Chester Cup 'on the cards at the moment' for favourite Wonder Legend after impressive Good Friday success

New Ladbrokes Chester Cup favourite Wonder Legend has yet to be fully committed to the race despite looking a blot on the handicap.

The improving five-year-old won the £175,000 All-Weather Championships Marathon Handicap by an emphatic four and a half lengths under Danny Muscutt at Newcastle on Friday.

He earned a penalty of just 3lb for the £170,000 Chester Cup and is 6-1 market leader with the race sponsor.

Asked whether the stayer would take his chance on May 9, trainer James Ferguson said: "We have an entry in the Chester Cup that we're going to strongly consider. It's on the cards at the moment but we have to see how he comes out of the Newcastle race, and I need to confirm it with the owner. 

"He runs best when he has a bit of a break, so we'll see if there is anything at the end of May, but he's favourite for the Chester Cup for a reason and it would be a wonderful race to win."

James Ferguson: trainer of Chester Cup favourite Wonder LegendCredit: Michael Dodge

Tackling two miles two furlongs around the sharp turns of the Roodee is a very different challenge to Friday's two-mile contest at galloping Newcastle.

But Ferguson said: "He's won round Wolverhampton and run well at Kempton, so I think he'd be fine at Chester, and it will be interesting to get him back on turf.

"They went hard enough on Friday, which helped us out, but he settled beautifully and Dan gave him a very cool ride. It all worked out. He'd been progressing nicely through the winter and this was always the plan. It looked like he really enjoyed himself, which was great."

Glittering Legend also carried Bon Ho's colours to victory in the Listed Burradon Stakes at Newcastle before the victory of Wonder Legend, a €220,000 breeze-up buy in 2022.

"I was delighted for his owner, who had a great day, and he's been really patient with this horse," said Ferguson. 

"We saw a lot at three to warrant keeping him in training. It took us a while to figure him out and get him right, but he's really matured with age and he's paying us back now. Credit to Bon Ho and to Mark McStay, who bought him; he really believed in this horse."

Ladbrokes Chester Cup (3.05 Chester, May 9)
Sponsors: 6 Wonder Legend, 7 East India Dock, 10 Manxman, Sixandahalf, 12 Leinster, London City, 14 bar

Now read these:

200-1 shot beaten almost 50 lengths in five previous starts becomes joint-biggest-priced British Flat winner 

Chester on the agenda for Al Qareem after toughing it out to win Listed Further Flight Stakes 

Setback for Andrew Balding as Sheikh Fahad's Qatar Racing remove all their horses from his yard 

Looking for free bets? Racing Post have got the best offers, all in one place. Visit racingpost.com/freebets to find out more.