Chester's May meeting is one of the smallest of the British flat festivals, but its main races are still coveted by the leading trainers and Thursday's G3 Betfair Huxley S. has been a favorite of Sir Michael Stoute who holds the current record of five wins. Today, the master of Freemason Lodge relies on Saeed Suhail's Cannock Chase (Lemon Drop Kid), who was an encouraging third in Sandown's G3 Gordon Richards S. over this trip Apr. 24 on his first start since winning the G3 Tercentenary S. at Royal Ascot last June. “We were delighted with him at Sandown on ground that was probably a bit soft for him,” the owner's racing manager Bruce Raymond told PA Sport. “The ground might be soft again at Chester and I don't think Sir Michael would run him if it got too bad. He needed the run at Sandown in preparation for the rest of the season, so the ground maybe took the edge off him, fitness-wise. The ground should not be as big an issue now he's a fitter horse. I'd be surprised if he didn't turn out to be a very decent horse this summer.” Godolphin's Windhoek (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}) beat the subsequent G3 Rose of Lancaster S. winner Amralah (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) in the Listed Gala S. at Sandown July 4 and took the Anatolia Trophy on Veliefendi's Polytrack in September either side of a third placing in the G2 York S. over an extended 10-furlong trip in late July. Trainer Saeed bin Suroor said, “Windhoek won well on his latest start in Turkey and we gave him a break after that run. He has been working well and I have been happy with his preparation. He's ready to go and I am looking forward to seeing him get his season started.” Any further rain will aid the cause of Lady Cobham's Air Pilot (GB) (Zamindar), who signed off with a win in the Listed James Seymour S. over this trip at Newmarket at the start of November. “It's a perfect race to start off,” trainer Ralph Beckett told PA Sport. “He's in good shape and his work this spring has been fine. The rain that has fallen will suit him, as he's better when there's juice in the ground.”
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.