3.05 2m. 2f. 140yds. 17 Declared. Ladbrokes Chester Cup (Heritage Handicap) (GBBPlus Race) (Class 2 ) of £170,000.00 4-y-o plus
1st - €87,618.00 2nd - €41,089.00 3rd - €20,553.00 4th - €10,268.00 5th - €5,134.00 6th - €2,567.00
Formscan - Joseph O'Brien boasts a strong hand here with GALILEO DAME the most appealing of the lot. The mare comes here in good form off the back of a second-placed effort at Navan and boasts proven stamina from her success over hurdles. This race can often go to a dual-purpose performer and the booking of Ryan Moore certainly catches the eye. O'Brien also saddles the lightly-raced A Piece Of Heaven and Irish Cesarewitch/Cheltenham Festival winner Puturhandstogether, who won't mind the big field but has been handed the widest draw of all in stall 17. Blindedbythelights is a consistent type but has been unable to get his head in front since June 2023 and finds himself 22lb higher than that now. The hat-trick seeking Team Player has won both his starts since joining Ewan Whillans and the four-year-old could have more improvement left in him.