The Prix Maurice De Gheest looks like a Group 1 race in name only. If Caravaggio is half decent, he should win this easily with Intelligence Cross presumably there to make sure they go a decent lick. We know he handles the prevailing soft ground and his fellows raiders have quite a bit to find on form: Magical Memory won an ordinary Group 3 last time and does Brando really want the extra half furlong? Of the home team, Fas would really have to put up an improved performance to feature, The Right Man last won in Meydan and was well beaten at Ascot, as was last year’s winner Signs Of Blessing; and Rosa Imperial is the unknown quantity for Andre Fabre. Stand by for the excuses if Caravaggio blows this one...
Back on these shores, the main worry about Chester is whether they will get rain. Indeed, with the forecast for the coming week, I can see me stuffing my LDL winnings under the mattress and waiting for a dry spell.
There seems to be quite a few obvious favourites at Chester, which usually results in a couple getting turned over, but the one that takes my fancy is REGULATOR in the 2:35. The ground is an unknown for Richard Fahey’s Acclamation colt but he receives weight from his four rivals and might be considered unlucky not to be coming here unbeaten (traffic trouble when second on debut).