One Horse, One Trainer & One Jockey To Follow At Chester This Week

Our horse to follow for the week comes in the main event on Day One of the Festival with the AP O'Brien trained SIR LAMORAK in the Cheshire Vase.

Mainly seen as a Derby Trial, AP O'Brien has a simply phenomenal record in this race in recent times winning seven of the last nine renewals of it with every one of those seven going on to run in the Epsom Derby.

Fifth on debut at Leopardstown back in October, he failed to build on that run when fourth of 17 at The Curragh in November. However, 2021 has brought a big change of fortunes for him.

After hosing up on his seasonal reappearance by at Dundalk on his first start over 1m 2f, he backed that run up when putting in a similar performance on his return to turf back at Leopardstown in April.

He looks to be O'Brien's biggest chance in the race and with odds of 20/1 for the Epsom Derby at the moment, a big performance here will undoubtedly see him backed in to favouritism.

The obvious trainers to follow at Chester are the likes of Richard Fahey & Tom Dascombe but one trainer who's record has gone under the radar at the course in the past couple of season is Ralph Beckett.

His fine form at the course started back in 2019 when finishing the season with six winners and four places from 19 runners at the course leaving him with a 32% win rate and a 52% place rate for the season.

He then showed in 2020 that was no fluke when picking up four winners and a place from his 13 runners there and he'll be looking to build on that form in 2021.

His main chances for the week come in the Cheshire Oaks with Fastnet Rock filly Twisted Reality and in the Dee Stakes with Scope.

The Chester Cup sees him throw six horses in the mix and it'll be interesting to see how he gets on this week.

When you think of the King of Chester, you either think of owner Dr Marwan Koukash or of course, Franny Norton. A man who could literally ride the course blind, local Norton heads back to the course of some of his greatest successes this week.

A man who's had over 870 rides at the course spanning over a 20 year career, he's picked up 125 winners claiming over £1.25m in prize money in the process.

He's not likely to ride many of the favourites in the big races this week but keep an eye out for him on some big priced e/w shots and he'll undoubtedly be on some good types in the competitive handicaps at the course.