Friday's racing: Five key contenders for the Tote+ Chester Cup

The first two days of the Boodles May Festival at Chester have yielded plenty of Classic Clues but it’s one of the year’s great staying handicaps, the Tote+ Chester Cup, which takes centre stage on Friday.

You are going to hear plenty of experts lazily point to a low draw being imperative but don’t despair if you like one who has a high stall.

Half of the past six renewals have been won by a horse berthed in stall 10 or higher, while Nakeeta (from 15) was beaten a short head in 2015.

In the past nine renewals, 66 runners have been drawn in double-figures and 16 of them have either won or finished in the first four (24.2 per cent). Twenty drawn in single-figures, from 180 runners, have managed the same (11.1 per cent). No runner from stall 1 has won or been placed since Overturn in 2011.

The stats clearly tell us that those drawn wide can more than hold their own, although the form claims of those drawn high on this occasion are not compelling. The Grand Visir, runner-up last year, may be the best of them but he is exposed and doesn’t quite make my shortlist.

Best odds: 9-2

Hugo Palmer has made a bright start at Manor House Stables and there is little doubt this has been a long-term plan for Solent Getaway, whose six visits to Chester last season included an impressive when upped to two miles for the first time in late August on a softish surface. He barely came off the bridle, relishing the step up in distance.

The four-year-old is 6lb higher in the ratings but he remains completely unexposed as a stayer and made a most pleasing return when a close staying-on third at Epsom last month over 1m4f (watch above).

The way that Solent Getaway finished that day suggests he will be suited by moving back up in distance and it should have put him spot-on for this assignment. He’s 1lb well-in and I wouldn’t worry that Ben Curtis has not ridden him in the past. Hayley Turner won on him the first time she rode him last year, while Jane Elliott had partnered him just once (a year earlier) before similarly successful. And James Doyle had never previously sat on him before that near-miss at Epsom.

Best odds: 11-1

This lightly-raced and versatile eight-year-old, who began life in point-to-points, has had only 16 runs under Rules and won seven of them.

His exploits over hurdles include a win at the Galway Festival last year, and he followed that by switching to the Flat and winning over an extended 2m on the Flat at York’s Ebor Meeting. He was heavily-backed on the latter occasion and good value for the length-and-a-quarter that he beat Rajinsky. Watch a replay above.

Arcadian Sunrise subsequently seemed to get stuck in the mud when contesting the November Handicap over 2m at Naas and it’s easy to forgive him that reverse.

He arrives here fresh and a 7lb rise for that York win seems fair. He actually meets Rajinsky, who was no match for him, on 2lb better terms as that rival has since won twice. He’s drawn in stall 5 but don’t expect Jamie Spencer to be in a hurry.

Best odds: 11-1

He’s got his work cut out turning the tables on his York conqueror, Arcadian Sunrise, but is simply too reliable to ignore.

His record in staying handicaps, including the best, stands close inspection. For instance, last year he was a fine third in the Northumberland Plate and also sixth in the Cesarewitch.

The six-year-old scored on his return at Ripon and his 3lb penalty is offset, to a degree, by promising 7lb claimer Harry Davies being snapped up to ride. The 17-year-old jockey has never previously ridden at Chester, which is a niggle, but could hardly have a more consistent or willing partner.

Best odds: 20-1

Ian Williams is seeking a third success in the Chester Cup and is responsible for four runners on Friday – Reshoun, Haliphon The Grand Visir and Byron Flyer.

Reshoun never got involved in last year’s running but he had been off for seven months and, after a tardy start, was always fighting a losing battle. It helped blow away the cobwebs, though, because next time he showed up at Royal Ascot and pulled off a shock 66-1 win in the Ascot Stakes.

He ran creditably in three more races last season without making a significant impact but he ran as well as could be expected on his return at Wolverhampton last month and has now edged down to a mark 1lb higher than at Ascot.

Best odds: 9-2

You have to back to Sea Pigeon (1977-78) and Anak Pekan (2004-05) to find the last back-to-back winners but it’s hard to ignore Falcon Eight after his fluent win under Frankie Dettori 12 months ago.

He subsequently fluffed his lines when hot favourite for the Queen Alexandra Stakes at Royal Ascot but the soft ground found out plenty that day.

Falcon Eight has not run on the Flat since, but has been in decent heart over hurdles – going close in Grade Two company at Fairyhouse last time. He’s 5lb higher than last year (Anak Pekan defied being 13lb higher) but last year was a long-term plot – he had been off ten months – and it’s possible that he enjoyed being very fresh, which he isn’t this time.