Tennessee bidding for Chester repeat

Memphis Tennessee bids to become the first horse since St Expedit in 2001 and 2002 to land back-to-back victories in the Boodles Diamond Ormonde Stakes when he lines up at Chester on Friday.

The Aidan O'Brien-trained five-year-old duly justified favouritism 12 months ago only to disappoint on his only start last season, when he was tailed off in the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot.

His main stumbling block is expected to be Mount Athos, who has his first run back in Britain since taking in the Melbourne Cup and Japan Cup at the end of last year.

His trainer Luca Cumani is praying the ground stays on the quick side for the Dr Marwan Koukash-owned six-year-old.

"Mount Athos is in very good form. I just hope the rain stays away because he likes a fast surface," said Cumani. "If he gets a fast surface I'm sure he will run a good race."

Communicator has finished first and second in two starts on the Roodee and his trainer Andrew Balding believes that is an advantage as the five-year-old tries his hand in Group Three company.

"He likes the track and has run very well there twice in the past," said the Kingsclere handler. "He's got a fair bit to find to trouble the two principals (Memphis Tennessee and Mount Athos), but he's in good form and because he likes the track he does have place prospects at least."

Mad Moose had refused to race on his last two starts over fences but he was a revelation on his belated Flat debut at Doncaster.

Jumping kindly out of the stalls the nine-year-old, trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies, had far too much toe for his younger rivals as he sprang a 28-1 surprise in a mile-and-a-half maiden.

"He was due a performance as he hadn't started in his last two runs so we were getting a bit frustrated with him," said Nick Bradley bloodstock manager to owners Middleham Park Racing.

"Nigel was sure he would jump out of the stalls and he did. Nigel said there was no horse at home that could go with him, but we never expected him to win.

"We put him in this in the hope that it would be a small field, which it is. We're not sure how we will ride him, but it will certainly be a sight - Mad Moose running around Chester. We will try to come up with a plan to nick a bit of prize money.

"We've put Danny (Tudhope) on board, it's the first time he's ridden for Nigel as his son Willy was unavailable. Danny's a good jockey and he will think about the ride, about trying to win some prize money and getting a few off the bridle turning in."