'He has the best chance by virtue of the draw' - who's confident and who's not?

Thursday: 1.30 Chester
ICM Stellar Sports Handicap | 5f | 4yo+ | ITV4/Sky

A strong early pace looks assured in this 5f dash and Look Out Louis and Night On Earth, who were separated by half a length at Newmarket last time, could be the ones to help force it.

The pair both like to race on or close to the pace, especially the Mick Appleby-trained Night On Earth, who made all to win a pair of all-weather handicaps prior to his clash with Look Out Louis last time.

It was Night On Earth who narrowly led the early exchanges that day, but a strong-travelling Look At Louis was always tracking him and edged past in the closing stages, albeit only to be nabbed late on himself by a Group-class rival.

There was no shame in defeat for either rival, but Appleby's representative, who is drawn in stall four, may struggle to reverse the form owing to pace pressure on his inside.

Course-and-distance winner Militia occupies the inside stall and is all but certain to fight Night On Earth for early supremacy. That could set up the race for Look Out Louis, who has form over further, including a 6f win at Chester last summer.

That said, there are plenty who would benefit from a frantic early gallop, including the Tim Easterby-trained Sunday Sovereign, who won over 5½f at Chester last August off just 1lb lower.

Another who would benefit is Alligator Alley, who made his debut for the in-form David O'Meara at Wolverhampton in March, shaping as though he would benefit greatly for his first run since undergoing wind surgery.

King Of Stars, Appleby's second string, defeated Look Out Louis at Yarmouth in September, and having been freshened up he could be the each-way danger.

Draw no help for Easterby

The draw in sprints at Chester are always crucial and Tim Easterby, who brings a trio into the race, is perhaps cursing his luck in that regard.

Although the well-handicapped Sunday Sovereign has a fair draw to work from in five, that fortune has not extended to Easterby's other runners, Bossipop and Count D'Orsay.

Drawn in stalls eight and ten respectively, Easterby knows that pair will need plenty of luck if they are to get involved in proceedings.

Tim Easterby: 'Sunday Sovereign would have the best chance by virtue of the draw'Credit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

"It's all part of it, but what are they going to do from there?" joked Easterby. "They're all in good form, they all like some juice in the ground and I'm expecting them to run well.

"They're ready to come in and finish in the first three, but it might be difficult from a wide draw. Sunday Sovereign would have the best chance by virtue of the draw."

What they say

Mick Appleby, trainer of Night On Earth and King Of Stars
They're both in good order, Night On Earth has improved a lot on the all-weather and hopefully he can transfer that to the turf now – he wouldn't be too worried about any rain. King Of Stars has been below form so we've freshened him up as Dubai took a bit out of him. Hopefully he'll run well but the main concern with him is the ground.

David O'Meara, trainer of Alligator Alley and Soul Seeker
Soul Seeker isn't drawn great and any rain that arrives would be a negative for him. Alligator Alley had a nice first run for us at Wolverhampton and he's in good form, but I can't imagine he'd want too much rain either.

Steve Brown, assistant trainer of Look Out Louis
He obviously ran very well at Newmarket and he's a previous winner around Chester. We would rather have not seen the amount of rain they've had, but he's in very good form.

Thursday's race previews:

2.05 Chester: Can Andrew Balding improve impressive Chester strike-rate in the Deepbridge?

2.40 Chester: 'Hopefully the dream is just starting' - can Mr McCann strike for star owners?

3.10 Chester: 'He should enjoy zipping round Chester' - Classic team Highclere have high hopes

Ormonde Stakes analysis: What type of horse is best equipped to strike in this programme book anomaly? (£)

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