Racing tips: Wintercrack could be another Sly improver at Class 1 level

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Tommie Beau couldn't land a blow in the Norfolk National yesterday, he was positioned towards the rear and when trying to make up the ground needed he had to go very wide around the horse which sadly broke down. I don't think he would've won anyway, maybe sitting closer to the pace would've helped his chances, but he was labouring a lot in the early stages.

I wouldn't go crazy today, as it looks like a very tough day at Chester, with the handicaps being extremely tough as ever, one thing for certain is that you'll see many horses not get luck in running.

Chester 1:30 – Parkside Boy 13/2 (0.5pt EW PaddyPower)

I don't think this race is particularly strong, which sounds a little daft as they are all lightly raced 2yo's, but I've not really seen anything with the wow factor, so I'm taking a chance on the Irish raider, Parkside Boy.

The race he won has produced some brilliant horses in the past, including last year with Blackbeard and others to note were Rhododendron and it has been a happy hunting ground for Aidan O'Brien, normally targeting one of his better juveniles for the race. His runner in this year's race was heavily backed into favourite going off at 4/11F and he only managed to finish second behind my selection today. The form on paper would probably look quite weak, even though he beat a Ballydoyle horse, as it was a clumped finish with the four runners, but I refuse to believe he's beaten a poor horse in behind, with him going off so short, Ryan Moore came over for the ride and it is a target race for Aidan O'Brien.

Parkside Boy's trainer brought over one juvenile last year, running at Royal Ascot where he finished 2nd at odds of 80/1, so it's interesting he's brought this horse over for this Chester race worth 15k. It's a decent prize pot, but he could've easily found some opportunities in Ireland, so he clearly believes this is a winnable race. He is drawn in stall 4, which is a positive for a track like Chester where you don't want to be too wide as the track is very tight and you'll lose plenty of ground.

Chester 2:40 – Wintercrack 28/1 (0.5pt EW PaddyPower)

Over the years we've seen the trial races at Chester be full of horses who aren't capable of winning the main races at Epsom, and we've seen many low-rated horses finish in the places, including last year with Typewriter finishing 3rd when being rated 79 and Moon De Vega finishing 4th when being rated 80. I was impressed by Wintercrack‘s run last time out, where significant amounts of money came in for her and she won at Leicester, so I think she is definitely worth an EW shot upped in grade.

Pam Sly is a very good trainer and does well with the small number of horses she has. She has done well with her homebred horses, and Wintercrack is one of many to come out of her star Mare, Speciosa who won a Group 1. This filly clearly appreciated the soft ground last time out and preferred a front-running ride. She is unfortunately drawn in stall 9, so grabbing the lead in this might be difficult, but they might sit hit prominently. There is some forecast rain, which should aid her chances and being by Cracksman the added furlongs should be right up her street.

Pam has done it a few times when upping her horses in grade to Class 1 level where they've run well or won, and Astral Beau is a prover of that this year when winning a Class 1 race off a mark of 86, so she's not scared to send handicap rated horses into the deep end, as she could've easily exploited the handicap mark of Wintercrack and racked up a few more handicap wins, but she clearly thinks she is capable of running a big race.

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