Fortune edges into Cup field

Ante-post favourite Fortune Island has made the line-up for tomorrow’s Tote Chester Cup, which has attracted a maximum field of 18.

Martin Pipe’s Queen’s Prize winner needed one to drop out of the Roodee feature to be guaranteed a run in the two and a quarter mile test, and following the defections overnight of original top weight Bangalore and Mana d’Argent, his place in the field was assured.

Useful claimer Ryan Moore, who was on board at Kempton, reduces Fortune Island’s weight by a valuable 3lb.

Not so lucky was Tim Easterby’s Timing, who missed the cut by one. However, the Malton trainer will be represented by recent Haydock Park winner Bourgeois.

Bourgeois will carry second-top weight of 9st 5lb behind Sir Michael Stoute’s tough stayer Cover Up, who heads the handicap on 9st 10lb.

The Sagitta 2000 Guineas-winning team of Dermot Weld and Pat Smullen are represented in the £120,000 (€170,000) contest by Direct Bearing.

The six-year-old will be visored for the first time tomorrow in a bid to gain revenge on the Pipe stable, who pipped Weld’s charge in last season’s Tote Cesarewitch with Miss Fara.

Direct Bearing wore blinkers for the first time on his most recent outing when finishing a good sixth in the Vincent O’Brien County Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March.

William Jarvis is hopeful of a good run from the progressive Flownaway, the winner of four of his last five starts.

Jimmy Quinn takes the ride on the four-year-old, who has been drawn right on the inside in stall one.

“He’s improved,” said Jarvis. “I’m pleased with him. He’s had a good preparation.

“We’ve got a nice racing weight and Jimmy Quinn has ridden the winner of the Cup twice before (Welshman, 1992 and Merit 1996), so he knows his way round Chester.”

Reacting to the draw, the Newmarket trainer added: “It’s better than 18, but I’m not sure one is ideal.”