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Chester Betting: Every day two race previewed by Graham Cunningham

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Suggested bets for the second day of the May meeting including the Chester Vase

1.45

Tactics could be significant here and, with doubts over the current wellbeing of quite a few, this has the look of a very tricky opener.

Escape Route plainly has more going for him than most after returning from Dubai with a decisive Great Leighs success, while the enigmatic Temple Place popped up at 50-1 in this race 12 months ago and returns after a reasonable effort over hurdles at Bangor.

The freewheeling Bahar Shumaal looks well placed to dictate for a long way and could trade relatively short if he gets his own way, while Prince Forever is raised in distance after failing to live up to expectations in the Lincoln and a Warwick minor event.

On balance, this looks one to treat with caution but, if pushed, a small lay of the frustrating Prince Forever might be the best option.

Suggestion: Lay Prince Forever

2.15

We all know jockeys don't read the Betfair Forum - just as they never bet - but it is possible that the odd one logs onto betting.betfair.com now and again.

And if messrs Kirby, Durcan, Spencer and Holland are reading this, the message is simply don't allow Richard Hills a soft lead aboard Maraahel.

Sir Michael Stoute's veteran is bidding for a four timer in this race and will be very hard to beat if allowed to set steady fractions, but he did go off the boil last autumn and there is enough depth to this field to suggest he has more on his plate than when pipping Blue Bajan 12 months ago.

Championship Point has been allowed to stride on this season and proved too strong for Spice Route at Ripon, while Stotsfold boasts a cracking record here and looked as good as ever when fifth in Newmarket's Earl of Sefton Stakes on his reappearance.

Multidimensional finished just ahead of Stotsfold despite being squeezed at HQ. His hold up style means that he can prove a hostage to tactics in smallish fields, but he does have a good turn of foot and Maraahel will have to be as good as ever aged seven if Henry Cecil's runner produces his best on his first visit to Chester.

Suggestion: Lay Maraahel

Chester Vase - 2.45

Aidan O'Brien landed the two Derby trials at this meeting last year with Admiralofthefleet and Soldier Of Fortune, but they were both proven Group race performers with plenty experience.

By contrast, Vivaldi lines up with just two runs behind him having shown clear signs of immaturity when landing his maiden at Gowran Park last autumn. Seven horses were spanned by just over four lengths that day, so the form is nothing special, and Vivaldi looks one to take on at the likely odds.

Feared In Flight is the one the ratings posse will look to - and he must have run close to his official level of 111 when third in Centennial's Sandown Classic Trial - but Doctor Fremantle appeals as the one to beat him now he steps up to a mile and a half for the first time.

Granted, this Sadler's Wells colt was beaten from a mark of just 84 at Newmarket on his reappearance, but he impressed with the way he travelled for a long way and this longer trip can help him bridge the gap between handicaps and Pattern races.

Suggestion: Back Doctor Fremantle and lay Vivaldi

Halifax Handicap - 3.15

The draw is less important over this distance than it is in sprints but, as always, luck in running will doubtless have its say in an extremely tough handicap.

Wasan is up in class after bolting up at Nottingham, while Royalist raced a shade freely at Doncaster yet won his maiden in the style of a useful prospect.

Sir Alex Ferguson will harbour justifiable hopes of seeing his colours carried to victory by the progressive Adversity, while Toto Skyllachy is a fine looker who seems bound to pay his way after a promising reappearance at Beverley.

The fact that I am listing so many viable contenders probably suggests that this is one to tread carefully with. However, with so many strong contenders on show I can't resist a small win and place lay of Huzzah.

Admittedly, he is very consistent and looked better than ever when battling home at Newbury on his reappearance, but he seemed to relish the dead ground there. Drying conditions may not be so suitable and, in any case, a 7lb hike in the weights to a mark of 93 demands that he produce another career best to get home in front.

Suggestion: Lay Huzzah win and place

4.00

The pattern by this stage on day two is well established. In short, punters lump on whichever colt Barry Hills lets loose and layers groan as the beast bolts up.

It's happened three years in a row now, and Senatorial is bound to be a warm order to make it four after his promising debut in a warm conditions race at Newmarket.

However, the odds will be tight and it is worth noting that, whereas Captain Marvelous, River Kintyre and Dark Angel were drawn 5 or lower, Senatorial is out a fair bit wider in stall 8.

Rebecca de Winter showed enough pace on her Lingfield debut to suggest she can give the Hills colt something to think about, while it will be fascinating to see how the layers price up Musical Bridge.

Granted, backing juveniles from a stable which is one from 56 in that department over the last five years is an unusual tactic, but someone from Lisa Williamson's yard seemed to know this one could run when he appeared at Bath recently.

Musical Bridge rewarded the support with a fine effort, going down by a whisker having shown bags of pace, and he could be a handy back to lay vehicle from stall 3.

Suggestion: Back Musical Bridge win and place and lay the win portion back in running at [3.0].

4.35

An open affair, not least because it looks rather lacking in the potential improvers that normally litter handicaps at this meeting.

Fathsta and Silver Wind both ran well enough at Salisbury on Sunday. The former is dead reliable and looks sure to run his race again, while the latter found trouble at Salisbury and may well do so again given that he can race a shade lazily.

The Game is quirky but has been in good nick on the all-weather, while Legal Eagle hasn't been seen in public since fading in a hot York nursery last August.

Twist my arm and the choice would have to be Fathsta, but stall 11 hardly looks a plus to his chance. In summary, not bet is sometimes the best option of all. And this looks a case in point.

Suggestion: Bar time!