Listed Dee Stakes Chester Guide 2023

Andrew Balding has one in this Chester contest with 99-rated Stormbuster, who begun well in his flat career before struggling on his last two outings prior to coming here. He was third on his first two starts at Newbury and Sandown before stepping up in trip and class to finish second in listed stakes at Salisbury, five lengths behind Flying Honours.

He then opened his account by winning Newbury class two with ease but hasn’t quite been the same on his previous two starts, finishing last of eight in group one at Doncaster and last of five in listed event at Epson Downs last month (Hadrianus in second).

Possibly best to look elsewhere for the winner here after his last two showings make him hard to make a case for. Oisin Murphy is on board.

Donnacha O’Brien sends his three-year-old colt to the Listed Dee Stakes after winning at Cork on reappearance last month, triumphing by just over a length to Aiden O’Brien’s favourite Bertinelli. It looked like he enjoyed the 1m 2f trip after finishes of fourth, first and third on his previous three starts in 2022.

Third in the Group Two Champions Juvenile Stakes at Leopardstown in September was a decent effort behind winner Auguste Rodin and is probably the leading player in this company following that win at Cork last month.

This looks like a strong race, and he’ll need to improve more to win it, but the form is all positive and the trip won’t be an issue for this colt, so he is massively respected.

Charlie Appleby has one in this Chester contest on Thursday with Local Dynasty, who has won three out of his first four starts for Appleby. After winning at Newmarket on debut, he was sent to York for the Group Three Acomb Stakes over seven furlongs, but he finished fifth when 5/32fav, with 2000 Guineas winner Chaldean claiming victory.

The three-year-old bounced back in a Sandown novice next time out before finishing off 2022 with listed success at Pontefract over one mile. He looks likely to be a good performer this year after that Pontefract success and must be taken seriously after 206 days off the track.

Would be surprising if he didn’t go close here for a top trainer and the duo of Appleby of William Buick has claimed several winners over the last few years. Likely to be in the mix.

Aiden O’Brien has one in this contest with his colt San Antonio, who has made good strides since his debut run at Tipperary in October last year. The three-year-old finished fifth that day in a ten-runner field before improving to finish third at Gowran Park later that month when priced at 6/1.

The colt then travelled to Dundalk in March this year, where he finally tasted victory at the third time of asking in the 14-runner maiden over 1m 2f. He stayed on strongly to go clear in the final furlong, beating Cape Bridgewater by nearly four lengths before heading to his first listed event here at Chester.

He could show further improvement to continue that upward pattern and O’Brien has won this race three out of the last four renewals, so he has to be considered.

Charles Hills has one in the Listed Dee Stakes with his three-year-old Lose Your Wad. The colt has had just a couple of runs in his career so far, finishing fourth on debut in Newmarket novice behind Andrew Balding’s Ribal and the Charlie Appleby duo of Ancient Rules and Military Order. Tasted success on his second start at Kempton last month in a class five, tiring late on but holding by a head to Royal Cape when priced at 15/8fav.

This will be a tougher test for the three-year-old but more improvement is expected after the two runs so far and Hills’ runners have been in pretty good form in recent times. Respected.

Charlie Johnston has one in the Listed Dee Stakes at Chester on Thursday with three-year-old Hadrianus, who has made a very good start to life on the flat, finishing in the top two on all three occasions so far. After finishing second on debut at 50/1 in 12-runner Newcastle maiden, he won a 1m 2f 14-runner maiden at Kempton by just over a length before heading to Epsom Downs for a listed contest.

He was second that day, just under a length behind winner Epictetus for John and Thady Gosden in the hands of William Buick and now arrives at Chester for this race, which looks a strong contest. Franny Norton does the steering here, with the 104-rated colt not dismissed.

Ollie Pears sends one to this Chester contest with his three-year-old Afterwards, who has made a good start to his career so far, with a second-place finish at Southwell followed by a win at Newcastle. Finished a short head behind favourite Berkshire Phantom at Southwell when priced at 40/1 before stepping up in trip in that Newcastle success to win by half a length to Elim in a class four one-mile novice.

Heads here for his first listed event which might be a step too far after just the two runs in lesser company and he is the 33/1 outsider in the market currently. No reason why he cannot improve more but this a strong contest.

Sir Michael Stoute boasts one runner in the Listed Dee Stakes at Chester on Thursday with the lightly raced Passenger. The three-year-old makes his second start in his career here after a comfortable success first time out at Newmarket last month. He won by three lengths to William Haggas’ Kathab and had the 5/4 favourite New Business back in third in the hands of Ryan Moore.

He should have more to offer given that has been his only run so far, as he makes his way into listed company for the first time. This will be tougher, but he merits respect on the back of that easy win last time out. Richard Kingscote takes the ride.