Channon hoping Chester stays dry
Mick Channon is praying the rain stays away to boost the prospects of Misternando in the totesport Chester Cup on Wednesday.
The West Ilsley trainer is happy with the ground description of good to firm and does not want it to turn soft for the extended two-and-a-quarter-mile contest.
“That ground’s brilliant at the moment, but if it goes really soft then I don’t know if there’s any point running Misternando. He will go on soft ground, but I don’t know about it if it goes really soft.
“And he’s drawn off the track as well. I know people say it doesn’t mean a thing over two and a quarter miles, but it does round there.”
The young stayer was a revelation last season, winning 10 races, during which time he rose in the ratings from 48 to 94.
He ran off a rating of 101 when unplaced in the Group Three Sagaro Stakes behind Risk Seeker in the mud at Ascot last Wednesday.
Channon has also declared Almazin and added: “He won’t mind whatever it is.”
However, Michael Jarvis would like rain for ante-post favourite Anak Pekan, who is reported to be in fine form ahead of the £120,000 (€178,100) contest.
“I’d like to see some more rain. He’s effective on softish ground. He has run good races on fast ground, but he’s probably more effective with a bit of cut,” said the Newmarket trainer.
“He’s fine. He’s a pretty fit sort of horse, so he’s been ticking over.”
Anak Pekan, an impressive winner of the Queen’s Prize at Kempton over Easter, is 3-1 favourite with the sponsors.
Mark Johnston believes the race could bring the best out of Mana d’Argent, who was fifth to Rainbow High in his one previous attempt at this race three years ago.
“It’s the sort of race that, despite the fact that he’s done all his winning at Ascot, you would have to think should suit him,” said the Middelham trainer.
“He’s in great form and there are no problems with him.”
Ponderon, who was eighth behind Anak Pekan at Kempton, will only take his chance on the Roodee if there is significant rain, trainer Fulke Johnson Houghton has warned.
Chester clerk of the course Ed Gretton reported that there had been a millimetre of rain overnight and a further five millimetres was expected by the end of the day.
A maximum 18 runners were declared at today’s final 48-hour stage.
Of the 22 five-day entries, Savannah Bay and Zibeline were taken out, while the bottom two in the handicap, High Point and Sailor A’hoy, failed to make the cut.
Malton trainer Brian Ellison has decided to save Zibeline for the John Smith’s Northumberland Plate at Newcastle next month.
“We’ll freshen him up for the Northumberland Plate. He’s had a good campaign. We got him ready for Cheltenham, then he went and won at Liverpool,” said Ellison.
“He had two hard races and we felt that two and a quarter miles would just stretch him a bit, whereas two miles is ideal and so we’ll get him ready for the Plate now.”
With Savannah Bay an absentee, the weights have been raised 2lb, leaving the Paul Cole-trained Swing Wing to give weight all round on 9st 10lb. Cole will also saddle Archduke Ferdinand.
Big Moment, runner-up to Hugs Dancer 12 months ago, will attempt to go one better for his trainer Amanda Perrett.
Totesport Chester Cup betting:
Totesport: 3-1 Anak Pekan, 15-2 Big Moment, 10-1 Misternando, Unleash, Ponderon, 12-1 Kristensen, 14-1 Rahwaan, Rayshan, Gralmano, Numitas, 16-1 Almizan, 20-1 Distant Prospect, Swing Wing, 22-1 Gracilis, 25-1 bar.
William Hill: 100-30 Anak Pekan, 7-1 Big Moment, 8-1 Rahwaan, 12-1 Ponderon, 12-1 Numitas, Unleash, 14-1 Distant Prospect, Gralmano, Misternando, 14-1 Kristensen, 16-1 Rayshan, Swing Wing, 20-1 Almizan, 25-1 bar.
Ladbrokes: 7-2 Anak Pekan, 7-1 Big Moment, 10-1 Ponderon, Rahwaan, 12-1 Distant Prospect, Gralmano, Numitas, Unleash, 14-1 Kristensen, Misternando, 16-1 Random Quest, Rayshan, 20-1 bar.
