Chester Summer Festival Preview

The opening race of Summer Festival Day at Chester sees six go to post for the MBNA/British Stallion Studs EBF Novice Stakes.

There's only one horse in the race with a victory to their name and that's the Tom Dascombe trained BREATHALYZE and we are struggling to see a way past the Bated Breath Colt.

Third on debut at Doncaster in June, he bolted up by four lengths earlier this month over C&D to beat the well fancied The New Marwan. Now with a 6lbs penalty, he will be hard to beat with only Ralph Beckett's Dirty Dancer with any obvious chances of beating him.

In what looks to be a fairly open handicap, we've gone for King Power Racings HERO HERO.

He was third behind Jubiloso at Chelmsford in April and then followed that up with a convincing eight length victory over C&D here a month later.

He's since gone handicapping and hasn't had the best of luck finishing 10th of 28 in the Britannia Stakes at Royal Ascot and then 8th of 10 at Ascot once again earlier this month.

Now back at a course which he's proven to love, the mark of 95 may still see him fairly well treated in this conditions.

The headline race of the day sees six battle it out in the Listed Sportpesa Chester Stakes.

We're taking a real liking to the Simon Crisford trained OUTBOX.

By Frankel, he won his first three races but has unfortunately lost his last four since off a mark of 102. Back up to 1m 6f for the first time since his impressive second placed finish in the Qatar Summer Handicap, he's undoubtedly the one to beat here as he looks to bounce back to winning ways.

In a Condition Stakes that lacks any real depth, we've gone for Mark Johnston's DREAM KART.

She's placed in 5/7 career runs so far winning two of those, including here last time out over 5f. Now up to 6f, the poor draw shouldn't have too much of a negative on her winning out of draw three last time.

Richard Fahey's Iffraaj filly AL RASMAH may provide a challenge from stall 2 on debut but it shouldn't be enough to stop Dream Kart from making it back to back victories at the course.

After going close here behind Angel Alexander last month, Dr Marwan Koukash's GABRIAL THE SAINT was well back in the pack at Glorious Goodwood.

In a wide open field here, he's got the more favoured inside draw essential for races of this distance at this course. He's also 8lbs better off than Angel Alexander this time around which should be enough to overturn that six length loss.

Owner Dr Koukash is a big fan of this race and Gabrial The Saint looks by far his best chance.

A three time winner from 11 career runs to date, the Paul Midgley trained THE DEFIANT has been in career best form of late.

He's won two of his last four which has seen him rise to a mark of 71. He was a disappointing 8th of 10 at Catterick last time out but this field looks weak enough for him to bounce back to winning ways in

The final race of the day at Chester is the MKM Building Supplies Handicap and we've gone for a Dr Marwan Koukash horse once again in the shape of ANGEL GABRIAL.

A firm ground lover, the veteran is in a solid run of form with six top three finishes including two victories coming in his last seven races.

He's just 2lbs heavier than his latest win here in June and he'll at least be in the places here especially from a nice draw.