Sport

Mid-week betting tips: Angel Gabrial lining up back to back win

Our tipster Karl Hedley tells you where to put your money this week

WEDNESDAY

CHESTER

2-45 STANJAMES.COM CHESTER CUP (HANDICAP) – 2 M 2 F 147YDS

Angel Gabrial can go close to giving Richard Fahey and Jamie Spencer back to back wins in this race. His owner Dr Marwan Koukash loves to have runners at his local track and he is represented by no fewer than five individuals.

Jamie Spencer would have had the pick of the quintet and his choice has to be respected. The selection has won off this mark before and more importantly he was only beaten a half length around here on his only previous visit. Angel Gabrial did all of his best work in the closing stages at Ripon last time to grab the reopposing Mubaraza, and this step up in trip should see him produce a more polished display and confirm that form.

Communicator has a decent course record and he steps up to this marathon trip for the first time today. He has also bagged a coveted low draw and that will do his chances no harm whatsoever. Oisin Murphy claims a useful three pounds and if seeing out this distance, he has to be considered as a leading player.

White Nile found the step up to this sort of company against him at Kempton last time and this race should prove even tougher. Angel Gabrial seems to have ticks in all of the right boxes and he can go close here.

4-25 STELLA ARTOIS CONDITIONS STAKES – 5 FURLONGS 16 YDS

Borderlescott rolled back the years and was only just foiled at Musselburgh on his seasonal reappearance. He was sent off as a rank outsider on that occasion and belied those odds when beaten a nose by the talented Smoothtalkinrascal. He has run at Chester on four previous occasions and has never finished outside of the places. He has a pivotal low draw this afternoon and Neil Farley is able to claim three pounds.

Lucky Beggar looks the likeliest threat as he is locally trained and ought to make a beeline for the rail from his stall one position. He is a useful front running type although he and Trinityelitedotcom could well take each other on from the outset and set it up for a finisher.

Foxy Music comes here looking for a hat-trick of wins, however his chance may well be compromised by his outside draw. Borderlescott may now be a twelve year old but he is clearly in rude health. A return to the winners enclosure would cement a fantastic training performance by Robin Bastiman.

THURSDAY

CHESTER

4-20 BETFAIR PRICE RUSH HUXLEY STAKES (GROUP 3) – 1 M 2 F 75YDS

Telescope looked to be very much in need of the run following his second place in the Gordon Richards Stakes at Sandown a couple of weeks ago. He bumped into the already race fit Noble Mission and was beaten nine lengths in the end. That race should have blown any cobwebs away and with race fitness now on his side he can exact revenge on that rival. This better ground will be far more to his liking and he can go well.

Noble Mission made all of the running on that last occasion. If he is allowed to dictate matters to his rivals once again it could be a case of déjà vu. Lady Cecil has her yard in good shape and he has to be considered a likely threat. Danadana comes here to defend his crown but he was found wanting on his seasonal reappearance at Newmarket. Andrea Atzeni has never won on the Luca Cumani runner and that is an obvious concern. Alfonso De Sousa showed absolutely nothing on his seasonal reappearance at The Curragh last month. He too can be expected to put that run well and truly behind him.

Sir Michael Stoute is starting to get his yard into top gear now and this one time Derby contender can make his presence felt.

FRIDAY

ASCOT

6-05 CENTERPLATE HANDICAP – 2 MILES

Chocala made a decent return to the flat at Ripon following a somewhat unsuccessful stint over hurdles. The Alan King yard have had a spectacularly bad year but in recent days there seems to have been a revival in fortunes for the stable. They have won ten races in the last few weeks over both flat and jumps. Richard Hughes looks to be a significant jockey booking for the yard and this Rock Of Gibraltar gelding is capable of going close.

Argent Knight will come on for his recent run at Kempton and is likely to prove a more relevant threat here. William Jarvis shall be hoping that the rain stays away as it will certainly increase his runner’s chances.

Softsong can go well fresh and won a maiden hurdle on this type of ground at Doncaster at the turn of the year. He was useful when housed with Phillip Hobbs and it would be of little surprise to see him make the frame here. Chocala is a consistent performer who looks as though he is in need of this sort of trip and he has to be high on any shortlist.