Alan Thomson’s Tips: Fifty looks nifty in Chester Cup

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DUBAWI FIFTY (3.35) should relish the stamina test in the 2m 2f 188bet Chester Cup.

Karen McLintock has booked Silvestre De Sousa for her gelding, a four-time winner since last July. Dubawi Fifty stayed on into fourth in the Cesarewitch at Newmarket in the autumn and has been running consistently well on the all-weather in races often not run to suit this doughty stayer. Stall 10 isn’t brilliant but SDS can usually be relied upon to secure a nice slot.

My other Chester Cup bet will be Magic Circle, attempting to improve on last year’s fifth spot. Fran Berry was forced wide without cover (stall 18) and his mount did well to get so close to winner Montaly. Stall six is much more like it and Magic Circle should give it a good go for new trainer Ian Williams.

EMINENT (2.25), a son of Frankel, is hard to ignore in the Group 2 Huxley Stakes.

The colt won last year’s Craven Stakes and his fifth to Ulysses in the Coral-Eclipse, plus a third in the Irish Champion Stakes, makes him firmly the one to beat.

At much bigger odds PENWORTHAM (1.50) is worth an each-way interest in the extended 7f handicap.

Richard Fahey’s gelding runs the Roodee very well, scoring from War Glory over course and distance last September and going down close home to useful Fastnet Tempest 12 months ago. If ready to roll after 201 days absence Penwortham should be thereabouts in a very open affair.

The 1m 2f handicap isn’t any easier but I’ll be disappointed if GULF OF POETS (3.00) isn’t involved in the finish.

Nathan Evans didn’t put his in-form mount into the Hunt Cup at Wetherby on Saturday until the race was effectively over, but he still finished on the heels of smart winner Original Choice. Gulf Of Poets had earlier scored at Pontefract and Haydock on softer ground and Mick Easterby’s six-year-old wouldn’t want the track to dry out too much.

Titi Makfi ran her usual game race in Listed company at Goodwood on Saturday, only capitulating close home. The last time she contested a handicap was at York’s Ebor fixture when beaten a short head in a 20-runner contest.

Recommended bets

• Chester 3.35 – Dubawi Fifty (9-1, Ladbrokes)
• Chester 2.25 – Eminent (4-5, Skybet)
• Chester 1.50 – Penwortham ew (14-1, Skybet)
• Chester 3.0 – Gulf of Poets (7-1, Paddy Power)

Johnb's Friday Tips

• Chester 3.0 – Dark Red (6-1, bet365) NAP
• Chester 3.35 – Prince Of Arran (25-1, Paddy Power) ew 1/5 odds 1-2-3-4-5
• Chester 4.40 – Gabriel’s King (11-2, Paddy Power) NB

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