Conditions perfect for Chester Cup
Clerk of the course Ed Gretton reported the ground to have eased slightly to good to firm, good in places, from good to firm all round after steady rainfall.
“The big race should be a cracker. We have a full field of 18 runners. The top weight is rated 108 which says a lot for the quality, then you have four horses way down at the bottom which shows the range.
“It’s a proper handicap and should be a fantastic spectacle.”
The field is headed on 9st 10lb by Winged d’Argent, trained by Mark Johnston.
Hiddensee also represents Johnston, who sent out Swift Sailor and Contact Dancer to take minor honours behind Anak Pekan 12 months ago.
Both horses try again for new stables, with Swift Sailor trained by Gary Moore and Contact Dancer by Charlie Swan in Ireland.
Moore also runs Cold Turkey, who was 12th last year, while Dr Sharp will try to improve on his 10th place for Tom Tate.
Ante-post favourite Greenwich Meantime, trained by Richard Fahey, stands his ground as do John Dunlop’s The Nawab and Mark Prescott’s Elusive Dream, who are also prominent in the betting.
Amanda Perrett’s Big Moment will be running in the race for the fourth successive year, having finished second to Hugs Dancer in 2003 and third and ninth to Anak Pekan in the last two seasons. Perrett has also declared Bulwark.
Completing the field are Nicky Henderson’s Dancing Bay, Charlie Egerton’s Vinando, the Mark Tompkins-trained Mikao, Tim Pitt’s Admiral, David Barron’s Trance, George Enright’s High Point and Karen McLintock’s Kristensen.
The sole reserve is the Tompkins-trained Patrixprial, who if getting a run would be 14lb out of the handicap.
Only two horses came out at the 48-hour final declaration stage – Johnston’s Quizzene and the Irish-trained Strangely Brown.
Egerton is expecting a good show from Vinando, who was fourth to Sergeant Cecil in the Cesarewitch and was last in action over hurdles at Sandown in February.
“He’s very well and we hope he’ll stay,” said the trainer.
“The track should be all right and the ground perfect. I’m hopeful of a decent run.”
Vinando is 14-1 with the sponsors, who have Greenwich Meantime as their 7-2 favourite.
totesport Chester Cup betting:
Ladbrokes: 4-1 Greenwich Meantime, 6-1 Elusive Dream, 6-1 The Nawab, 9-1 Contact Dancer, Vinando, 10-1 Bulwark, 12-1 Cold Turkey, 14-1 Mikao, 16-1 Swift Sailor, Trance, 20-1 Dancing Bay, Hiddensee, 25-1 bar.
