By Tom Frary
Aidan O'Brien, Ryan Moore and Galileo (Ire) are a combination that all bar the betting public fear even more than usual during Chester's May meeting, which is no surprise given that the focus during the track's one high-profile meeting is turning to the upcoming Derby and Oaks. Racing on the “Roodeye” is particularly intense, with its tight round oval placing extra emphasis on the draw and the jockeys' tactical nous. Good horses win around here too, with the likes of Henbit, Shergar (Ire), Old Vic (GB), Soldier of Fortune (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), St Nicholas Abbey (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}), Light Shift (Kingmambo), Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) and Noble Mission (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) just a few to navigate around the Roman walls above which it is also possible to get one of racing's finest free vantage points from the pavement.
Where the Galileo-O'Brien-Moore perfect storm is most keenly felt is in the G3 MBNA Chester Vase, in which the trainer holds the record with eight winners and the rider is foremost in his profession with seven. They include six by Coolmore's equine oligarch, including the subsequent blue riband hero Ruler of the World (Ire) in 2013 and the ongoing pattern of familiarity extends to Wednesday's renewal as his full-brother Norway (Ire) takes up the mantle. Successful in the 10-furlong Listed Zetland S. at Newmarket before running fourth in the G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud also at that trip in October, he is joined by recent maiden winners Gentile Bellini (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Sir Dragonet (Ire) (Camelot {GB}). The latter, who has been hauled from Urban Sea's bottomless well of Classic talent, looked tailor-made for this place when earning 'TDN Rising Star' status with a rare panache on his debut at Tipperary 13 days ago and has the seal of approval from racing's foremost understudy Donnacha O'Brien.
Charlie Fellowes is hoping that King Ottokar (Fr) (Motivator {GB}) can offer some resistance to that trio after winning the 10-furlong Newbury conditions event Apr. 12 that three individual Classic winners have emerged from in recent times.
“He was very impressive last time,” his trainer said. “I hope they get some rain overnight, which I think they will. I don't think stepping up to the mile and a half will be a problem and I think he will handle Chester well as he's a very well-balanced horse with a high cruising speed. The only thing that will get him beaten is if he's not good enough and we need to know if we're thinking about going to Epsom.”
In last year's Listed Arkle Finance Cheshire Oaks, O'Brien was first and second with Magic Wand (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Forever Together (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and he needs one more to equal Barry Hills's record of seven wins. Magic Wand's relation Secret Thoughts (War Front) is charged with that responsibility and she steps up four furlongs after a latest fifth in Leopardstown's G3 Ballylinch Stud 'Priory Belle' 1000 Guineas Trial Apr. 6. She encounters Waverley Racing's unbeaten Listed Silver Tankard S. winner Manuela De Vega (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) and a pair from the John Gosden stable including Emirates Park's Mehdaayih (GB) (Frankel {GB}) who took a two-runner 10-furlong Chelmsford handicap by 14 lengths Apr. 18.
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