Boodles Chester Vase Stakes (Group 3)

Off time: 15:41 | Winning time: 2m 38.89s

(3)

Agenda⁴³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: Tom Marquand| T: A P O'Brien

3/1

Confirmed promise of sole 2-y-o start at the Curragh when seeing off 8 rivals upped to 10.7f on return at Dundalk. Looks ready for this step up in class/trip and yard boasts a terrific record in this race but Ryan Moore prefers Grosvenor Square.

Form: 3-1

(5)

Cadogan Place^t⁴¹

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

8/1

Very well-bred colt who justified strong market support on debut when getting the better of an argument with the re-opposing Hidden Law (pair clear of the rest) in a 6-runner novice event at Southwell (11f). No Derby entry at this stage but he's a useful colt in the making.

Form: 1

(6)

Golden West^p1²⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: C Lee| T: K R Burke| OR: 90

33/1

Decisive winner of minor events at Newcastle and Epsom (both at around 1m). Failed to beat a rival home on return in a Group 3 at Longchamp (10.4f, soft) and while he's worth another chance given last season's promise, he's up against some very promising types here. Cheekpieces applied.

Form: 11-7

(1)

Grosvenor Square²⁰⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 107

7/4

Winner of 2 of his 3 starts as a 2-y-o, signing campaign off with a ready success in the Eyrefield Stakes at Leopardstown (9f, heavy). Yard has saddled 7 of the last 10 Chester Vase winners and this Galileo colt, who is open to improvement now faced with a stiffer test, is probably the one to beat.

Form: 131-

(2)

Hidden Law¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: W Buick| T: C Appleby

9/4

Dubawi colt who looked a shade unfortunate when touched off by Cadogan Place on debut at Southwell (slightly slower on the uptake than the winner but displayed a fine turn of foot to challenge and was beaten on the nod). Impressive at Newbury (11f, good) since and he is brimming with potential.

Form: 21

(4)

Pappano³⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-2| J: K Shoemark| T: J & T Gosden| D

25/1

Shaped best when third of 13 in maiden at Kempton (11f) on debut in December. Built on that by landing a 7-runner Wolverhampton novice upped to 12.2f last month and while this demands significantly more, he's in good hands and should go on improving.

Form: 3-1

Forecasts

Grosvenor Square (7/4), Hidden Law (9/4), Agenda (3/1), Cadogan Place (8/1), Pappano (25/1), Golden West (33/1)

HIDDEN LAW looks ready for this step up in class judged on his impressive display in a valuable Newbury maiden and he gets the nod ahead of Grosvenor Square, who is Ryan Moore's pick of the Ballydoyle duo and has the distinction of being the only Group-race winner in the line-up. Cadogan Place just got the better of Hidden Law when they met at Southwell at the end of March and the Frankel colt is another fascinating contender.