Paul Ferguson has two selections for us on Friday and considers; Astrology in the 14.05 at Chester and Triolo D’Alene in the 14.55 at Market Rasen. Compare odds and bet.
The two Group races at Chester this afternoon look matches on paper, with the Ormonde Stakes looking between Brown Panther and Memphis Tennessee, now Sea Moon misses the race due to the testing ground.
Both have placed form in Classics last season, with the former runner-up in the St Leger and the latter third in the Irish Derby having earlier finished fourth at Epsom. If anything, the Aidan O’Brien colt has slightly better form for me, but this is race to watch.
The Dee Stakes also looks a straight head-to-head between Andrew Balding’s Bonfire and Astrology, another Aidan O’Brien inmate.
The former looked a decent prospect when winning a soft ground maiden on debut at Salisbury, before chasing home 2,000 Guineas runner-up French Fifteen in a Group 1 at Saint-Cloud in October.
That is rock solid juvenile form so he looks a worthy favourite, but Astrology (2:05) also looked a smart colt last term, winning over a mile on debut before finishing third in a warm renewal of the Group 2 Futurity Stakes.
The son of Galileo may not have progressed again when third at Newmarket, but he promises to be a useful middle-distance performer at three and he looks capable of a bold showing here.
Available at 7/2 overnight, if he were to touch 4/1 he’d look a bet to nothing each-way, though at the time of writing Paddy Power’s Evens looks a fair bet in their market without Bonfire.
Market Rasen stages a cracking 2m4f handicap chase for the time of year, in which Triolo D’Alene (2:55) is worth supporting for Nicky Henderson and Barry Geraghty, the team that took all before them at Cheltenham and Aintree.
The five-year-old won his first two starts over fences in France and made it three from three when making a winning debut for current connections at Ascot in January.
He disappointed behind Hunt Ball at the Cheltenham Festival last time, but he will appreciate the easier ground this afternoon (both French wins came on soft) and is worth giving another chance to.
Available at 5/1 last night, a clear round should see him go close and, with 16 runners going to post, bookmakers will be paying 4 places.
Friday’s selections:
2:05 Chester – Astrology (without fav Evs Paddy Power)
2:55 Market Rasen – Triolo D’Alene (each-way 5/1)
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