Coolmore bring out interesting newcomer at Gowran and top trainer picks best chance from ten runners at Chester

Chester: Palmer looking to Ran Amok among strong contingent

Hugo Palmer and Andrew Balding are vying to be top trainer at Chester this year, with 11 winners apiece, and both are strongly represented on the card.

Palmer has the numerical advantage with ten declarations to Balding’s six, including three (to Balding's one) in the opening 7f nursery (1.55).

The trainer identified Ran Amok as his leading contender in the 5½f handicap (3.40). The three-year-old was a narrow winner at Doncaster two starts ago and Joe Leavy takes the ride.

Palmer said: “I'd say the best chance of the day is Ran Amok but if the forecasters are right it's going to be fairly testing ground. I also think Asteverdi should have a good chance in the last (5.20). She's been waiting for this step up in trip and this ground."

Ran Amok15:40 Chester

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Jky: Joe Leavy Tnr: Hugo Palmer

Gowran Park: Close relative to Classic heroine catches eye

The opening mile fillies’ maiden (1.42) contains some choicely bred two-year-olds, none more so than the Aidan O’Brien-trained Cosmetic.

The Coolmore homebred is by Frankel and out of the prolific Beauty Is Truth, who was a Group 2 winner and has excelled as a broodmare.

She has half a dozen winners to her credit, most notably the dual 1,000 Guineas heroine Hermosa and her Group 1-winning siblings Hydrangea and The United States.

Jack Cleary, who takes off 5lb, gets the leg up on Cosmetic for her debut. Wayne Lordan is aboard stablemate Ice Dancer, a daughter of Wootton Bassett who finished down the field under Cleary on her first start at the Curragh last month.

Cosmetic13:42 Gowran Park

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Jky: Jack Cleary (5lb)Tnr: A P O'Brien

Navan: Stepdance out to prove sure-footed over hurdles

Stepdance hasn’t put a foot wrong this year and bids to make it four out of four for 2025 on her jumps debut in the 2m maiden hurdle (1.25).

Trained by Henry de Bromhead, the five-year-old got off the mark at the 13th time of asking in a 1m4f handicap at Tramore in July.

She followed up at Limerick under a penalty four days later and completed a hat-trick back at Tramore last month.

It will be interesting to see how she fares on her jumping bow, for which she has the assistance of Darragh O’Keeffe.

Royal Approval, a three-time winner on the all-weather at Newcastle for Andrew Balding, is another of the hurdling newcomers having been bought by the Gordon Elliott team for 48,000gns at Tattersalls in July.

Stepdance13:25 Navan

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Jky: Darragh O'Keeffe Tnr: Henry De Bromhead

Newmarket: Belgravian bids to enhance claims in Cesarewitch Trial

Belgravian is among the market leaders for next month’s Cesarewitch and looks the one to beat in the trial over course and distance (3.55).

The Andrew Balding-trained three-year-old has won his last three starts but is still a fair way off making the cut for the big handicap on October 11. Adding a few pounds with another penalty for winning this £50,000 contest would increase his chances of getting a run.

Last-time-out Racing League winner Sheradann could prove the biggest danger and there are a couple of interesting raiders from across the Irish Sea. Henry de Bromhead's Chutzpal won at Killarney last time and the Charles Byrnes-trained Reverend Hubert was eighth in last year’s Cesarewitch.

Belgravian15:55 Newmarket

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Jky: Jason Watson Tnr: Andrew Balding

Newmarket stat: Charlie Appleby

The Godolphin trainer has four winners from six runners (67 per cent) in two-year-old non-handicaps here this year and runs debutante Romantic Symphony in the mile novice (1.00).

Romantic Symphony13:00 Newmarket

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Jky: Billy Loughnane Tnr: Charlie Appleby

Wolverhampton: Vape takes smoking hot form on to all-weather

Vape has been in excellent form since last month, winning twice and finishing runner-up twice since developing a strong partnership with 7lb claimer Charlie Tucker.

The victories came at Windsor and Chepstow, but now joint-trainers John and Rhys Flint return the eight-year-old to the all-weather in the 6f handicap (8.30).

Vape has not had much luck previously at Wolverhampton, going winless in ten runs, with his three all-weather victories having come at Chelmsford (twice) and Southwell.

Rhys Flint said: “He's been in great form and he's done well for Charlie, giving him his first two winners within 24 hours. He's been a fantastic horse for the yard in the last few years.

"I think confidence is a big thing. People say horses aren't intelligent but they know when they win and it fills them up with confidence. He's enjoying his races and hopefully he can continue his good run."

Vape20:30 Wolverhampton (A.W)

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Jky: Charlie Tucker (7lb)Tnr: John & Rhys Flint

Wolverhampton stat: Richard Price

The trainer has two winners from five runners (40 per cent) in three-year-old-plus handicaps here this year and saddles Lhebayeb in the 1m1½f handicap (7.30).