Trainer - Ralph Beckett
Jockey - Harry Bentley
Harry Bentley rides Manuela De Vega who returns looking to booster Ralph Beckett's name when he saddles horses in the Waverley Racing colours.
Other Lope De Vega offspring (including Dancing Vega) seem to have failed from their juvenile days and not fulfilled their glowing potential, but this horse has a chance having won two from two last term.
Won a Listed race at Pontefract on second start, so should be respected in this.
T - John Gosden
J - Frankie Dettori
Sea The Stars three-year-old filly who looks potentially useful off the back of her winning return run at Wetherby in a Novice contest.
Just the one start as a juvenile merited a close second at Yarmouth to a stable companion late last year, after arriving late on the scene.
Should almost certainly get this trip, and looks interesting now upped in class.
Best draw of all in stall one.
T - Andrew Balding
J - Oisin Murphy
Just the one start in her career, which was a soft-ground victory at Nottingham in her two-year-old days.
Showed plenty of greenness that day under James Doyle, yet despite blowing the start, she came home in front by a couple of lengths.
The second in that race also finished behind Fanny Logan on her reappearance at Newbury, but the forecast rain should be in her favour.
T - Steph Hollinshead
J - Richard Kingscote
Two career starts - both this season already, where she corrected a fair sixth on debut to score on soft ground at Haydock subsequently.
Another filly who will be suited by the incoming rain, and has the assistance of Richard Kingscote in the saddle who is one of the more prolific jockeys at this track.
Looks a stiff task however; big odds.
T - Jane Chapple-Hyam
J - John Egan
Double scorer for this yard since moving from Richard Hannon's base, striking at Nottingham and Yarmouth in April.
Triumphed in handicap company the last twice - last time at Yarmouth over a horse who won next time out at Brighton, but this looks a big step-up and he might be in at the 'deep' end.
High draw to overcome.
T - John Gosden
J - Robert Havlin
Frankel filly of strong interest given that she has progressed really well - making it third time lucky as a juvenile at Yarmouth last October.
She beat Fanny Logan and the interesting novice winner on Guineas weekend - Maqsad that day, so the form looks strong and it might be the best coming into this.
Won on reappearance easily in a match-up by fourteen lengths on All-weather debut at Chelmsford, and should be more on the way.
T - Jason Ward
J - Ben Curtis
Has shown ability on the turf and all-weather in four career starts, but yet to prevail and this could be too much to handle.
Finished dead-heat third of four at Beverley a couple of weeks ago, and will surely struggle in this grade against some top fillies.
Hard to fancy.
T - Richard Fahey
J - Daniel Tudhope
Arrives here off the back of a winter break and may struggle for fitness and sharpness against others in the field who have already come back to the fold.
Nevertheless, her victory at Newcastle on the artificial surface was comfortable and she remains unexposed as a result.
Must convert that form to turf, and a big effort required to feature in this.
T - Aidan O'Brien
J - Ryan Moore
Aidan O'Brien brings over his traditional band of potential to the Boodles Festival at Chester, and Secret Thoughts will surely relish this new trip, if taking after the dam side of her pedigree.
Daughter of War Front; all of her efforts so far have come over six or seven furlongs, and demands respect from her Group Three form having finished fifth to Lady Kaya (Guineas second) at Leopardstown.
Third to top juvenile Skitter Scatter at the same venue, who was sadly not seen best at Newmarket - all the signs are there for a big jump up in performance now.
T - Charlie Hills
J - Silvestre De Sousa
Hard to fancy from her two all-weather outings at Kempton and Lingfield latest, where she was third of four behind Mackaar in an average novice affair.
Sea The Stars filly has been posted wide on her turf debut, and looks to be up against it here.
Not for us.
T - Mark Johnston
J - Franny Norton
Progressive over a mile last autumn, winning at Nottingham before finishing a good second in Listed company a Newmarket.
Trainer in excellent form to kick off the new season, and will be expecting a good run from a useful draw.
Chester specialist Franny Norton in the saddle is definitely a plus.
T - David Loughnane
J - Trevor Whelan
Tough assignment ahead, given that handicaps have not worked at Class Three, Four and Five level.
Hard to see how she is going to progress to these heights, and will probably continue to be a seven-race maiden after this event.
Unlikely to see her involved; instead more likely to see her fall out the back of the telly.
