Punting pointers as Commonwealth Cup entry Top Breeze gets handy draw in sprint

3.00 Chester
Boodles Diamond Handicap | 5f, 3yo | ITV4/Sky

Richard Hughes believes Newmarket winner Top Breeze has enough speed to handle the drop back to 5f around the Roodee.

Bar a blip at Chelmsford, when he finished second, Top Breeze has been flawless winning three races, including when showing plenty of early pace to make all at the Craven meeting.

The handicapper has reacted with a 6lb rise, but Hughes is hopeful the colt has enough speed to make full use of his excellent draw in stall one.

He said: "He's been good since Newmarket, we could have gone back there on Guineas weekend, but I just felt when he's that quick I may as well use the five to our advantage, especially around there with a good draw.

"If you're quick enough to go five, go five, especially with three-year-olds, and it’s worth more money. The draw is the icing on the cake."

Top Breeze is entered in the Commonwealth Cup, and Hughes explained the entry is not just a speculative one.

He added: "If he wins very impressively, we'd wonder why he's not entered."

Dascombe seeking third win in five years

Tom Dascombe will have plenty of chances at his local track during the May festival and he aims a trio of runners – She Can Boogie, Angel Alexander and Liberation Day – at a sprint handicap he won in 2015 with the appropriately named Roudee and in 2016 with stable star Kachy.

Tom Dascombe: has three chances in the Boodles Diamond HandicapCredit: Edward Whitaker

Dascombe said: "She Can Boogie is a course-and-distance winner and is relatively well drawn. Richard [Kingscote] was always going to ride her, while we are slightly disappointed Angel Alexander is not a winner already. He's a nice horse, but things haven't gone his way. However, I think he's the best drawn in stall two.

"If I'm totally honest, I wanted to run Liberation Day in the six-furlong race, but he wasn't guaranteed a run until two minutes before the decs, so we stuck him in over five. It's possibly not ideal for him, but he's a winner who will win more races – it might not be this one."

Leodis looking to complete five-timer

Since defeat at Catterick on debut, Leodis Dream has showcased early speed and a battle-hardened nature to rack up a streak of four consecutive wins, most recently by a head at Sandown.

Up 4lb for his win at the Esher course, he bids for a five-timer and trainer David O'Meara said: "He's kept progressing, he hasn't got an ideal draw [stall six], but he should be okay. We're hopeful."

Queen ready to return

While several of the market leaders have a race fitness advantage, it is not one Society Queen can boast on her return to action for trainer Richard Fahey.

The speedy filly has not run since last July, but Fahey said: "She is very fit and well, but it's a warm contest. She is ready to start back and I'm happy with her."

Dave Dexter and No More Regrets also have their first runs this year, with Recon Mission, Yolo Again and Broken Spear, who is drawn widest of all, complete the 11-runner field.

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