Sonnyboyliston looks capable of landing a knockout blow in the Ormonde

Sonnyboyliston 3.15 Chester
Buy at 8 on index

Johnny Murtagh has a good record when sending runners to Britain and Sonnyboyliston looks likely to improve significantly for the step up in trip judged on his pedigree.

He is the first foal of Miss Macnamara, who was a 2m Flat winner and won over as far as 2m4f over hurdles. It’s therefore a surprise my selection has yet to run beyond 1m2f.

The four-year-old has still shown a high level of form over that distance, though. He won a hot handicap at the Curragh in tidy fashion last September and returned to action this season to finish third behind subsequent winner Broome in a Listed event at Naas.

He is entitled to come on for that first outing of the season and handles cut in the ground. He has twice won on going with yielding in the description.

Japan will be hard to beat if he is at his best, but he hasn’t shown that for a while and Trueshan, who will be using this as a prep race, has to shoulder a penalty.

It looks like a good opportunity for Sonnyboyliston to record his first success at Group level.

2.15 Chester

Sporting (50-25-10) 23-26 Yibir, 18-21 Ontario, 16-19 Maximal, 8-11 Foxes Tales, 6-8 El Drama, 5-7 Earlswood, 0.5-2 Luther Cee.

Match bet 0.5-1.5 Yibir/Maximal.

3.15 Chester

Sporting (50-25-10) 25-28 Japan, 19-22 Trueshan, 12-15 Morando, 6-8 Sonnyboyliston, 5-7 Withhold, 3-5 Euchen Glen, Kipps, 2-4 Sextant.

Match bet 0.75-1.75 Trueshan/Morando.

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