. The step up to 1½m needs to spark big improvement.

Form: 316-6

(5)

Hadrianus¹⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: F Norton| T: C Johnston| OR: 104

6/1

AW maiden winner in Decmber who was much improved when ¾-length second of 5 to Epictetus in 1¼m Epsom listed race on his reappearance 15 days ago. This longer trip should play to his strengths. Looks capable of even better.

Form: 21-2

Forecasts

Arrest (10/11), Adelaide River (9/4), Hadrianus (6/1), Galactic Jack (14/1), Duke Of Oxford (16/1)

ARREST went close at Group 1 level on his final 2-y-o start and sets a good standard for the rest to aim at. Hadrianus shaped well behind another good prospect from the Gosden stable on his recent reappearance and may provide a bigger threat to the selection than Aidan O'Brien's Adelaide River.