The Chester Cup, run over two and a quarter miles, can go the way of the lightly-raced Shubaat , who showed improved form when decisively taking a Musselburgh handicap just over a month ago. The five-year-old has not stood a great deal of racing, having made the track just five times in his career, but it is significant that powerful connections have persevered with him. The Musselburgh form has been boosted since, with the fifth-placed Persian Peril going on to win his next race and three others finishing runner-up. The main dangers are likely to be Cesarewitch winner Never Can Tell and the admirably genuine Overturn, who landed this contest 12 months ago, but Shubaat remains unexposed, is open to further improvement and has the additional bonus of a good draw in stall three.
Hits Only Jude's three starts this season have left the impression that he is gradually working his way back to form, and he is certainly weighted to strike in Southwell's 14:55. The nine-year-old is a winner of four races at this venue, highlighting his effectiveness on the surface, and he has shaped better than the form figures would suggest of late, slowly into stride after the jockey lost an iron on his penultimate start at Pontefract before not being hard pressed under an inexperienced rider to finish fifth over course-and-distance late last month. His last win at this venue, in February 2010, came off a 16 lb higher mark and, likely to be back under stronger handling here with Neil Farley in the saddle, Hits Only Jude looks set to go well.
Father of Science (15:40) is closely related to several winners by Sadler's Wells, notably the top-class Derby and Breeders' Cup Turf winner High Chaparral, and he is taken to get off the mark at the second time of asking at what is currently a very tempting price. The three-year-old was easy to back on debut at Navan, being considerately handled on his way to finishing fifth and looking bound to improve on his next start. He is capable of leaving that form well behind him, and is afforded maximum respect for a trainer (Aidan O'Brien) that has a 40% strike rate and a £1 level-stakes profit of £33.30 when sending runners to Chester in the last five years.
Timeform SmartPlays
Back Shubaat @ 6.05/1 in the 14:35 at Chester
Back Hits Only Jude @ 11.010/1 in the 14:55 at Southwell
Back Father of Science @ 6.611/2 in the 15:40 at Chester
