Horse Racing Tips: A 9/2 play will do for Timeform at Chester today

Chester Betting Tips

14:00 – ALBA LONGA
14:30 – PRETENCE
15:05 – VALADERO
15:38 – FAST RESPONSE
16:08 – ON THE RIVER
16:38 – FIRST IMPRESSION

*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.

14:00 – ALBA LONGA

ALBA LONGA has improved plenty in handicaps for Ralph Beckett this season and this looks a good opportunity for her to resume winning ways. She was an impressive winner in very testing conditions on her reappearance/handicap debut at Windsor in May, and while she was a beaten favourite at Goodwood the following month, she ran well to be third to Great Bedwyn in a better race. Neandra is used to keeping better company than this so may emerge as the main threat under top weight.

14:30 – PRETENCE

The top weights may dominate this nursery. PRETENCE knows her way around here, having finishing second in a similar event here last time on her first start for Hugo Palmer and winning a seller over the same course and distance in June. She gets the nod with Harry Davies taking a handy 3 lb off. Commander Crouch appeals as a likely improver now stepping up in trip for his nursery debut and is second choice under William Buick. Making Dreams is quite closely matched with the selection from that seller and may prove best of the remainder.

15:05 – VALADERO

VALADERO is expected to bounce back returned to easier conditions in this novice and can make a winning start for his new trainer Darryll Holland. He disappointed under firmer conditions last time but the expensive Amo Racing colt was runner-up on heavy ground in his first two starts for Dominic Ffrench Davis, including in the Brocklesby at Doncaster. Aragon Castle slammed a subsequent winner at Epsom so must be feared under a penalty, with Hidden Pass another obvious contender after his debut second at Haydock.

WELCOME TO PP NEWS: NEW TO US? CLICK HERE FOR OUR £/€20 SIGN-UP OFFER

15:38 – FAST RESPONSE

Conditions in this listed race should be ideal for Karl Burke’s mud-loving filly FAST RESPONSE who can bounce back from a lesser effort at Goodwood earlier in the week with the drop back to six furlongs in her favour. Ehraz ran well when a close fifth in the Hackwood Stakes at Newbury recently and might be a more solid option for the forecast spot than last season’s very good two-year-old Noble Style, who has been gelded since his disappointing run in the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot.

16:08 – ON THE RIVER

Harriet Bethell is enjoying a fine season with new recruit ON THE RIVER who was winning for the fourth time this year when comfortably beating Rhoscolyn (who won a competitive event at Goodwood earlier in the week) at Beverley last time. A 3 lb rise in the weights is cancelled out by Harry Davies’ claim, so he’s well capable of following up. Fellow last-time-out winner; Daay is a threat after his success at Epsom and course specialist Ffion can make her presence felt if the pace is strong.

16:38 – FIRST IMPRESSION

FIRST IMPRESSION made a slow start to the year but was second to an unexposed next-time-out winner when returning to form on his last start at Ayr three months ago and returns at a time when John Quinn’s stable is flying, so he takes preference over Flight of

Angels, who might get her own way in front under Franny Norton. Stately Home was back to form and slightly better than the result when third at Sandown recently, so he’s another one to consider.