Tony Martin, the shrewd Irish trainer, loves to take aim at today’s Ladbrokes Chester Cup and its consolation race and I can see his three runners in the two races making their mark.
Back Peaky Blinder 1 point each way at 8-1 with bet365, paying five places.
ZANNDABAD has not won on the flat for three seasons but he is down to a nice mark of 91 in the Chester Cup (3.05 p.m.). He ran a huge race in this contest in 2024 when third to Zoffee after meeting trouble in running from his double-figure draw in stall 10.
Today he is only marginally better drawn in stall 9 but we know he handles the track and the good ground, plus Clifford Lee is an interesting jockey booking too. Back him 1 point each way at 12-1 with bet365 or Paddy Power, both paying five places.
Alphonse Le Grande also runs for Martin in this race and he has a decent chance of landing the prize too judged on his win in the Chester Plate in 2024 and his even more impressive victory in the Club Godolphin Cesarewitch Handicap at Newmarket later the same season. The seven-year-old gelding is down to a nice mark of 90 but I want to go into the race double-handed with another runner who looks well handicapped.
Bottom weight PEAKY BLINDER is an improving four-year-old trained by Andrew Balding. The horse has won his last two starts, either side of being gelded at the end of last season. He does not have experience over Chester’s unique twists and turns but he does have a lovely draw in stall two and his jockey Jason Watson rides this track well. Back Peaky Blinder 1 point each way at 8-1 with bet365, paying five places.
In today’s Ladbrokes Get A Free Race Bet Today Chester Plate (4.10 p.m.), Tony Martin’s only runner HAMSIYANN has to overcome joint top weight. However, his official mark of 88 is just 1 lb more than when he was second to his stable mate, Alphonse Le Grande, in this race two years ago. With Oisin Murphy booked for the ride, back him 1 point each way at 6-1, with bet365, BetVictor, Sky Bet or Paddy Power, all paying five places.
However, once again I will go into this race double handed with an outsider CALL MY BLUFF for the Dominic Ffrench-Davis/John Egan trainer/jockey combination. Now nine years old, Call My Bluff has to carry a 3 lbs penalty for a recent win at Newbury when he went off at 40-1. He would also ideally prefer softer ground.
However, Call My Bluff is still 2lbs “well in” on his future handicap mark, and he has good course and distance form having been third in the Chester Cup as long ago as 2023. Back him 1 point each way at 20-1 with William Hill, paying four places and Best Odds Guaranteed (BOG). Neither Hamsiyann nor Call My Bluff has a preferred single-figure draw but I will stick with them both.
In the Carey Group Victoria Cup at Ascot tomorrow (2.20 p.m.), I would usually be looking for a horse with good course form over Ascot’s straight course but instead I will take a chance with the Ed Bethell trained KHAFIZ. This progressive four-year-old gelding ran well enough when fifth to Cosi Bello at Haydock on his seasonal debut last month. That race was surely a prep run for tomorrow’s contest which has first prize of more than £51,000.
Stable jockey Callum Rodriguez has opted to ride Khafiz ahead of Yorkshire, who is making his seasonal debut after a setback following his big run at Royal Ascot in June last year. Back Khafiz 1 point each at 16-1 with bet365, paying six places.
There are any number of dangers in this 29-runner field and, as usual, the draw will be crucial, with high numbers likely, but not certain, to be favoured.
Pending:
1 point each way Zanndabad at 12-1 for the Chester Cup, paying 1/5th odds, 5 places.
1 point each way Peaky Blinder at 8-1for the Chester Cup, paying 1/5th odds, 5 places.
1 point each way Hamsiyann at 6-1for the Chester Plate, paying 1/5th odds, 5 places.
1 point each way Call My Bluff at 20-1BOG for the Chester Plate, paying ¼ odds, 4 places
1 point each way Khafiz at 16-1 for the Victoria Cup, paying 1/5th odds, 6 places.
Last weekend: – 5.7 points
1 point each way Celandine at SPfor theEllen Chaloner Stakes, paying 1/5th odds, 3 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way Rumstar at 13-2 for the Palace House Stakes, paying 1/5th odds, 4 places. 2nd. + 0.3 points.
1 point each way Needle Match at 16-1 for the 2000 Guineas, paying 1/5th odds, 4 places. Unplaced. – 2 points.
1 point each way Touleen at SP for the 1000 Guineas, paying most places on offer. Unplaced. – 2 points.
2026 flat season running total: – 5.7 points.
2025-26 jumps season: – 57.785 points
2025 flat season: + 84.12 points on all tips.
2024-5 jumps season: – 47.61 points on all tips.
2024 flat season: + 41.4 points on all tips.
2023-4 jumps season: + 42.01 points on all tips.
2023 flat season: – 48.22 points on all tips.
2022-3 jumps season: + 54.3 points on all tips.
Total for seven full seasons of tipping: + 68.215 points
Comments