Koukash connection can work its magic in the Chester Cup again

The Chester Cup is a hugely important race for owner Marwan Koukash and it appears significant he has bought Magic Circle from Ralph Beckett and sent him straight to Ian Williams.

The pair combined to win with Bulwark in 2008 and Williams showed repeatedly last season what a good target trainer he is with these kind of horses.

Magic Circle ran in this race last season for Beckett but didn't fare well with the draw in 18, so therefore his fifth place behind Montaly was a pretty good effort.

He won two starts later at York and was then pitched into the Ebor just three days later where he finished a very good fifth behind Nakeeta, who subsequently ran with distinction in the Melbourne Cup.

He is now rated 101, only 3lb higher than he ran off in this 12 months ago, and if Williams has worked the oracle with him, as he did with the likes of Saunter and London Prize last season, then Magic Circle definitely has a race like this in him.

At a top price of 14-1, he is a juicy each-way bet.

Amazing Red is a much bigger price at 25-1, but he is a horse I like a lot and could also be worth backing each-way.

He hasn't quite fulfilled his potential yet, but he's run well in two all-weather handicaps this season and I feel there is much more to come from him.

By Teofilo and a half-brother to Red Cadeaux, he should stay an extreme trip and he's certainly looked in his last two starts like a horse who wants further, staying well at the end of two mile-and-a-half handicaps.

With two horses in the mix, hopefully at least one will be well drawn and then we will be in business.

Nick Watts is the deputy editor of the Racing Post Weekender